“So, how are you feeling about LSE?” was the question I couldn’t escape from this summer. I found myself repeating the same spiel, shot through with mild panic: “Well, I think it’s going to be tough… Going back to University, living in London! I haven’t written an essay for four years. Plus, there’s adjusting to the cold weather and rain after living in a hot country! Um.. well.. uh.. So yeah, but I am looking forward to it…’’ – the optimistic words at the end uttered to curve the uncertain expression on my face into a smile,  some attempt at reassuring myself that it was all going to be alright.

Now, almost a month into my Master’s course and I can look back at the shambolic mess I was in the first week (lost, confused, overwhelmed) and smile with much greater confidence. Yes, I’m drowning in a sea of paper, I still have to look up room numbers for some of my classes and I’ve eaten my weight in Prêt sandwiches but I’ve also had some of the most stimulating conversations of my life and been humbled and inspired by the stories of the people I’ve got to know so far.

Although I was born in London, I can’t really claim to be a Londoner. The question “Where are you from?” is generally followed by an awkward and mangled response.  I wrestle to fit the answer into as short a sentence as possible while remaining accurate. “I’m British of Indian origin and yes I do have a weird accent because I went to schools around the world which tend to be American although it really depended on the country, and we did move a lot.” Actually, one of the things I was looking forward to about LSE was feeling ‘at home’ in a crowd of people from all over the world and exploring more of this ever-changing, diverse city.

“These ten weeks will fly,” one of my professors said on our first day about the first term. They really, really are. That’s why I’m determined to punctuate the endless note taking, reading and general work with other moments, with chats over coffee, with the pub, with learning more about (and from) everyone I meet. Bright moments to light my memory in years to come of what is surely going to be a challenging, but hopefully fulfilling year.

I look forward to sharing them with you!