Moving to the UK for university sounds exciting until you remember you might be sharing a flat with strangers you don’t know.

When I moved into student accommodation, I didn’t expect much beyond figuring out who clogged the shower drain and passive-aggressive fridge notes. Instead, I got, let’s call them Sunshine and Joy, my wonderful housemates from Vietnam.

One morning I dragged myself to the kitchen, prepared to face my usual sad cereal. But that morning was different, a delicious aroma was dancing in the air. Sunshine had just casually whipped up a mountain of homemade Vietnamese spring rolls. She looked at me, smiled, and said, “Sit down and eat”. I sat down and had the best breakfast of my life.

And then there was Joy. One day Joy knocked on my door, scissors in hand and a wild idea on her mind. “I have a date. I need a new look. You’re cutting my hair”.

Moments later, we were in the garden. I’m armed with scissors and zero experience playing a hairstylist. “Cut a bit more,” she said. “Just go for it”. A pile of hair was on the ground, but Joy seemed to be happy about it. And just like that, we became friends.

Trust me, living with strangers may sound scary, but it’s just the beginning of a beautiful story you haven’t experienced yet. So, when you arrive to your accommodation for the first time remember this: every friend starts as a stranger. 🙂