Daniel On Moving To The UK: Omo! You Will Figure It Out, I Am Figuring It Out Too

The United Kingdom has opened its doors to many Nigerians and one of them is Daniel who travelled to the UK from Nigeria for his master’s degree. We had a nice chat via WhatsApp, where he shared his journey and experience so far with me.

Hadassah: Hello Daniel, thank you for doing this with me. Tell me, when did you leave Nigeria?

Daniel: I left Nigeria in October 2022

Hadassah: Why did you leave?

Daniel: I left to study, Left to further my education. Here for my master’s degree because I graduated from school a long while ago so I decided to do my master’s degree to further my career. My career took a different path from what I studied and where I was. I am doing my master’s degree in a path that aligns with my current career, that’s why I left.

Hadassah: What are you studying?

Daniel: I am studying Project Management.

Hadassah: What was the leaving process like for you?

Daniel: It was a mixture of emotions and feelings because it is not easy having to decide to leave where you grew up, where you have been most of your life and everything around you and your comfort zone. I kept telling myself that I had to look at the future, my plans for my life and all of that because I am not getting any younger. The leaving process was not that bad. By God’s grace, with my support system in my parents, we came together, and did the things we needed to do and on time. It was not that bad but it was the emotional and the mental part that is really something.

Hadassah: Can you give me the price breakdown of all you spent on the relocation? 

Daniel: The school fee fund was not easily available and I had to use the black market prices two different times so let us say around 8 million naira total for school fees.

For my visa, it was about 1.5 million naira, I used the black market too, making it about 9.5 million,

The flight was around 1.2 million naira as well, which is like 10.7 million naira, let us round it up to 11 million naira, 

And other small small things that needed to be done, let me say about 10 to 15 million naira on average. I know I spent more than 13 million naira generally and all of this is before landing and before coming to the United Kingdom.

Hadassah: How about accommodation? How much did that cost you?

Daniel: Hmmmm, accommodation. The United Kingdom has a housing crisis right now. It was really hard getting a place, the only place I could get, I had to pay $1500 in rent monthly for a while but then I had to leave because it was too expensive and when you convert it to the black market rate. It is a lot. That has been a major challenge.

Hadassah: How much do groceries cost you on a weekly basis?

Daniel: I like to eat well so I spend more or less 300 to 500 dollars on food monthly because I like to eat well. 

Hadassah: What has the cultural experience been like?

Daniel: It has not been so bad because my school has a lot of Nigerians so it has not been hard to adjust for me because personally, I can adjust well to new places so it has not been so bad just some things like the food. I have a very African palette. My taste bud is very African Nigerian so the difference in ingredients, quality and taste while making your own food, and as I said, I like to cook a lot. There is also trying other food as well.

As for meeting people from other countries, that has been a bit limited too because where I stay is very fast-paced and nobody has time to stand and talk, everyone, is just on the move. 

Hadassah: Have you joined any communities?

Daniel: There is this NIUK community. It has not been active too much these days and neither have I been active too much, I have just been doing my thing. 

Hadassah: Share living tips you’ll give anyone moving to your city. Where to buy more affordable food or clothes, Etc. Basically tips you wish you had known or someone had told you before you travelled. 

Daniel: The ultimate one is to get more money. Try to get more money before you move and before you travel. Try to secure a steady source of income

Live within your means.

If you are coming as a student, there are a couple of discounts, Amazon prime is free for the first 6 months for you, and Apple music also. All these little subscriptions and also getting your Oyster card can help you save some money. It is not a lot of money but at least something that you can use for other things and then try to create a budget. Personally, I have always been financially sound, I create budgets, and I know how to do what I have to do within my means and try. 

For clothes, I would say Primark but Primark makes low-quality stuff. 

You’ll figure it out. That is just what I tell people. Omo! you will figure it out, I am figuring it out too.

Hadassah: What is the social life like for you? Do you get out much?

Daniel: The social life is that bad because I go out a couple of times, I have some friends here too and we go out. I am even planning on travelling too. One thing is that travelling to other countries from Nigeria is a struggle because of the visa process and how long it takes. It does not take long to get your visa here and flight tickets are also cheaper.

Hadassah: Would you move back to live in Nigeria?

Daniel: MOST DEFINITELY

Hadassah: Thank you for talking with me