Student London 2019:
BIG DREAMS BIG CITY
ONE TO WATCH: LADY GONZALEZ CRAZY RICH STUDENTS LIVING ON £1
KICK OFF YOUR BLOGGING CAREER WITH CAMPUS SOCIETY “At Campus Society, I blog about all things travel, news and book related. I felt I had a lot to say and thought it would be fun to share with other people. “The many channels at Campus Society means there is something for everyone. They revolve around student life, from nights out to job opportunities. “I’ve formed connections with other like-minded students which will hopefully lead to projects in the future. I’ve made so many friends and been able to offer my own advice.” Charlotte, 21, student at York St. John University.
SET UP YOUR BLOG TODAY www.campussociety.com/createchannel/blog
ZONE/D CONTENTS 4 The Matter of Cable Street Its history, places and contemporary spaces 6 Home Away from Home Exploring different cultures in London 7 Quiet Please Unexpected places to focus 8 Mind the Gap Unknown facts about the underground 9 We’re Here! We’re Queer! More than just a list of gay clubs… 10 Urban Masterpieces Graffiti is not vandalism, but a beautiful crime 12 Is London a Muslim friendly city? We think so! 13 The Four Pound Mob Easy meals for under £4 14 Home is Closer than you think Multicultural eats to make you less homesick 16 Vegan Eats London’s best veggie and vegan eats 18 Truck Munch Hipster street food for a quick bite out 19 Beat the Bank Stress free money managing 20 Don’t Give Up the Day Job Ever thought of modelling to pay the rent? 22 Health Check How medical students survive training
Places Food Earning Cribs Style Wellbeing
23 Forget about the price tag Live in London on £1 a day 24 Crazy Rich Students London’s international jet-set 28 Halls, Sweet Halls Shopping guide for student rooms 29 I Pod, Do You? Capsule hotel 30 Guardian Angels Why rent a room when you can have a building? 31 Crep Check Sneaks on the street 32 Stunning on a Budget Work the look for less 34 Lady Gonzales The woman behind the indie streetwear brand 36 Cash for Your Kicks Buying old clothes, making new money 38 Wellbeing Journalist Amber Rolt on her battle with stress 40 Kale Yeah! The dark side of clean living 42 Having the Last Laugh 4Music’s Munya Chawawa’s tips for success 44 Take my advice Coming out in London 45 Where the heart is Beat the homesick blues 46 Why I Love London We vox pop Londoners
ADVERTISING AND PUBLISHING: Richard Alexander, Zara Arrowsmith, Rhea Denega, Bronagh Evans, Xingyue Han, Natalie Lyddon, Amanda Orth, Kelianne Pauga, Vilte Puodziunaite EDITORIAL: Cloe Fletcher, Leanne Gordon, Nayab Khan, Gemma Lloyd, Letisha McDonald, Lisa-Marie McDonagh, Sofia Mutafchieva, Caroline Oestergaard, Mizanur Rahman, Leia Robertson-Dunbar DESIGN: Emelia Anderson, Luke Catleugh, Pablo Mas, Abbey Rezaee-Adl,
EDITOR’S LETTER There’s nothing quite like studying in the big city. Ranked as the best student city in England by QS Best Student Cities Rankings 2018, London is constantly evolving and always creating new opportunities as well as things to explore. This debut issue of ZONE/D is full of relatable and inspirational articles to support you during your time at university and help you make the most of London. In partnership with Campus Society and London College of Communication, UAL, ZONE/D is a magazine for students, by students.
Tashana Service, Emma Smith BA (Hons) Magazine Journalism & Publishing Wellbeing 3
THE MATTER OF CABLE STREET
Cable Street Studios is a hidden gem, a place where the past meets a sense of community and creativity At the east end of the East End, near Limehouse Station, a Victorian red brick building, originally constructed as a sweet factory in the 1860s by Batgers Confectioners, exists a place known for its alternative galleries, for its cheap art studios, and for being a hang-out where art college students mix it up with local Bangladeshi youths and suited-andbooted City businessmen. The area itself has a sense of preserved history and industrial work. A massive painting on the side of the town hall depicts a confrontation between fascists and local residents that happened on Oct 4th 1936: the Jewish community of East London and its allies blocked the streets to prevent Oswald Mosley and his British Union of Fascists marching through.
Image courtsey of Jewish Museum London
The battle kicked off when the fascist movement rose in other European countries Germany, Spain and Italy – led by Hitler, Franco and Mussolini. “The fact that so many different communities came together and resulted in such huge numbers turning out against countervailing pressures tells us something,” says author and historian David Rosenberg. It’s remembered as a victory for the united people of the East End. The result was a general awakening for some of Britain’s Left. More info on the history of Jewish Culture in Britain can be found via the Jewish Museum London. More recently, the iconic underground rave, KAOS, was born at Cable Street Studios. This offered a techno based party from 10pm to 10am. The night
celebrated electronic music and provided a space of freedom and self-liberation. KAOS remains a great representative for the queer and inclusive communities, and now holds parties in venues such as Electrowerkz in East Central London. Nowadays, Cable Street Studios still has a wide range of services to offer. The building has preserved its original structure and essence, yet has been converted into studio spaces: you can rent your own artist studio space, attend yoga, dance and flamenco classes, and meet a community of artists, musicians, tattooists, photographers and so on. Rent in Cable Studios starts at around £300, depending on space size and facilities. Velveteen, who has her own recording studio in the building, says that “the reason [she] started renting the space was because it became a getaway” where she could liberate herself through working on music and melodies in a calm, isolated way. “Working on my music at home wasn’t the best idea as I would usually get distracted or sick of being in the same place. Considering the freedom, I could get from having my own studio, I decided to work a few more hours to cover the cost of my own recording studio space.” The building has two dance studios spaces, flamenco classes: “Cable Street Dance Studios are for individual or small group dance rehearsals,” as noted on the official dance studio website. You can hire a fully equipped dance studio with floating floors, mirrors and professional sound at a price that will allow you to research, consolidate and develop your career as a professional dancer. The studios are also available to rent for teaching (dance or music) and choreographic work. A rate of £6 to £9 per hour makes it very accessible. As well as studios, yoga classes are a feature of the space. The range of options include yin yoga, restorative yoga, align and flow, and handstands exercises.
More info can be found at jewishmuseum.org.uk svanayoga.com cablestdance.com Places 5
Home Away From Home
London is one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the world. We visit three places for you to check out if you’re feeling homesick or if you want to explore a different culture.
Danish Church, Camden
La Page, South Kensington
Kyoto Garden, Holland Park
Denmark
France
Japan
As far as Danish places go, the Danish Church in Camden has it all: from markets to services and holiday celebrations, this is the place to come to be surrounded by Danish people and culture and find familiar foods. The same can be said about KFUK (Danish YMCA) in Hampstead; with a ‘hygge’ atmosphere, accommodation and a large Danish community. Last, although not technically Danish, the Famous Three Kings pub in West Kensington frequently shows Danish handball matches, the country’s national sport.
It’s said that London is France’s sixth biggest city, and for good reason. With over half a million French people in London, the city booms with Francophile opportunities and places to go. Go for a French film at the Ciné Lumière at the French Institute or browse French literature in Librairie La Page, both in South Kensington. Or for livlier evenings out why not try an eclectic night out at Soirée Pompette, a variety night in Finsbury? It has a different line-up every month, including singers, acrobats and magicians. C’est magnifique!
Moving to London from Japan can be a bit of a culture shock, so here are three suggested places for you to check out to feel a bit closer to home. Head to Kyoto Garden in Holland Park, West London, for stunning Japanese landscaping and a sense of calm, or go and check out JP Books in Soho. Here you can browse textbooks, stationery and gifts imported direct from Japan. If you’re feeling a bit old school and energetic you could bring your friends to try Las Vegas Arcade, also in Soho, for some fun times and Japanese arcade games!
Quiet please… It can seem hard to find a quiet spot in the middle of London, but it’s full of unexpected places where you can sit and focus.
Look Mum No Hands! 49 Old Street, E2 7DD Nearest station: Old Street A cafe attached to a cycling workshop near hipster Old Street may sound like the last place you’ll find a quiet corner, but Look Mum No Hands hits the spot. Its quirky décor, great coffee and delicious fresh food will keep you going while you grind. In Summer you can sit on the spacious terrace, and for cycle lovers the place holds a workshop that fixes any cycle issue. Royal Festival Hall Southbank, SE1 Nearest stations: Waterloo, Southwark, Westminster, Embarkment. Make the most of London while you swot. Southbank is the ideal place to enjoy iconic London (Houses of Parliament, London Eye, National Theatre) and get inspired by its brutalist architecture. It’s full of cultural and quiet spots along the Thames, and there’s free wifi inside the Royal Festival Hall. The British Library 96 Euston Rd, London, NW1 2DB Nearest station: King’s Cross Deep silence, historical treasures and spacious reading places are to be found at The British Library. If your research needs
Room for reading, The British Library
a little something you can’t seem to find, with over 150 million items your studies are (probably) guaranteed to be successful. But be warned: you’ll need an appointment to join, and you’ll need to leave your bags at the coat check area. Ace Hotel 100 Shoreditch High St, London E1 6JQ Nearest stations: Shoreditch High Street, Old Street Sipping a fine glass of wine or enjoying a gourmet sandwich in great company is one of the experiences you get when you take your laptop to the Ace Hotel lounge. Treat yourself to an exquisite revision session in its minimalistic décor and great location. Places 7
P A G E H T D N MI
DID YOU KNOW? 1 Only 45 per cent of the Underground is underground. 2 Numerous wildlife has been spotted on the Tube such as: woodpeckers, deer, foxes, goats, bats, grass snakes... 3 The most recent baby born on the tube was in 2009, on the Jubilee line. 4 Bank was rated the worst tube station because of its 12 exits, 15 escalators and 2 moving walkways. Even TfL employees get lost. 5 Balham station is the only stop that doesn’t include any of the letters from the word ‘underground’.
6 Angel has the 4th longest escalator in Western Europe. At 60m/197ft it is also the longest underground escalator with a vertical rise of 27.5m. 7 It’s rumoured that Covent Garden corridors are haunted by William Terris, an actor who died nearby in 1897. 8 Terrifying screams have also been frequently reported at Farringdon station in the past year. 9 There are 49 abandoned ‘ghost’ stations across all the London Underground lines.
10 Aldwych is one of these ghost stations. Closed in 1994, it is a commonly used location for filming. The station was also used to house the National Gallery’s collection during the First World War. 11 Many tube stations were used likewise during the Second World War. The Central Line was even secretly converted into a fighter aircraft factory.
We’re here, we’re queer… How much is entry again? Queer: something that is odd, different, strange or non-mainstream. Let’s get one thing straight, this is not a list of gay clubs. It’s that and more...
Thursday: DIY Thursdays Created by a woman who the regular goers refer to as DIY Mutha, DIY Thursdays offers a vibe reminiscent of a rock ’n’ roll after-party. It is for for the individuals who are able to have an authentically good time without the bells and whistles of a regular night club – just good (live!) music and good company. Bring to life all the looks you have fantasised about as every week hosts a different theme – from prom night to masquerade ball. Friday: Dollar Baby at Metropolis Seeing a drag queen at Metropolis is like seeing a white man on Wall Street… it’s definitely going to happen, and there will be a lot of them! Created by drag queen extraordinaire DJ Jodie Harsh, Metropolis is three floors of nightlife ecstasy. Funk music and stripper poles – what else do you need? At a time in life where the pressure is on, party all your stresses away with a community that stands up for love, acceptance and being your best self. Saturday: Vogue Fabrics During the day this is a hub for queer poetry and comedy. At night it’s a prime spot to express yourself through fashion and dance. It is a spot that resembles where it all began; before society accepted queer culture, when parties were usually held in the basement of straight clubs. At the doors of Vogue Fabrics you are greeted by a downwards staircase leading to an intimate venue where you will rubbing shoulders with the most flamboyant community in London. Places 9
URBAN MASTER PIECES: Street art in London
Street art has been around for longer than you might think. The first graffiti artist is considered to be Cornbread - a man whose real name is Darryl McCray. During his high school years, in 1967, he and a group of friends started “tagging” the city walls of Philadelphia with their nicknames to get the attention of girls. Graffiti in New York caught on as the movement spread from the 1970s onwards. gang members, also known as ‘taggers,’ were filling up old and grimy subway tunnels with graffiti. Their art was a form of self-expression as young people responded to their socio-political environment. Artists started using trains and tunnels as canvases too and soon the phenomenon began. Graffiti reached its peak in the United States in the late 1970s and then spread to Europe. These roots stay alive as today’s walls are very similar. It was only in the 1980s that galleries began to appreciate and showcase graffiti as artwork. There are many types of street art; urban art, unlike graffiti, is legal artwork where the artist has permission from the owner of the property to mark the surface or has even been commissioned. As a globally recognized graffiti painter, Andrè Saraiva says: “Graffiti is not vandalism, but a beautiful crime”.
Best Street Art Locations: Brixton Shoreditch Brick Lane Waterloo’s Southbank Leake Street Tunnels
“graffiti is not vandalism, but a beautiful crime.�
Places 11
Is London a Muslim-friendly city? We wondered if Muslim students found London to be a friendly place. We interviewed young Muslim students to see what they thought.
Maseera Solkar, 24, Medical student Yes. There’s a large Muslim population, but not every place is halal; to have certain food you may have to go out of your way. For females, there aren’t a lot of mosques so I wait or pray outside.
Ali Asayegh, 22, Political studies For Muslims wanting to find a place to pray it’s a bit of an issue; I can’t walk down the street and easily find one.
Mohammed Aaqil Imthiyaz, 22, Medical student I grew up in Saudi Arabia. Moving to London was kind of scary but I’ve realised that it’s a very multicultural city; there are a lot of things for Muslims to do just like everyone else. People helped me integrate into the city quite well.
Fatma Mahderbashi, 21, Medical student Definitely. I think it’s the diversity, not even just Muslims. There are so many people with different types of faith that you can relate to. Universities have big Muslim communities like the ‘Islamic Society’, which gives me a sense of belonging.
Safiyah Hassan, 21, Biomed student This is my first year living in Southwest London in a very Asian dominated area. I haven’t seen Islamophobia or anyone rude or racist; people are pretty friendly.
Saleh Alkhulaifi, 22, Political studies At my university they had Ramadan events, as it was during exam season. The organisers set up the ‘Ramadan tent project’ with free iftar everyday and talks for everyone to hear a peaceful experience within our community.
The Four Pound Mob Do these £4 chef meals work? We find out by making one of Ben Lebus’s famous dishes from his Mob Kitchen book. We all miss those home meals cooked and prepared with no effort other than a seat at the table (or television). Welcome to the real world of cooking, which isn’t always ‘quick’ or ‘easy’, unless you can afford Vapianos five times a week. Ben Lebus turns nothing into something spectacular. He doesn’t cut corners or authenticity either, unlike Jamie Oliver (according to some). The story goes that when he moved into his university flat, he found out that his flat mates did not share his desire for cooking.
“The boys, Paddy and Chester, would cook bacon sarnies and pesto pasta five nights a week,” says Ben in his book Mob Kitchen, a story of nutrition transitioning into uni life. The book along with his YouTube channel should be at every student’s fingertips. So how hard is his stuff to really make? We asked our resident ZONE/D foodie, Luke, about making one of Ben’s four quid marvels. “The dish was so easy to make, it tasted delicious and cost next to nothing to make!”
20-Minute Red Thai Chicken Curry Serves 4, 20 Minutes Ingredients: 5 shallots 3 red chillies 3 tsp Paprika Fresh ginger Fresh coriander Kaffir lime leaves 4 garlic cloves Lemongrass purée 400g rice Vegetable oil 750g boneless, skinless, diced chicken thighs 400ml coconut milk 150g sugar snap peas
Method 1 Curry paste time! Add the shallots, chillies, 3 tsp of paprika, a peeled and grated 5cm (2 inch) piece of ginger, a bunch of coriander stalks, 5 kaffir lime leaves, garlic and 3 heaped teaspoons of lemongrass purée to a blender 2 Blitz until smooth 3 Get the rice on (follow the instructions on the packet) 4 In a pan, add a glug of vegetable oil, and then throw in the diced chicken thighs. As it starts to brown, add your curry paste. Cover the meat in it, and fry so the paste starts catching on the bottom of the pan 5 As this point, pour in the coconut milk, and refill the tin half way with water and pour that in. Throw in the sugar snap peas. Bring the curry to a boil and cover on a medium heat for 10 minutes 6 When the curry is thick and the chicken is cooked through, fold in some fresh coriander leaves and serve on the hot rice. Enjoy! Food 13
Home is closer than you think... Here are some of London’s best multicultural eats to transport you back to your favourite home-comfort dish
ROSA’S THAI 48 Dean Street, Soho, London, W1D 5BF Rosa’s has been serving authentic Thai food for years to the heart of London’s west end. A main dish can cost as little as £5 and it is as authentic as you can get in central London. It gets VERY busy and for good reason. You can book, it’s cosy – a perfect place for a catch up!
YOUR PLACE! SPICY INDIAN BEAN BURGER: Method Ingredients 1. Blitz bread and 1 tin of cannellini beans, drained coriander together to make breadcrumbs. 1 tin of kidney beans, drained 1 slice bread 2. Stir in the rest of the ingredients. Dust hands with ½ onion flour and shape mixture into 3-4 small mushrooms 1 egg burger shapes. This mixture 1 chilli, finely sliced makes two VERY large 1 tsp ground coriander burgers or four smaller ones. 1 tsp cumin 3. Fry on medium heat until 1 tsp paprika brown and hot all through. 1 tbsp mango chutney 4. Serve burgers in a bread 1tsp chilli powder bun with ketchup and salad. Handful of fresh coriander We recommend you eat these Brioche bread rolls with potato wedges.
STOKEY 125 Stoke Newington Church Street, Stoke Newington, London, N16 0UH Eight out of ten North London-based Italians would recommend Stokey for a simple reason – it feels just like home. Based in the heart of Stoke Newington, they offer only two kinds of pizza: Margherita and Marinara, paired with Italian wine or beer. You can grab a spot in their garden when the warmer weather arrives. MUST TRY: Double cheese Margherita.
GODDARDS PIE SHOP 22 King William Walk, London SE10 9HU Goddards pie shop is one of London’s most renowned pie shops. It’s been serving pies to people across the whole of South East London since Its doors opened in 1891. Their famous Mash and Liquor pie is just £4.95. Food 15
With 3.5 million vegans in the UK, London has some very tasty eateries.
VEGANeats
More people are making the change every day, but some are still struggling. The Vegan Option studied 100 people in a month who were following a vegan diet for the first time.
MILDREDS With four restaurants located in Soho, Dalston, Camden and King’s Cross, Mildreds has become well known within the vegan community.
BLACK CAT CAFE: Black Cat Cafe in Hackney is a 100% vegan and plant-based environment. They believe that no one needs to be harmed in order for humans to live, and
The biggest difficulty they came across? Availability of veganfriendly food when eating out. But the news is good: every day restaurants are creating more and more dishes to cater for vegans, and there are even vegan-only restaurants and cafes around London.
YORIKA! Yorica! is the first ice cream to be free from the 14 main allergens, making it completely vegan, and completely tasty. Even their shop is “freefrom” - their Soho flagship is completely cashless, to stop contaminants and tallowinfused notes.
with their cruelty-free products, they can introduce non-vegans to the community. Their beef-style burger is their best seller. The house-made seitan and soy patty in a brioche bun with burger sauce, lettuce and tomato is served with a side salad and chunky chips seasoned with garlic, thyme and rosemary salt.
We’ve looked around and made it easy for you: here are some of the best-tasting places in London that won’t harm animals (or your bank account).
F R I YAY F O O D
DRUNK & It’s the end of the week and you’ve got that Friday feeling; lectures are finished and seminars are over. It’s time to take advantage of 2-4-1 cocktails and hit the dance floor. However, is this the best part of your night out? Definitely not. It’s the drunk pizza at 2am that in the moment, is the best thing you’ve ever eaten. However, when you’re vegetarian or vegan, finding the perfect drunk food isn’t as easy as stumbling into your nearest McDonald’s. So if you’ve gone too hard in the pub and need a quick fix or been dancing ‘til the early hours, say hello to your new favourite takeaways in the UK’s most veggie-friendly, vegan-friendly city.
VEGANeats
9PM –––––––––––––––––––––––– FED BY WATER E8 Open til 9pm: Vegan Italian ––––––––––––––––––––––– 10PM food, because everyone loves COOK DAILY E8 Italian food. Open til 10pm: International vegan food for whatever tickles your fancy. Pies? They’ve got it! 11PM ––––––––––––––––––––––– Tofu? They’ve got it. Noodles? They do those too! SPICE ISLAND N1 Open till 12am: If you fancy something a bit spicer, Indian ––––––––––––––––––––––– 11PM food always has been and MOOSHIES E1 always will be the best for veggies and vegans. Open till 11pm: Burger joint where you can choose from ‘fish’, mushroom, ‘beef’ or 12AM ––––––––––––––––––––––– jackfruit. PIZZA UNION E1, E8, N1 Open till 12am: Because no one is going to say no to a £3.95 –––––––––––––––––––––––– 2AM Margerita. VOODOO RAY’S E1, E8, SE15 Open till 2am: Veggie and vegan options for your late night fix 24 HOURS –––––––––––––––––– or a super early breakfast. BEIGEL BAKE E1 Open 24 hours: Choose from a filling of nutella, peanut butter, egg or cheese.
Food 17
TRUCK Hipster food trucks are on a roll We ask our top three truckers what it is they do and why they love doing it…
NATA Camden Locks, London, NW1 8AF “Lisbon is full of trams, and I wanted my business to have the traditional Portugese elements to it, to feel like I am home. I sell Nata; it is like a British custard tart, creamy and sweet. Customers love my food! London is a tourist city; people like to try new foods all the time and I am here to share my pastries. I’ve been in Camden for 5 years, loving every minute of it.
TRE ROTE Old Spitalfield Market, 16 Horner Square, London E1 6AA “I like that we don’t have to stay in one place for too long. We can change locations, change to different markets. We’ve stayed in Spitalfield Market for 3 years. Before that we were moving around until we found the right place to stay. I want to share the traditional taste of Italy to the market, my best pasta is the Carbonara. We are open 7 days a week and at lunchtime fully booked. It makes me feel amazing to know people love what we do! You cannot change the location for a restaurant but you can for a food truck.”
MOTHER CLUCKER Elys Yard The Truman Brewery 91 Brick Lane London, E1 6QL “I meet many, many different people on a daily basis, people you usually wouldn’t bump into and talk to. This year we took the truck to Lovebox festival, serving all the festival goers. It was a long day but it really was well worth it. It was especially great for me as I was partying and working at the same time, I loved it! We make Southern-fried chicken, American style. Our customers adore it, especially students. We do 50% off for students and give a discount to those on the NHS, so we are never not busy.” Opening hours Mon - Thur: 12–3pm Fri - Sat: 12–9pm Sun: 12-5pm
B E AT T H E
BANK!
Student loans are a daunting part of university life, but with a bit of money management they can be fairly stress free. When you start… DO choose the right student bank account. The best ones offer interest free overdrafts, and some banks offer accounts for when you graduate. These offer lower interest rates than a regular current account to help you out while you find a job. DON’T go for the account with the biggest overdraft facility. The idea is to manage your money wisely and not be tempted by a £1,500 interest-free loan.
FACT: 38% of students have a debt other than their student loan!
FACT: 9% is the percentage of your salary over £25k you pay back per year. If you earn £27k then you pay back 9% of £2k. That’s £15 per month.
When you leave… DON’T move your student loan when you graduate. If you’re looking to repay your loan faster then refinancing could be an option, but in fact this is not a good idea for anyone who isn’t a high earner. The interest rates for a more normal loan are slightly lower but because the loan term will almost always be shorter the amount you will repay each month will be significantly higher.
£ Something for a rainy day… Budget wisely. Whether you get a maintenance loan, have a job or both, making a plan will make life easier and allow you to build up some savings. If you can afford it, allow yourself about £100 a week during the year for your food, social life, and travel. This does not include utility bills. which should be planned for separately. Any money you don’t spend each week can be put into savings, or to treat yourself!
Earning 19
DON’T GIVE UP Tired of working in a bar or retail? We found some students with jobs to inspire you.
ROYAL BABYSITTER - ANISAH BIBI ZONE/D: What makes your job so interesting? Anisah: There are a lot of perks to being a babysitter for one of the royal families of the UAE. The family and I stay at some of the best hotels in the world, such as The Ritz. I am in charge of arranging day activities for the children; we will rent a yacht, go for high tea and dinner at The Shard. Also, being paid £20 an hour while at university is quite helpful. What advice would you give someone looking for an interesting job? Socialise with people because you don’t know who you are going to meet. Be confident in yourself and don’t be afraid to approach new people. At the V&A I got to speaking to people working on a project and they invited me to a fashion workshop where I met the executives for Topshop and Balenciaga, and that’s how I met my current clients. CLUB KID - KAYCIA AINSWORTH ZONE/D: What makes your job so interesting? Kaycia: It’s more than just being the queen of the party. It requires designing and executing original head-to-toe looks and transforming into a whole new persona. We’ve started our own event, ‘Wut Club.’ The contrast between glamorous face of the night and organising talent is interesting. How did you get this job? Me and my friends would go out every week to gay clubs in east London in drag. As the weeks went by, our make-up was improving and our costumes were getting better. One night, the club owner of Dalston Superstore hired us to promote an event. A lot of the job is networking so it’s important to have a strong personality as well as a strong look. Some don’t see it as a real job but it pays the bills and requires a lot of hard work and commitment.
THE DAY JOB ENTREPRENEUR - MARIAM ALAM ZONE/D: How did you start this while at Uni? Mariam: I started making my own chokers and posting them on Instagram. I would get people asking me if they could buy them and the orders started to build up. I soon found a person who printed t-shirts on Depop and thought it was time to expand, so I put in an order and started the brand Offbeat. What makes your job so interesting? I love that I am my own boss and everything that I design is from my own creative vision. I love seeing my products on my loyal clients, including the one and only Paris Hilton. And it has taught me skills I never thought I’d learn such as business management and marketing. What advice would you give someone starting their business? Start small. You’re not going to be a millionaire overnight. Also, don’t think you need to have a massive financial backing to start out- all you need is an idea. MODELS - FA & FON WATKINS ZONE/D: What makes your job so interesting? Fa: It’s really cool seeing ourselves in the campaigns and magazines we admire such as Adidas and i-D magazine. We get to work with the best photographers, make-up artists and stylists in the industry. They’re the ones that transform us from Saint Martin’s students to supermodels. How did you get the job? Fon: We were scouted through Instagram. A modelling agency just slid into our DMs. I would say using social media to your advantage is the best way to get yourself out of a regular job. After going to test shoots and castings we were booked for London Fashion Week. We used to say ‘yes’ to every modelling job we were offered but now we won’t make commitments the night before a 10am lecture. Who are we kidding? We’d never go in! Earning 21
STOP
Health Check We ask three student doctors and nurses about their first experience on a placement. Be warned, some jobs should come with a health warning!
Sang Hee Cho, 24, fourth year medical student, said: “A patient cut herself in front of me. I only saw her for a few seconds but I still see that image. When dealing with a person with mental instabilities you are only prepped for the dos and don’ts. You can’t control your initial reaction, it plays out on your face and for those few seconds or minutes you feel judged by everyone on the ward to see if you can handle it or how you pull yourself together.”
GO
Hannah Lloyd, 20, former student nurse, said: “Within two weeks of my first placement I was wrapping up the dead bodies of patients I was speaking to only days before. It was so heartbreaking, I didn’t feel ready for this. Then after this, I’d have to see and support families in pain as they watched their loved ones pass, it was so awful. It was hard to come home and forget. I found it so difficult I actually dropped out during the second term.”
5 reasons why being a student medic is fantastic… 1 It’s not all hard work and horror stories; medics are known to have the best social scene within London universities 2 It’s not just medicine, it’s one of the most complete training programmes, covering medical, technical and research skills
Sa’ud Jiwani, 23, fifth year medical student, said: “I worked at Broadmooor High Security Prison in the hospital - that was scary. As a medical student I don’t think there is enough awareness about mental health. It was difficult to be put in scenarios and be expected to get on with it. We were expected to talk to people in the hospital, asking about their experience in there and what happened in their lives. The reasons they were there were really frightening.”
3 You’ll meet some of London’s brightest and most hard-working students 4 You may be in the deep end on a placement, but it makes for great life skills 5 Studying medicine makes you interesting! Health and wellbeing is one of the hottest topics of the moment – it’s even the theme for this issue of ZONE/D
You’ve seen the movie, but have you lived the student life? ZONE/D gets a close look at London’s international student jet-setters
Monique is a 21-year-old Chinese student who studies Fashion Management at University of the Arts London. She lives in a flat in Piccadilly Circus and she likes the West End because it is convenient for her to go out, work or to shop. She owns around 50 designer shoes in her closet from brands such as Gucci, Manolo Blahnik and Balenciaga. Monique now owns around 10 Chanel bags, 10 Louis Vuitton bags as well as several other high-end fashion bags. She also bought her first Birkin when she was 20.
MONIQUE ZCHOO I always go to Michelin starred restaurants for fine dining. My favorite restaurants are Best, Hide, and The Fat Duck. I believe that going to a fancy restaurant is not only about the food, but also about sharing the experience with your loved ones.
MINZE TANG My friends and I have moved to the Strata building, Uncle and One The Elephant in Elephant & Castle. The Strata is the biggest and the best of these new skyscrapers. People don’t realise it’s so near to the West End – I mainly eat out in Soho, Chinatown and Oxford Street.
Cribs 25
www.rookiesldn.com
I don’t like to shop randomly. I always go onto social media to have a look at what is new and then go out to buy it.
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halls, sweet halls It’s the little things that count. Here’s the ZONE/D guide to essentials, decorations and must haves to help make you feel comfortable in your new home away from home. Lighting, storage and comfort are the three most important things you need.
Canvas set of 2 IKEA, £5 Frame set IKEA, £29
Lantern Next, £2.50
Be alarmed! IKEA, £4.50 Plant IKEA, £6
Battery operated tea lights Next, £4
Box (good for thinking inside) IKEA, £2.75
Lamp Next, £7.50
Frame IKEA, £3
Diffusers Next, £18 each
Tree IKEA, £9 Cushion Next, £12
Beanbag Next, £100
Rug IKEA, £60
Alternatively... I pod, do you? Why live in a halls, when you can literally live in a hall? How about a £20 a night capsule hotel?
Trading your expensive sixmonth tenancy agreement in Dulwich for a bed in a swanky Central London hotel may seem impossible for students – except when it’s a capsule hotel. Having been around for a while in Japan, London’s newest is in the city’s heart. St Christopher’s Village is officially the first capsule
hotel in London, located on Borough High St. Here’s the hotel manager, Alex Wilson: “Rooms cost only £30 per night and £19 if it is off-peak, February to April. It has a tidy reception where there are around three staff members to serve guests. On the ground floor there’s a bar which serves food too.” OK, it’s not
good for the claustrophobic, but as well as quiet ‘pod like’ spaces, comfy beds and access to private showers, each capsule has cool extras such as changeable colored LED lights, and charger and socket points for your tech. This is living light for Generation Light. st-christophers.co.uk Cribs 29
Guardian Angels Live somewhere really cool and be a property superhero We all know how expensive living in London is, but what if you could be a student in the capital without living in a damp box room for an extortionate fee? Property guarding could be the solution. It’s an arrangement where tenants rent cheap accommodation in empty properties in exchange for keeping the building safe and in good condition. “Students are the future of this country, they need affordable housing, so why should places sit empty when there are people desperate for a place to live?” asks Edward Fenner, Managing Director of Umbrella Guardians and enthusiastic advocate for students as property guardians.
Sponsored by
Having been a student himself, he understands the struggles today’s young people are facing with increasingly expensive tuition fees and rents. He reckons that property guarding is the ideal for students, as the £500 deposit is more affordable and the expensive agency fees are substituted for a small admin fee, cost depending on the property type. In order to qualify as a guardian, all you need to do is be able to provide details of a guarantor or be able to guarantor yourself. But what is the difference between a regular house share and living as a property guardian? Flexible contracts mean property guardians can stay as long as they like and
would only need to give a month’s notice before moving out. It can also be significantly less expensive than regular renting, with rents for properties that need guarding generally around 20% cheaper than the rental fees on the mainstream market. Guardians also have the opportunity to live in locations they might not otherwise have been able to afford or even consider, such as in an office block a stone’s throw from Canary Wharf station, or even a nightclub in the City of London. Umbrella Guardians are taking applications for London and UK properties. umbrellaguardians.com
crep check Yeni Ogunmilade, 25
What are you studying? MA Korean Studies at SOAS What are those trainers? I think they are multicoloured flyknit Lunars. Describe your style? Boyish, but still a little bit feminine – sometimes I wear quite a lot of make-up as my clothes tend to be quite tomboy-ish.
What are you studying? PhD in Engineering at UCL What are those trainers? Sketchers, I just bought them over the weekend. There’s loads of copies of this one, I waited years to buy them. Describe your style? Just casual I think. I try to be as comfortable as I can. I can’t stand jeans and tight stuff.
Haotian Zeng, 25
Elise Loving, 22
What are you studying? UAL, exchange term from Parsons, Strategic Design and Management What are those trainers? These are Air Force 1s, all black with like a red swoosh. Describe your style? I like comfort and street style. I walk a lot so I really do need comfort. Style 31
FACE TIME Boujee beauty or budget beauty, everyone wants to get their hands on a good quality beauty product. FOR THAT SUN KISSED SHEEN… SPLURGE: TOM FORD Ultimate Bronzing Powder, Gold Dust (£75) DUPE IT: Rimmel Natural Bronzing Powder Sun Glow (£5.99) Just when we thought that no bronzer would sunkiss our faces the same way the Tom Ford Ultimate Bronzing Powder does, Rimmel changed the game. This Bronzer has to be the most pigmented bronzer on the high street right now.
FOR THAT LIGHT LUMINOUS GLOW… SPLURGE: Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua (£37) DUPE IT: Bourjois Healthy Mix (£9.99) The Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua is a light weight (but buildable) foundation which helps awaken tired skin with its anti-fatigue elements; it instantly leaves skin looking healthy, revitalised and radiant. But for something kinder on the purse the Bourjois Healthy Mix foundation at a quarter of the cost leaves the skin glowing.
FOR THAT POWER LIP… SPLURGE: Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder (£29.00) DUPE IT: MUA Professional Loose Setting Powder (£3.20) A flawless delicate powder to set and prolong make-up. Effortlessly minimising the appearance of pores, fine lines and wrinkles without creasing – it will see you through from 8am to 8pm. Or 8pm to 8am if you prefer.
TO FRAME THE FACE… SPLURGE: Dipbrow Pomade Anastasia Beverly Hills (£19.00) DUPE IT: Revlon Eyebrow Pomade (£6.00) Smudge proof, waterproof and budge proof, Revlon eyebrow pomade is the answer to perfect precise brows. It’s gel/mousselike consistency and eyebrow brush (included) makes filling in your brows easy and seamlessly. Revlon is providing the goods to get the ultimate strong brow. IMAGE CREDITS: (Foundations: Boots, Bronzer Rimmel: Boots, Bronzer Tom F: Tom Ford, Lips: Boots, Brow ABH: Anastasia Beverly Hills, Brow Revlon: Superdrug)
on a budget on SamiraMemedovski Memedovski is is aa fashion fashion and and PR PR Samira studentand andsocial socialmedia media influencer influencer with with student severalinternships internshipsunder under her her belt. belt. How How several doesshe shestay staychic chicon on aa student student budget? budget? does
Invest in basics Invest in basics So many labels are putting So many labels are putting out high-value basics that you out high-value basics that you can mix and match to create can mix and match to create a minimal, chic look without a minimal, chic look without breaking the bank. Having your breaking the bank. Having your basics game down means basics game down means you have a foundation to build you have a foundation to build on and if you choose well, on and if you choose well, every new purchase will fit in every new purchase will fit in effortlessly to your existing effortlessly to your existing wardrobe. wardrobe.
Get a Job Get a Job Work in retail and you’ll receive Work retail and free you’ll receive staffindiscounts, clothes staff discounts, free clothes and see all the latest trends. and see allisthe latest trends. London a fashion capital, London is alots fashion capital, there are of events anyone there are lots of events anyone can attend and plenty are free. can attend and connections plenty are free. You establish with You establish connections people in the industry thatwith can people the industry that can lead toin more opportunities. lead to more opportunities.
Buy and Sell Buy andand Sell Depop UniDays are just Depop and UniDays just two of the apps thatare retail two of the apps that retail clothes for a fraction of the clothes a fraction of the you originalfor price. As a student, original price.toAs a student, you don’t want spend hundreds don’t want to spend hundreds on a wardrobe, so try outlets on a wardrobe, so try outlets like Sheln and Missguided like Sheln and Missguided that offer dupes and high-end that offer looks dupesforand high-end fashion a snip. fashion looks for a snip.
Charity shops and street Charity marketsshops and street markets Plenty of people want to get Plenty of people want to get rid of their second-hand gear. rid of their second-hand gear. In upmarket areas like Chelsea Inand upmarket like Chelsea Notting areas Hill there’s a firstand Notting Hill there’s a firstrate chance of getting your rate chance of getting hands on some gems your for a hands onCamden, some gems forLane a bargain. Brick bargain. Camden, Brick Lane and Spitalfields have some of and Spitalfields have some of London’s best markets and London’s while youbest havemarkets to investand time to while you have to timestill to find the best buys,invest they can find bestvalue. buys, they can still offerthe good offer good value. Style 33 Style 33
Powerful symbolism, bold imagery, vibrant and colourful garments is what Creative Director Celia Arias-Gonzalez represents in her clothing brand
Moving to London in 2001 from Barcelona, ‘Lady’ Celia Arias Gonzales, expresses how her clothing line came to light and what inspired her. “At the time it was a mix of a love for surrealism, street wear fashion and rave music. I had already graduated from university studying BA Textiles Art at Goldsmiths University of
London and I spent a couple of years creating textile sculptures and exhibiting in art shows.” At a time where social media is important to building the following of a clothing brand, Celia shared the importance of the online audience to the success of the brand: “It functions as a virtual shop, in the same way a physical
one would. The website is the window to the brand’s identity and our world so it needs to depict what we are about, in the most professional but engaging manner. I didn’t have many expectations and it’s a slow build up. We are a very niche brand so we have had to build our customer base. We now do pretty well online,
sometimes better than selling in physical shops. But it’s all down to how much time is put into promoting and social media platforms to get the traffic onto our Eshop.” With business success comes commercial complexity, explains Gonzalez, “I have had many difficulties along the way, but I now have a business partner that takes care of all the orders and the finances, which allows me some space to dedicate to the creative side of things.” Preferring more client-facing work over the admin, she’s energised by engaging in what works and what doesn’t among her customer base. “It is important to test the responses of your products online before deciding to invest money in them. There are different ways to do this by pre-orders, design winning competitions, etc. Sometimes you can forget why you started doing it – but seeing people love our brand, enjoying wearing the designs and tagging us in their pictures on Instagram grounds me.” So what advice would she give to budding fashion entrepreneurs in 2019? “To start a business is a longterm commitment so to be 100% ready and be realistic on what you need to compromise to become your own boss. Be passionate and enjoy the process, it’s a journey but one worth the obstacles if your heart is in it.”
My love for fashion was a mix of a love for
surrealism, street wear fashion, and rave music Style 35
YOU CAN MAKE MONEY BY
RE SELL ING £££
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There is a good chance of winning a ‘raffle’ at least once a month, according to reselling Facebook page Basement
Images: Depop
CASH FOR YOUR KICKS Buy old clothes you like, make money you like even more!
In recent years, there has been a growing demand for vintage and rare sports branded gear. Brands such as Champion, Fila, Adidas and Nike have all increased in value and they can be pricey to buy brand new. This has opened up a whole new world of ‘reselling’. It’s common to hear of people who have sourced vintage gems and resold them for double, sometimes triple what they bought them for. With something like Depop you can
search through the vintage charts and become a famous reseller with thousands of followers and sales daily. Find cheap clothes: Markets At places like Shoreditch Market you can pick up Champion and Adidas items here for as little as £4. These items go for £20-£50 on Depop plus your postage charge. Charity shops Not always full of gems but every once in
a while there’s a vintage item that someone didn’t realise had value! For example, how about a Guess Zip hoodie for 45p in the British Heart Foundation charity shop? Guess is back in fashion and now items like this retail for £40 plus! If you have a little more money to invest then another way to join the reselling industry is entering trainer ‘raffles’ and reselling them at a premium. This is possibly due to them being really hard to get hold of. For example, buying a pair of OFFWHITE Converse at full price for £360 can land you a resale price of £1000. You aren’t guaranteed to win these raffles every time, but there is a good chance of winning at least once a month according to reselling Facebook page Basement. Once you’ve made a few thousand from doing this and have cash to spare you can give yourself a better chance of winning raffles, paying people to enter them for you and paying them a fee of your choice once they’ve gone and collected the shoes. As resale folklore hero Del Boy once predicted, ‘by this time next year, you’ll be a millionaire.’ Style 37
Finding My Way… ZONE/D spoke with Kimberley Cumberbatch, a graduate with a degree in anthropology at Bournemouth University, about her experiences with depression.
ZONE/D: How was moving to halls for you? Kimberley: The prospect of venturing into the next stage of adulthood was exciting. Once I got there the adjustment was very difficult; being far from home for the first time and moving from a big city to a small town was very challenging. People were very different from the types of personalities I was used to. The juxtaposition of the slow pace culture of a retirement town against bustling city life was something I really wasn’t prepared for. What was your experience when living in uni halls? Being away from friends and struggling to make new ones were factors that contributed to depression and anxiety.
“Moving from a big city to a small town was challenging. People were very different!”
Living in halls, especially having an en-suite room, which meant that you only really needed to leave to get food, caused my depression to get worse. Spending time alone in a confined space with no confidence does that. What about your studies? Academically, I got a First in first year, probably because I had no social life; I completed all my work when it was given. It affected me negatively financially too, as I found myself
constantly going home for the weekend, and it worsened my chances of making new friends because I never did anything social at my university. What helped you get better? I kept my connections with home friends and family as strong as I could from afar. Also speaking with the university GP. I have also learnt not to let things such as anxiety rule your life and to love yourself enough to take the appropriate steps to better your quality of life.
Red Amber Green Amber Rolt is a freelance journalist who graduated with a Master’s degree from City University of London in 2015. Currently researching mental health, she sat down and talked to us about anxiety and her personal journey of daily battles.
ZONE/D: What can you tell us about your history with anxiety? Amber: I suffer from generalised anxiety disorder. I was lucky to be diagnosed at 15, because it meant I was able to explore various coping techniques, therapy and medication throughout my teens. My main trigger during university was the stress around coursework: deadlines, exams, and so on. Other things that did this were moving to a new city and making new friends. What are the common symptoms of anxiety? How does one identify it if they’ve never experienced it before? The most extreme situation
that can happen is a panic attack. In a panic attack you suffer from increased heart rate, blurry vision, sweaty palms and irregular breathing pattern. I still get them, but now I can recognise if one’s about to come. It’s such a short window, maybe two minutes between being normal to going into freak out mode. Anxiety boils down to the inability to stop worrying about things that are beyond your control. How important is self-care for mental health? Self-care is how we look after our mental health. It’s what makes you happy, making sure you incorporate that into your daily routine.
Student Minds UK student mental health charity 01865 246168 Info@studentminds.org.uk Beat UK’s eating disorder charity 0808 801 0677 (adults) 0808 801 0711 (under 18s) Help@beateatingdisorders. org.uk Anxiety UK Support for people diagnosed with anxiety Text: 07537416905 Info line: 03444775774 Support@anxiety.org.uk
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Kale Yeah! Rosie Bishop, a third-year student at UAL studying Fashion and Textiles, loves to whip up delicious healthy recipes and workout programs – but she’s also tasted the dark side of clean living.
One of the most common misconceptions about uni students is that they can barely take care of themselves. Students such as Rosie Bishop are breaking this stereotype and are proof that being in higher education doesn’t necessarily result in a poorer diet. Essentially, fresh food has always been a part of Rosie’s life. Growing up, her mum would always buy organic food and cook, so there’d be homemade potato wedges on their dining table instead of chips. That said, Rosie would still treat herself to a cheat day occasionally. “I’d normally want to make myself something healthy and nutritious, but everybody has moments where they’re like ‘I want some Super Noodles.’” At the age of 12 Rosie became a vegetarian. Seven years later at 19 she made the choice to become vegan, but she was forced to quit after falling ill. “Some people totally thrive on that and I absolutely respect it; it’s an amazing way to live, but I just had to put
myself first. I was doing a lot of exercise and I needed to fuel my body right.” Currently, Rosie has found the right balance between nutrition and workouts, and she says her body is “at its happiest.” Nonetheless, the 22-year-old briefly witnessed the dark side of clean eating. For a while,
she became obsessed with eating healthily, a condition known as orthorexia. “I used to check everything. I wouldn’t eat bananas because I was scared of how much sugar was in them. It became controlling and I hit a very low point in my life; I lost a stone in a year, I lost my periods.”
“However, it was never about the weight, unlike anorexia or bulimia, orthorexia is about the purity of the food.” On an average day, she’d have just protein powder with water and lots of ice cubes until dinner. The moment of clarity came after she read a book called ‘Orthorexia: When Healthy Eating Goes Wrong’ and identified her problem. That’s when she started making smoothie bowls and began documenting her personal journey on social media. Whether it’s a banana and mango bowl after a workout to replenish the body’s glycogen stores, an ice-cold chocolate cashew smoothie with vegan protein and a balance of carbohydrates and healthy fats on a hot Summer day, or a classic green smoothie bowl for an affordable nutritious snack, these recipes are the perfect choice for anyone looking to add a healthier but still tasty twist to their diet. After battling a terrifying eating disorder and overcoming it, Rosie used the opportunity to educate herself about clean eating and do it right. Able to find the time to work out daily, study for her dissertation, go to work, prepare delicious smoothie bowls and post on her blog, Rosie’s story is an inspiring example that learning from your past trials can not only empower you, but can also enable you to help others who are struggling. Rosie’s recipes are all on rosayab.wordpress.com
Berry Blast Coconut Smoothie Ingredients 50g frozen mixed berries 40g blueberries 1 scoop coconut protein Kin Protein 200ml coconut milk 1 frozen banana 4 ice cubes 1 tsp Maca powder Toppings Coconut chips Goji berries Ground linseed
Method Add everything to a smoothie maker or food processor and blend together. Enjoy straight from the smoothie bottle or pour into a jar and sprinkle over some extra toppings such as goji berries, ground linseed and coconut chips. Enjoy! Wellbeing 41
Being a self-made presenter and comedian in 2018 isn’t easy. ZONE/D spoke to 4Music presenter Munya Chawawa about achieving success on your own.
THE LAST LAUGH ZONED/D: A lot of students struggle to get their foot in the door. How did you get into comedy/radio/presenting? Munya: I’ve always done little sketches and small funny YouTube videos, kind of topical videos about people like Kanye West. When I graduated from university I felt that these kinds of videos were a bit immature, so I left those behind. I realised that I was going to reach a large market via Instagram, where a lot of comedians are getting attention. What inspired you? I was really inspired by this podcast called The Bugle, in which the producers of the show would rip into the news. They were mavericks and I wanted to be like them, so I made a satirical news show that I released during the weekend. It was too detailed and specific; people couldn’t really get it. I thought how can I talk about news, but in a way that you can access it despite your age or how much you understand popular culture? That’s when the sketches started to come about. So, for example if someone’s being racist or if Theresa May is dancing awkwardly, that can be expressed through a living character. What were some of your struggles as a student? I went to Sheffield university and I didn’t really enjoy the drinking lifestyle and I wasn’t really enjoying the social aspect of it because people were quite cliquey. It could be my Zimbabwean up bringing but I felt I was studying really very hard compared to other people. I was so knackered. The only thing that stopped me from dropping out was the TV/radio studio that was available for students to use. I started letting my creativity flow and that’s when the sketches were born. It all started there.
What or who is your inspiration? I only have a few inspirations such as The Bugle podcast creators, Chris Lilley and David Walliams. David isn’t perfect, but I appreciate the quality of work he produces. But overall, I don’t have an idol. What is your advice for students in the creative industries? When you think of doing anything creative, it’s always seen as a race. You know, people always think of who’s going to be the next Maya Jama or Ant and Dec or Reggie Yates or whatever. I think it’s a race to see who’s the last remaining!
“People think of who’s going to be the next Ant and Dec or Reggie Yates. I think it’s a race to see who’s the last remaining!” There are so many chances to give up. At the beginning it feels like a hurdle race and the hurdles are all in the first 10 meters of the race, but it comes to a point where there’s more opportunities than there are hurdles; it’s the people who perceive that who make it and land the big jobs. They’re not always right for the job, or the most skilled but they didn’t give up. That’s how you achieve what you want in this industry.
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Adam, a student who moved from Poland for a better education and a more accepting lifestyle, found that life in London was not what he thought it would be. “No one at home knows that I am gay. People are becoming more welcoming towards gay people, but there are still loads who don’t understand,” explains Adam about the tough masculine environment in Eastern Europe. “I moved to London because it seemed open-minded and everyone could be who they wanted.” However, after settling into life in the city, he realised that London was not quite what it had seemed. “Seeing LGBTQ+ people who were so confident with who they are made me feel left out, and I feel like I was doing something wrong, like I am not like them.” So was that because he wasn’t ready to be open about his sexuality?
“Moving to London is hard enough, but coming out at the same time is another kind of struggle.” Mental health charity Mind is determined to never give up until everyone experiencing a mental health problem gets support and respect. Mind provides advice and support to help people get through anything. mind.org.uk “No. I am more comfortable being myself, but the hardest part was having high expectations and falling short.” Falling into a depressive episode, not fitting in at home, and not fitting here in London, looking back Adam ponders: “I wish someone had given advice before I moved here,” adding “I would tell people
to take it slow.” The Mental Health Foundation suggests that LGBTQ+ identifying people are more likely to experience a range of mental health problems such as depression, suicidal thoughts, self-harm and substance misuse. Now Adams helps others in his university network, sharing stories and helping where needed. Adam’s advice is that you need to give yourself time to get used to your “new environment, and your new identity.” According to him: “The main piece of advice I give is: talk to someone. Anyone. Even if you feel like you have no one who will understand, universities are the best place to get help. I joined the LGBTQ+ social club and, even though I was terrified, it’s helped me so much.” If you’re feeling isolated, depressed, or uncomfortable with yourself, reach out and say something. It’s time to talk.
Living in the big smoke can seem such an exciting and remarkable opportunity. You’ll be surrounded by millions of new faces, new routes and endless amounts of new life challenges to face, which to some may seem like a dream come true. But what do you do if you find yourself struggling, feeling homesick and lost? You may start to secondguess yourself: Is London for me? Was coming to university the right choice? Will I get a job afterwards? This feeling of uncertainty and self-doubt will make you feel uncomfortable. It is all completely new and overwhelming, you might just not feel ready, but that’s totally OK. You have taken yourself out of your comfort zone and you are trying. That’s courage. Leaving your comfort zone, the place where you have total control, and instead putting yourself out there makes you a winner every time. Most people want certain
things in life – a nice home, a successful rewarding career, a big bank balance, a strong group of friends. People know the steps they need to take to get where they want to be but are afraid to take action because they fear the unknown, the discomfort they may face, the stress and effort it will take to get there. It is like driving with the brakes on. The funny thing is that many of us pick being comfortable over a fantastic opportunity. When forced into a new setting or location, you have the opportunity to grow, establish
new relationships, develop your self-confidence, learn to deal with challenges and, importantly, you will learn more about who you are. You may find this new transition difficult, but you are taking control and getting stronger by doing so. Being a student in London offers so much: opportunities to explore and develop exactly what you want to do and you are lucky to have some of the world’s most reputable innovative people around you. The key to success is to learn how to get comfortable with feeling uncomfortable and to embrace it. Flood your mind with thoughts and images of your desired reality, start questioning everything, eliminate the need to mull over certain things, practise speaking up, and say yes more than you say no, even when you don’t think you are ready. Really ask yourself this question - What would I do if I knew I would not fail? And then go and do exactly that. Wellbeing 45
LA VE LONDON
“I love London because I meet so many interesting people. I moved here from Coventry years ago and I’m still not used to its quirkiness and hipster style. I’ve been to New York, Paris, Berlin;they’re incredible but it’s not the same vibe, their atmosphere is different. London has an invisible soul and it’s captivating.” – Akin, 29
“London is a magnet for creative people and it generates so many opportunities. That’s just one reason I love London. The other is because it’s tolerant, and open, and diverse. I can go anywhere in the world and say ‘I’m from London and feel proud about that, whereas you don’t always want to say ‘I’m from England.” – John,55
“I love how dynamic London is. There is always something going on, concerts, art exhibitions, gigs, parties. You can see so many different types of people on a Friday night, the pub person, the cocktail bar person, the heels and a dress girl headed out to Chelsea, or the jeans and Vans girl headed to Shoreditch.” – Maria, 22
“I like it because it’s magic. To me. London is different. I come from Paraguay, it might just be a different continent but to me, it looks like a whole new world.” – Anquela, 31
“Two reasons: food and art. I love the British Museum, the National Gallery, and the Tate is my second home. English food isn’t great, but London makes up for it by offering every other cuisine!” – Efraz, 34
“I love London’s history and the royal family, I even went to Windsor to watch Meghan Markle become a real-life princess. So wonderful!” – Jennifer, 21
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