By: Emma Do
Photography By: Ryan Lee
Returning to university after the Christmas break feels especially bittersweet this year as a final-year student. There’s an ache in leaving behind your city, your family, and the familiar comforts of home—made even heavier when stepping back into a cold, often sombre London. The start of a new term brings both excitement and uncertainty, a mix of fresh challenges and fleeting moments to savor. Transitions like these can be the hardest to navigate when you’re far from home. But in those moments, I’ve come to realise we’re never truly alone. At LSE, there’s something deeply heartening about how naturally people come together, how shared experiences create a sense of belonging. It’s also encouraging to see so many students and staff working tirelessly to ensure that international voices are heard, that our concerns are taken seriously. For this first issue of Winter Term, I sat down with Aisha Bhugaloo, LSESU’s International Students’ Officer for 2024/25, to explore what it truly means to celebrate diversity—and how, in ways big and small, we all make this community so special.
Born and raised in Mauritius, Aisha moved to London for a degree in Management, so we kicked off our conversation by going back to where she started. “Mauritius is one of the most diverse places you could find, where people of all nationalities are well integrated. I grew up in a truly multicultural hub,” she shared. “That’s why when I came to London, everything seemed fine. I didn’t struggle as much as I thought I would.”
For many international students, the transition to a new country can be daunting, but Aisha’s experience was somewhat different. That’s not to say she didn’t notice cultural differences—just that they surfaced in unexpected ways. “I wouldn’t say I’ve had any major cultural shocks so far. People are actually nicer in London, and affectionate language is much more common here. Strangers on the bus will call you ‘darling’ or ‘love’—that was definitely something I wasn’t used to,” Aisha laughed as she reflected on her journey so far.
She went on to tell me about the best and worst thing about going abroad, and how they are actually two sides of the same coin: being put into unfamiliar situations. “You traveled miles away from home and threw yourself into a completely new environment. Of course, it’s uncomfortable at first. But as you meet new people and experience a different way of life, your perspective shifts. You grow so much in the process. It’s what you make of it. Opportunities are there for you to take—if you’re willing to step outside your comfort zone.”
This eagerness to embrace new perspectives was, arguably, a driving force behind Aisha’s decision to run for the SU’s International Students’ Officer. “Most people were surprised when I told them why I applied,” she admitted with a laugh. “But my answer was simple—‘Do it for the plot!’”
The competition was fierce, according to Aisha. There were six of them running, and as someone who didn’t have as much experience, she immersed herself fully in the application process without many expectations. Yet, Aisha realised how every step along the way, however small, like handing out leaflets or making banners, is a huge learning opportunity. So when I asked about the most valuable thing she had gained, she told me, “There’s no such thing as failing at all. I treated the whole thing like an experiment. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, it’s impossible to be on top all the time. There are so many things that I wanted to do in this role that I didn’t get to complete, plus, balancing a part-time role with your academics at LSE is going to keep your hands full. I take this as a positive thing, though, since it can redirect me to stuff worth putting more energy and effort into, so I learned not to take everything personally.”
When I asked about what Aisha and everyone were up to last term, she mentioned her biggest commitment: joining forces in lobbying for an amendment of the Renters’ Right Bill. “The cost of living crisis is already bad for international students, but on top of that, there is a housing crisis that’s offsetting many,” Aisha told me. “I have friends who’ve been living with a friend for so long because she’s unable to find a place. But even if you do, finding a UK-based guarantor is a whole other issue. If you can’t find a guarantor, in which many students encounter this struggle, you end up having to pay six months in advance or even a year, so this puts huge financial constraints [on students].” Aisha and others at LSE joined the National Union of Students (NUS), writing to their MP and taking the campaign to Parliament. “It was great to be part of something bigger than just planning cultural events,” she said.
This opened up more conversations between us—about the international student community, their needs, and the challenges they face. As Aisha had pointed out, the role isn’t just about organising cultural events; it also requires an awareness of the legal and logistical hurdles students navigate, from visa issues to the rental crisis.
As societies and clubs at LSE are already doing a great job of hosting events, Aisha sees her role as laying the groundwork for something more constructive and sustainable. One of her key ambitions for Winter Term is creating an international students’ guide to LSE. “Before coming here as a fresher, I looked up information for international students, but I quickly lost track. I had to open 10 or 20 tabs just to figure out what to prepare. Everything was so spread out,” she said. Her goal is to create a comprehensive guide for freshers, undergrads, and postgrads alike—interviewing students for insights, curating blogs and videos, and going beyond just another PDF. Simple but practical advice, like living in London, travel tips, or even an introduction to the world of Tesco meal deals, will all be included because, as she put it, “2025 is not about gatekeeping.”
This doesn’t mean there won’t be a strong focus on celebrating diversity and organising events to bring the international community even closer. Throughout last term, Aisha met with presidents of various cultural societies, aiming to spotlight them through collaborative efforts—creating opportunities for students to connect while discovering new cultures. Drawing from her own experience, she wants students to know that you don’t have to be from a certain country to join its society and explore its traditions. Some of her closest friendships were formed simply by showing up to these events with an open mind. “You would be surprised at how welcoming these societies are. They are just as excited as you are when you get involved in their events.”
“Settling in is always the hardest part. I always thought I was missing out when I didn’t go to many of the freshers’ events as a non-drinker because the drinking culture in the UK can be overwhelming. I used to feel like I was going to be left out because I didn’t make friends fast enough in the first few weeks, and everyone was forming their own bubbles and friend circles but me. However, I think that’s when societies and this community come in.” Taking time to find herself and her own people, Aisha joined other more niche clubs, smaller societies, and that’s where she found some amazingly creative people who eventually stuck around. “Not everyone’s going to be your friend. You need to get that out of your head. And you don’t have to be friendly to everyone either.”
As we came to the end of our conversation, I asked Aisha about what she would say, not on how to make the most out of LSE, but just a few words to her fresher self, to which we both got this melancholy feeling. “You’re here for three years, and it goes away faster than you think, so might as well go out of your comfort zone and take on LSE the way you want to. Fake it until you make it. Go out. Remember to get some vitamin D from the sun whenever it comes out. It’s not always going to be sunshine but there are so many opportunities out there waiting for you. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself, Take it easy, one step at a time.”
LSE is an academically demanding, fast-paced environment that can sometimes make you overlook your achievements or feel isolated. But here’s to you, and more beautiful things you can unpack here. You belong in this community.
