An ocean blue sky, with fluffy, icy contrails like waves gushing into each other before hurriedly dissipating into the air, illuminated the sky as I exited South Kensington station. My left hand struggled to hold onto my cup of steaming, bubbling hot chocolate, while my phone’s threaded lanyard crocheted a design only known to itself. 

Light music from a nearby violinist poured warmth along the cobblestone streets, filled with aromas guiding curious noses to bakeries freshly preparing loaves of bread and classy restaurants decorated with such elegance you’d think they were miniature museums. Outside, lazy pigeons greeted me with their signature head-bobbing and wing-fluttering, right before being swiftly chased off by hyperactive pets just wanting to play. Life is beautiful, but wait – how did I get here?

Let’s go back in time and visit my home. We’re in India, at the Mumbai International Airport. I waved ‘bye!’ to my family of six, showered them with kisses, raced across the railings while getting my passport checked by security, and proceeded to walk in with perfectly weighed bags (we ensured a thousand times).

After getting through all the formalities, I sat on the couch snapping selfies with my boarding pass, eagerly awaiting the boarding announcement.

An hour later, I finally entered the plane and buckled up in the window seat, full of anticipation as I gazed out at the city, adorned with yellow lights sparkling like never before. The moment the plane took off and soared to new heights, my heart followed, bursting with joy and a sense of limitless possibility. Moving to another country to pursue your Masters can be scary and exhilarating all at once, mainly because it’s new and unfamiliar. It takes strength and determination to adapt to a different way of life, especially when you’ve been brought up in the same city for the past 20 years.

A month ago, when I first arrived in London, I was fascinated by its beauty and the vibrant energy of the city. In fact, despite my jetlag, I slipped into tourist mode on my very first day and ended up visiting Big Ben, capturing serene postcard-worthy shots of Green Park and its chubby squirrels, and even met a team of black-and-white swans, gracefully embodying the times when movies unfolded in shades of grey, with crowds of people united in admiration. A few days into this adventure, an aspect of London that took some getting used to was understanding how it functions. Coming from India, where customs and traditions are so deeply rooted, it was rather refreshing to experience cultural differences in a variety of fonts. From the generally more informal social norms with a shift in communication style to global cuisines with significant variety, London has evolved me into an ‘I fancy a traditional mocha with regular milk’ kind of gal.

On the more practical side of things, London’s value for time is commendable. A friend of mine pointed out how Londoners are quick to leave the tubes at the mere possibility of a delay, and ever since then, I can’t stop admiring the efforts they put into showing up on time, be it by speed-walking up the underground stairs or running to catch the bus before peak timings. It’s lovely to see people care for others while being particular about themselves. Until now, not once have I come across a poorly dressed Londoner. With glamorous, thick coats and fleece-lined stockings tucked under knee-high boots, people are out to seize the day and be the moment as the ultimate main characters. It’s because of them that I style myself to be my best version every moment I step out of my accommodation, even if it’s to get groceries or throw away a day’s worth of trash. In addition to all these perks, work-life balance is prioritized here.

Initially, I was slightly sceptical about my ability to cope with a completely advanced curriculum catered to a brand-new education system with greater emphasis on independent understanding and critical thinking. However, with constant support from the terrific faculty at Imperial, the availability of numerous resources such as recorded classes and library services at my fingertips, and sufficient breaks from lectures for ‘private study time,’ I’ve not only adapted to learning new topics and perspectives at my own pace, but I’ve also been selected as a member for several extra-curricular societies/clubs beyond this academic bubble. This has allowed me to put myself out there, experiment with different platforms, and build my own social circle.

Reflecting on my journey in London, I believe that all the unfamiliar has transformed me positively on both a personal and professional level. As time has passed, calling mum to say that I’ve reached ‘acco’ has gradually transitioned to ‘I’m home.’ The walks that initially took forever now feel significantly shorter with the company of amazing friends joking about something. The exposure this experience offers has provided me with opportunities to interact with talented individuals from diverse backgrounds and broaden my horizons, and I’m truly grateful for it. So, here’s to all of you students hustling hard every passing day, chasing your dreams to get after what you want and deserve. We are in this together! As someone who needs Citymapper to get to college even four weeks after arriving and roams around everywhere with her ID card in hopes that it will land her a bomb of a student discount, I see you and I’m super proud of you. I’ve experienced my set of challenges, and a minor inconvenience from each day always adds up to the list, but with consistent actions fuelled by a motivated, positive mindset, one is unstoppable.

You know, the term ‘Thumakda,’ derived from Punjabi, refers to an energetic dance characterized by rhythmic footwork, and in the context of the hit Bollywood song ‘London Thumakda,’ it encompasses the human essence of celebration, fun, and excitement. As we come to the end of this article, I propose that we, as students, are constantly on the lookout for new moves to add to our very own versions of the Thumakda – a shield of strength that celebrates you and lets you dance your way through life. Be it through exploring everything London has to offer, going to that one jiu-jitsu club session you’re too nervous to try, making new connections with fellow students, or singing in a room full of crowded people, every action that makes you even 0.1% happier in your life at university culminates into your very own Thumakda performance, one that cherishes you.

Make sure it’s a showstopper!