Coming to Leeds for the First Time!

21st of December, the day I had been anticipating for the longest time had finally arrived. The day I would get to start a new chapter in my life called University. I had two overfilled suitcases with clothes, and a lot of homemade food. It also happened to be my first time travelling during the Covid period, feelings of excitement and nervousness resided within me as the airports looked empty, with social distancing and sanitization points at every corner. Before my flight I walked around the airport seeing wild animal paperweights reminding me of Nairobi while cherishing the 18- 25-degree temperatures for as long as I could. A friend who was travelling with me, and I wore Kenyan flag wristbands to symbolize that no matter where we go Kenya would always stay in our hearts.

After an 8 hour flight, we landed in Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, where we prayed in the Meditation room and then had our breakfast at Starbucks. We caught the one-hour flight to Manchester and the view was breath-taking. The ocean turbines that I had never seen before, the sunlight and greenery all together was a beautiful site. After landing in Manchester and buying a GiffGaff sim we were warmly welcomed by the University of Leeds International Welcome representatives who took us to Leeds by bus.

At my accommodation, I was meant to quarantine for the next ten days and I found a free isolation food box from the University. I was astonished by how the University of Leeds had gone out of their way to get everything a student would need during the isolation period such as, fruits, vegetables, cereal, biscuits, juice, beans, pasta, a mug, a frying pan, tea towels, toilet paper and a lot more. It was just enough food for anyone to settle down and not be worried about cooking for a few days. If you are arriving in Leeds, always read the arriving and travel information page where you can find lots of information before you begin your journey.

The next few days in isolation at the apartment really flew by, I would take pictures of the lightbulb and fireplace in the room and I would cook from time to time. Once I made vegetable Pilau, which is a rice dish cooked with Indian spices, broth and either meat or vegetables. Additionally, I learnt how to do laundry with laundry pods and for the first time used a dishwasher. Furthermore, while ordering home delivery food I got to know of the halal restaurants in Leeds such as Haftsin, MyLahore, Akbars, Nando’s, Mumtaz and Cardigan fish bar. To socialise I joined the Global Socials and Events held by my fellow Link to Leeds Ambassadors which gave me an opportunity to make friends, learn more about Leeds and play games. I also spent my time working on assignments, starting the online application for a bank account and signing up for the Leeds Medical Practice Membership.

After the ten days of quarantine ended my excitement to finally come out and explore Leeds was topped up by the snow fall ❄️ on the 1st of January. A wish I had my entire life was to experience snow. I probably spent an hour just looking at the thickness of the snow, the colour, the direction and the speed it fell in because of how much it amazed me, and my camera did no justice to its beauty. The first place I made a trip to was Trinity Leeds, a mall where one can find literally every store for clothes, food, jewellery and cafes. Walking in Leeds is enjoyable as everything is accessible, and the city is pretty to look at. To keep warm, I bought a Superdry winter jacket, gloves, thermals, and a thick hat.

The next few days were spent exploring and buying the essential items I would need to move into student accommodation. I bought bedding items at a Home Store called Dunelm and electrical items at Argos. I went to have a look at the famous Leeds dock which gets approximately 1.5 million visitors a year. The ships, clear water and ducks are a very peaceful scene.

After a few days, I went to the University to collect my BRP and saw how nice and student friendly the environment is. The old styled, intricately designed, well maintained buildings on campus are impressive which gave me Harry Potter vibes. A cafe near campus that I must recommend is Bakery 164, their sandwiches and coffee are very flavoursome.

Before moving into my student accommodation, the UK went into a national lockdown, however I could not be more than grateful for the leeway of open grocery shops and online delivery services. I enjoy going on peaceful walks from time to time and always discover something new about Leeds. To conclude, my trip to Leeds for the first time exceeded my expectations and I would definitely go back in time to relive the experience. I am excited to see how this semester goes!