Chapter 58: Studying Abroad in London
In August, after saying goodbye to her family and friends, Kieu Ly flew to London to begin her study abroad journey.
Since childhood, she had dreamed of studying in London, England – a city she considered beautiful and wonderful.
As a student, she also had beautiful dreams about university life in Hanoi. When that dream came true, she spent a whole year disillusioned. Living far from her family, lacking emotional support, staying in a cramped rental room, getting to know new friends, and adapting to a completely different academic program from high school – it was all overwhelming for her.
She remembered...
That first winter, the cold wind came howling through the windows, blowing her hair, seeping through her clothes, bringing with it a sense of deep loneliness. She buried her head on the student desk and cried her heart out. Sometimes, just hearing her mother's voice on the phone – regardless of what was said – was enough to lift her spirits.
Back in Hanoi, she could go home every weekend. But in London? That was impossible.
The weather in London was cool.
Standing at the airport, Kieu Ly took a deep breath and reminded herself to stay strong. Life had given her many chances to experience new things – she had to treasure and enjoy them.
She took a cab to the university dormitory to settle in.
Kieu Ly was truly overwhelmed when she arrived at the school. The campus was vast, a harmonious blend of two architectural styles: modern and classical. Overall, the facilities were excellent. However, the dorm room was surprisingly small – even smaller than the one she had rented in Hanoi.
Still, Kieu Ly had mentally prepared for this. Coming to an expensive country to study, she couldn't expect too much. Her tuition and dorm fees were covered by the university; she only had to take care of her personal living expenses, meals outside, and transportation costs. After completing her work at Toan Phuong's house, she also received a generous salary and bonus. So perhaps she didn't need to worry much about money.
After tidying up, unpacking her suitcase, and decorating the room a bit, Kieu Ly felt a bit more at home.
She opened Facebook to call her family and let them know she had arrived safely.
Then she messaged Thuy Linh, a fellow Vietnamese student already studying there, to inform her of her arrival. Professor Tran Tuan Anh had introduced Kieu Ly to Thuy Linh so she could help her adjust to life in London. Kieu Ly had to admit that Professor Tran Tuan Anh was an exceptionally kind and helpful teacher.