DAY 1: DEPARTING WITH HEART FULL

The morning I left Chattogram, it was raining. Classic.
Shah Amanat International Airport was packed with my cousins, uncles, aunts, and neighbours I didn’t even invite.

 

Hugged 17 people. Boarded the plane with 28kg of emotion.

 

Landed in London. Cold. Grey. Huge.
My brain? Jetlagged. My soul? Scared.
But my visa was stamped. My bags were (mostly) here. My future had officially started.

WEEK 1: SMALL ROOM, BIG FEELS

Arrived at my accommodation and thought:

“Damn eto choto!”

But it had a bed, a heater, a desk, and the biggest thing of all — freedom.

Microwaved a takeaway curry which I brought from local shop downstairs.
Called my mom. She cried. I cried. The internet froze. Classic.

WEEKS 2–4: CLASS STARTS

Met people from Nigeria, Vietnam, and one guy who thought Bangladesh was a city in India. Smiled politely. Internally screamed.

 

First class? Took me 10 minutes to understand the professor’s accent.
He said “brilliant” every five minutes. I don’t know if it meant “good” or “you’re wrong but I’ll allow it.”

Also:

  • No one calls you bhai here.

  • You can’t just “pass” group work — you actually have to do stuff. 🫠

WEEKS 5–7: KITCHEN STRUGGLES

Tried making daal. Burned it.
Tried boiling rice. Became firni.

 

Eventually:

  • Found halal meat in Whitechapel, London

  • Bought mustard oil from a Deshi shop 

  • Started cooking properly — well, semi-properly

WEEK 8: I MISSED CHITTAGONG SO BAD IT HURT

I missed:

 

  • My friends and family

  • The call to prayer echoing from five directions

  • Random “bhai ki obostha” greetings on the street

 

But I reminded myself:

I didn’t come this far to give up.
I came to grow.

And honestly? I didn’t get here alone.

ENTER: MR. SHAIF AHAMMED — THE REAL MVP

Let me tell you something about Real Education Consultancy.

Before I left, I had zero clue what an SOP was.


Didn’t know which uni to pick, what to write, or how to apply.

Then I met Mr. Shaif Ahmmed, the CEO of Real Education Consultancy — and a proper gentleman.

He:

  • Helped me shortlist the perfect UK university

  • Walked me through every document

  • Reviewed my SOP like a university examiner

  • Took my mock CAS interview and acted like a strict British uncle —
    “Why this university?” “What’s your career plan?” “Speak confidently, son!” 😅 I learned a lot from that tbh! 

  • And even calmed my parents down when they panicked mid-process 🙂

Without him? No chance.
With him? Everything made sense. Everything worked out.

WEEKS 10–NOW: FINDING MY GROOVE

Now I:

  • Say “cheers” instead of “thank you”

  • Cross the road like a Londoner (read: I sprint)

  • Make daal without burning it

  • And no longer convert everything into BDT (mental health win!)

I still miss Chattogram, but now I carry it with me — in my food, my manners, my playlists, and my stories.