London & University College London (UCL)

London was not my first choice. Initially I intended to study in Edinburgh because I thought it is a nice city. Since Mr. Azman, YTN officer said YTN wouldn't send their students there because it was not in the list. So I was left with only 2 options. SOTON or UCL. Three YTN scholars choose to go to SOTON. During that time, most of engineering students in KMYS choose SOTON. Thinking about there will be too many malay in that uni and I might living in malay circles only, not mixing with other people made me asked Mr Azman about London. He said London is a good place. He encouraged me to choose UCL and convinced me that I will enjoy studying there. After considering his advice and the situation I might face in SOTON, I decided to choose UCL. Why UCL not IC? The reason…I think it is better for me to keep it to myself.

Alhamdulillah, after two years studying and living in London, I found Mr Azman's words was right. I also managed to achieve some of my aims while studying in the UK.

HOW DO I DESCRIBE LONDON?

I am sure most of Londoners will agree with me if I say London cannot be described by only one word. It is a vibrant, busy, fun, confusing, dodgy, multi cultural, multi religious, stressful, fast, old, modern, etc. metropolitan city. This is where not only east meets west, but may also the point where everybody from all parts of the world gathered. Not too much if I say it is not a pure English city anymore. When I was on the bus or tube only sometimes I can hear people speaking English, normally I would hear people speaking Arabic, Spanish, Italian, French, Urdu, Swahili or other incomprehensible languages.

However interracial tolerance demonstrated here is far better than in Malaysia. Even though you can see people tend to live in an area where most of the population is their race, for example Edgware Road is popular with Arabs, Chinatown with Chinese, East London with Asians and Africans and South Kensington with whites. Racism is not a big problem. People respect your culture and live harmoniously.

Racism is an offence, universities and government really concern about it. In fact in Student Union, they have a department deals with this issue and the university run anti-racism campaign throughout the year. Serious action will be taken on the offender. Unlike in Malaysia, the UPM incident was kept silence and swept under the carpet. No publicity in the mainstream media. Maybe because Britain don’t have bumiputera policy and everybody speaks in same language, English.

I think Malaysians should learn this positive culture from this country.

p/s: my writings may not reflect the real situation. However that is how I feel and see London.