11 March 2016
Ibrahim, a Palestinian nurse from Ein el Helweh camp in Lebanon, is currently studying for MSc in Environmental and Public Health Sciences at Birmingham University, supported by the Asfari-MAP scholarship programme. In this second blog, he describes his experiences of life in the UK so far. You can read part one here.
Living in the UK has been amazing in every way. My life is enriched by the university, the environment, cities and people. I have been in Birmingham since last September, living in student accommodation with four other students, all from different countries. My classmates are from ten different countries. This has been my first time living in such a multicultural environment, and I love it.
Adapting to life here has been easier than I expected, but I have still had to overcome many challenges. I have been helped by new friends and the fantastic team at the university. My accommodation is close to all the ameneties I need – shops, markets and, of course, the university. The people are friendly, though most of them had never met a Palestinian before so it’s been a big responsibility to represent my country and my people well.
I am studying Environmental and Public Health Sciences. It’s a really interesting course and an outstanding educational opportunity, with excellent lecturers and classes. The university also provides opportunities for applying what we learn through work experience placements and voluntary work.
The requirements for academic writing are substantially higher in the UK in terms of both quantity and quality of submitted coursework, so I am working to improve my writing. These high standards form a significant challenge for many international students and can prevent many from achieving high marks, however I think am doing well!
Life here is so exciting and interesting, I wish I could travel and see more of the country but the cold whether, assignments for my course, and coordinating with friends have been obstacles to that. Nevertheless, I have been able to visit London several times though, which was great!
By the end of April, I will have completed all my required classes and lectures. I have learned so much about the field of public and environmental health. I have also learned to be open to every experience, every opportunity and every person that walks into my life. I have also learned to look at health risks in my home environment in Lebanon differently, with many new ideas to improve the health and environmental status of my community. I have changed many of my own perceptions by taking an evidence-based approach, which I hope will help me to make many positive changes to the lives of Palestinian refugees in Lebanon.
This educational opportunity was more than a dream for me. I am living the most exciting experience of my life, so I would like to thank MAP and The Asfari Foundation – not only for their generous contribution towards my education, but because of their care for the Palestinian people. I am committed to my community and people and, hopefully, will soon be able to achieve much to improve their quality of life.