The International Office
Online Handbook
Amity
Do you want to make friends with UK students? We in the International Office understand how important it is for you to get firsthand information about UK culture and therefore we run Amity, an exciting mentoring scheme that gives you the chance to get to meet UK students. You will be attending social events and meetings with your mentor and other mentees, finding out what is available to you at the University and get the chance to discuss issues with your mentor like study skills used in the UK, culture, customs and festivals celebrated in the UK.
Amity Mentor
I have always found it so fascinating to learn about other countries, their cultures, beliefs and backgrounds. I can also begin to understand how difficult it must be to settle down somewhere new and integrate. It was tough for me to do when I moved away from home to come to University; however, I didn’t have any language barriers and culture clashes to overcome. That’s why I decided to become a mentor. I wanted to help and support students coming to a British university for the first time. I tried to meet up regularly with the students I was mentoring and we always had lots to talk about. Topics of discussion ranged from the differences in our education to national holidays and festivals. The whole experience really opened up my eyes and I learnt so much about a wide range of countries.
Justine.
Amity mentee
When I arrived in this country, whose culture is quite different from my own culture, my mentor helped me to get used to living abroad by telling me lots of details about living here. She also shared her own experience as a foreign student in France. In the meetings, we always exchange ideas and stories. It made me gradually understand the differences between two cultures and what the real UK students were thinking and would do.
Pearlia.
Amity Mentor
I chose to partake in the Amity scheme for a number of reasons, but the main one was that I have always been interested in different cultures and how they live and this was the ideal way to find out. For me starting university was a daunting enough task and I originally come from Hampshire, so I cannot imagine how difficult it would be going to university in a different country. The scheme required us all to have four lunch time meetings so my mentees and I met every week. It was a great opportunity to show my new friends some good places to eat and drink in Bath. We had a really enjoyable time, and it allowed us to learn a lot about each other, it was especially interesting to learn about how we celebrate different holidays like Christmas and New Year. We also met for some drinks in the evening. My mentees and I really enjoyed this as we had more time to talk and socialise.
Emma-Jane