From Istanbul to London: Learning what support looks like

Lara, a Camberwell College of Arts BA Fine Art: Painting student shares her experience of moving to London from Istanbul and how routine community and small acts of care helped her feel more settled supported and confident during her first winter at UAL.

Arriving in London and settling in

When I moved to London at the age of 18, I had no idea what was ahead of me and I was excited to find out. I had spent my entire life in the same area of Istanbul; my school, my family, my friends, my home, they were all in one place. Despite this, I was somehow convinced that I would navigate London uni life with no problems at all.

During my first few months, everything felt new and full of possibility. I was living in halls, which really helped me settle in; there was always someone around to chat with and it made the transition less lonely. But when the months started getting colder, things shifted.

Adjusting to new routines

I spent the entire winter break back home in Istanbul with my family and friends, where I occasionally got to see the sun and experience warmth. When I came back, I realised just how much the homesickness and the winter weather of London were affecting me. I found myself waking up past noon most days and sometimes not feeling motivated until it was already dark outside. The lack of daylight made everything feel heavier and I realised I was suffering with SAD, seasonal affective disorder.

A big part of what made this period challenging was adjusting to the level of independence in my daily life. At that time, my BA Fine Art: Painting course had three scheduled sessions a week, encouraging us to work independently in the studios from 9 AM to 9 PM. I appreciated the freedom to explore my practice at my own pace and during the warmer months, that flexibility felt incredibly liberating. However, in the darker winter months, I realised that having so much open studio time made it easier to lose my daily rhythm and motivation.

I lived just three minutes away from the studios, so I’d often go in after dark and stay until closing. I rarely saw my course mates and the isolation only deepened the feeling of disconnection.

Finding rhythm through routine and community

Eventually, I realised I needed to bring more structure and light into my routine. One of the things that really helped was taking advantage of the optional workshops offered within my course. Signing up for these sessions gave me a reason to leave my room early and start my day with purpose.

Many of these extra classes and sign-up workshops allowed me to be more proactive and taught me many of the skills and knowledge that I still use within my practice. I learned to screenprint, make pigments from natural materials, make oil paint and oil sticks.

Once a week, I would attend the life drawing classes which were in the evening, so even if I was busy that day, this session would help ensure that I did something proactive for my practice. It also meant spending time around other students again, which made me feel much more connected and motivated.

I also found it really encouraging to connect with tutors and academic advisors. They offered practical tips for organising my schedule, balancing my work and wellbeing and making the most of my time at university. Knowing there were people I could turn to for guidance and support helped me feel more confident, connected and ready in the new term to engage fully with my studies and practice.

Small acts of care that made a big difference

On a more practical level, investing in a good, warm puffer jacket was one of the best things I did for myself! It sounds small, but for someone who had never experienced winters as cold and rainy as they are in London, it made a huge difference. The knowledge that I would be warm and dry, even when it was pouring in the middle of January, was the push I needed to get outside and explore, socialise or soak up some culture.

I also realised I was lacking physical activity in my life and was missing nature. Growing up in a suburban area, I was surrounded by forests which were a hangout spot for me and my friend group when we were teenagers. For months, I thought London was lacking in green space, but I discovered that there are beautiful parks, walking trails and forests nearby, like Hampstead Heath, Epping Forest and Burnham Beeches.

I realised that spending time in nature, occasionally taking a full day off to travel to a forest and hike was the reset I needed to keep myself balanced and peaceful.

Looking back, I’ve learned that independence doesn’t always come naturally. For me, it was something I built through routine, community and small acts of care. The workshops, the flexibility of the course, conversations with tutors and the community in halls all became quiet forms of support that helped me find my feet in London and at UAL.