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Dear future international students – Diya Vaya, BA (Hons) Film and Moving Image Production

Diya writes about the experience of moving to Norwich from Nairobi, and her advice to future international students.

People relax on a grassy riverside under trees with autumn leaves, with Norwich Cathedral visible in the background across the water on a sunny day.

Dear future international students,

My name is Diya Vaya, and I’m an artist from Nairobi, Kenya. The arts have always been a safe haven for me, and thus after deciding I wanted to spend my undergraduate years studying Film Production, I enrolled myself into Norwich University of the Arts BA (Hons) Film and Moving Image Production.

A woman wearing glasses, a beanie, and a fuzzy striped jacket sits on a park bench, smiling and holding an ice cream cone. The park is sunny with bare trees and green grass in the background.

I’ve always believed Art can be found everywhere, and frankly it was something as simple as the University’s website, and the showcase of student work that drew me towards choosing the university. Norwich itself as a city, is a piece of art.

Living in Norwich has been extremely rewarding; a simple walk outside is filled with visual marvels including the river running through the city, the street art and pebbled roads, character-filled buildings and cathedrals, and the wide landscapes of greenery. As a city Norwich definitely stands out with its quirky, artistic personality.

To me it has been a breath of fresh air that gives you the peace to become yourself and make art.

View from a bicycle handlebar on a sunny path beside a river and colourful houses; cobblestone and brick sidewalks with trees and clear blue sky in the background.

The city is usually quiet and tranquil enough for you to take a step back and focus on your work. Artistic inspiration comes easy in Norwich when you’re continuously surrounded with art exhibitions, theatre productions, drama classes, craft fairs and poetry shows.

Finding other avenues to dive into your interests is an awesome way to explore the culture in Norwich. For me, performing at TOAST poetry events was my highlight. It allowed me to explore my love for poetry and meet like-minded individuals. It was wholesome, and allowed me to grow as an artist.

A young person with long dark hair and glasses holds a microphone and phone while smiling on stage. Bold text reads "Let Your Mo' Glow" and "Variety Show" on a colourful background.

Something that stood out to me about Norwich was its freedom in expression when it comes to identity. In comparison to most cities I’ve lived in and traveled to, Norwich’s sense of freedom when it came to who a person chooses to be is incredible, so it’s a great place to spend these essential years of growing into yourself. I felt comfortable to experiment with my sense of fashion, and break societal norms.

Despite the city being an absolute gem, naturally coming from a highly diverse place like Nairobi, upon moving I faced a huge culture shock. In the first few months, I met only a few international students, and failed to see many Indian/Kenyan faces like mine around. However, after joining the International society and meeting people in similar situations to myself, I began to feel at ease. It gave me a sense of community, and allowed me to make new friends.

Additionally, discovering places and little corners of the city that held food from home was a blessing. Allow me to share some of my favourites; Asian Bazar has foods and spices from East Africa and South Asia. Namaste Village is one of my favourite places to go when I want a meal that tastes close to home. And Norwich market is such a fun way to explore different cuisines.

Finding spots you can connect to is an important part of adapting, and dealing with change. Walking around the city also helped me get to know it better and find my own personal connection to it.

A person with glasses and dark hair sits on grass, hugging their knees and resting their head on their arms. They wear a blue sweatshirt and have a tan canvas bag. Norwich Cathedral is in the background.

Feeling home sick and facing a culture shock are natural parts of being an international student. My advice to you is not only to find spots and places that bring a sense of home, but also to find comfort in the art all around you. After all, if art was your reason to venture out of your comfort zone, then allow your curiosity to continue to drive you.

Additionally, as an international student, don’t be afraid to let your unique cultural background shape and influence your work. My graduation film titled ‘Samadhi’ is a visual meditation piece and is highly influenced by my cultural background. Build up the courage to let your work be different and make space for letting this experience grow who you are as a person.

Growing pains are a real thing, especially when you’re so far from home, so welcome them, experience them but don’t be discouraged by them. Remember that things take time, adapting takes time, so enjoy the journey. Take things from the new cultures you find around you, and at the same time keep doing things that make you feel at home.

If all else fails, get a tattoo. Norwich has some of the coolest tattoo parlours I’ve seen my whole life.

Kind regards,

Diya Vaya
BA (Hons) Film and Moving Image Production

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