Hello! My name is Divany Olivia, a 3rd year student majoring in Industrial Design from Bandung Institute of Technology and in the fall semester of 2023 I had the opportunity to study at Queen Mary University of London through the Indonesian International Student Mobility Awards (IISMA) program.

When I first arrived in London, to Queen Mary’s dormitory, the first thing I noticed was a mug with the print “Welcome to your new home” with a chocolate bar in it, placed neatly on the table of the room I would be staying in, needless to say I was very excited to spend the next 3 months in a country I’d never been to before. At first I was quite nervous to be away from home especially in a place that was very different from what I was used to but I learned pretty quickly how diverse London is and that there is nothing to fear as you would always feel a glimpse of home from the many places in London to the people who reside in it.

What I enjoyed most during my time in London was dressing up for my day to day activities, be it to class or to casual walks on the streets of the city. Truthfully speaking I was slightly timid at first as I was usually discouraged by my preference in clothing but I was determined to dress in ways that I’ve always wanted as I thought being in a new city could provide me the opportunity to shape people’s perception of me anew. Over the course of 3 months London has given me quite the confidence boost that I really needed in my life. Walking in the streets I would occasionally receive compliments from strangers and it was something I’d rarely experienced back at home, especially quite so frequently. It was one of the most pleasant experiences I’ve had and I even remember one time while buying crepes with my friends at the popular La Crêperie de Hampstead, the woman who was making our crepes had unique makeup on and as she saw mine, we unexpectedly complimented each other and laughed it off. London has given me the opportunity to freely express myself and it was really fun to occasionally meet people with the same interests in style, especially in places such as Camden Town, my favourite place in London, although very crowded at weekends, the area is always bustling with many kinds of interesting people and I have never felt out of place when walking through Camden, from meeting various people with their punk attire, to mascots and even street performers.

One other thing that made my stay a wonderful experience was the community I encountered, and I must give a lot of my thanks to Queen Mary’s Anime Society that has been the source of my closest friends and family. During my first week of Welcome Week I was confused and alone but having met them, not only did they open doors and opportunities for me to meet new friends and even the people who I’ve idolised for years, but they also gave me a place to feel comfortable when I was alone and away from home and I could not be any more grateful to them for what they have given me. From the days where we would gather to play quizzes and games, to karaoke night and even as far as going to other anime events off campus like Comic Con London and Genshin Campus events.

Although my time at Queen Mary was short, I felt welcomed in this new and unfamiliar city and will always be happy to consider it my second home. London is a beautiful city with even more beautiful people residing in it. I can’t imagine my life before, now that I’ve experienced a life in London and have met these wonderful people and I would say that this study abroad programme has been the most meaningful experience in my life and I wouldn’t trade it for anything else in the world.