From Jakarta to London: My first two months of learning, adapting, and growing as an Arryman Scholar.

I landed in London as an Arryman Scholar at the end of July with two suitcases and a rough idea of what the coming year would look like. Two months later, after finishing the pre-sessional course at SOAS, I understood the city much better. London didn't get simpler. I got used to it.

Finding a Community in a New City

The first weeks disappeared into admin: opening a bank account, registering with a GP, working out which bus actually went where. None of that made London feel like home. People did. A few weeks after arriving, I saw a flyer near my accommodation and joined a local running community. I'd been running for years, so the activity itself was familiar even when the city wasn't. It also helped me build friendships outside my academic circle. I met people from backgrounds I'd never have encountered in a classroom and talked to them in a way that classrooms rarely allow.