By IISMA Awardee 2024, Kaneishia

From the moment I first set foot in this city on holiday nearly ten years ago, I fell in love and dreamed of one day calling London home. The sights and atmosphere were a world apart from what I knew in Jakarta, Indonesia. So, when the opportunity to study abroad arose, London was my obvious choice. Queen Mary University of London, with its strong reputation in politics and international relations, felt like the perfect fit – almost as if fate had led me there. 

Stepping off the plane, I was immediately met with the sharp, biting cold. But rather than discomfort, it brought a sense of exhilaration – awakening feelings and sensations I could never experience in Indonesia. As I walked through Mile End, my coat billowing in the crisp London air, I couldn’t help but feel like the main character in a romantic movie.  

Everything I experienced in London truly felt like the start of a new chapter in my life. Living on my own for the first time, making friends from all over the world, and introducing Indonesian culture were just the beginning. From cooking Indonesian food whenever I missed home and doing laundry at midnight in the freezing wind to staying up all night with friends at the Mile End Library and working on assignments by the edge of Regent’s Canal, right across from Feilden House – my second home – these small moments became meaningful parts of my daily life. 

Not to mention the simple joys of running through the crisp morning air in Hyde Park, watching a magnificent theater performance at night, and strolling beneath the dazzling lights of Soho afterwards – every experience was a fresh and unforgettable adventure. 

I am truly grateful to the Indonesian International Student Mobility Awards (IISMA) for giving me this opportunity. Studying at Queen Mary University of London has allowed me to learn from remarkable individuals and experience academic life in a way I never imagined. 

I never thought I would find myself waking up early, making my own breakfast, and heading out into the cold with a hot chocolate in hand, wrapped in a thick puffer jacket, to sit in a grand auditorium and listen to inspiring presentations from some of London’s finest academics. Even more surreal was the opportunity to engage in face-to-face discussions with lecturers – an experience I will always cherish. 

Four months in London left a profound mark on me. I watched as autumn faded into winter, the city transforming into a festive wonderland straight out of the films I had always dreamed of. Every charming corner, every passing moment was captured through my lens – now, all I can do is look back and relive them in memories. Though the journey had its ups and downs, every experience, every feeling, remains unforgettable – a chapter of my life I will always hold close. 

I want to say a huge thank you to IISMA and Queen Mary University of London for giving me the chance to embark on this incredible academic and personal journey. 

Shoutout to my classmates, who never got tired of our endless discussions; my flatmates at Feilden House, who put up with the strong smells of my Indonesian cooking (and the absolute mess I made in the kitchen!); and my Indo Society friends, who were always there to guide me through life in London. But most of all, to my six IISMA QMUL besties – thank you for sticking with me through all my highs and lows and for making every moment we shared so special. 

And of course, a massive thank you to the Global Opportunities team at QMUL, especially Jess Tan, who always made us feel at home – just as QMUL and London became home to us. 

Here’s to hoping I’ll be back in London before I know it!