When I first imagined studying abroad, I pictured lectures, library sessions, and exploring a new city. I didn’t imagine celebrating Chinese New Year in a shared student kitchen in Belfast. Yet here I am, thousands of miles from Malaysia, discovering that traditions can travel with you.

Being in the first year means everything still feels new. New independence, new routines, new friendships. Some days feel overwhelming, but days like this remind me why I chose to come here.

A regular university morning

My alarm goes off at 7:30am, and for a brief second, I consider ignoring it. Then I remember: it’s Chinese New Year. Even with deadlines and seminars ahead, there’s a quiet sense of excitement in the background. Breakfast is simple, just granola and tea, but the day already feels a little different.

The weather in Belfast is unpredictable, so layering is essential. Some mornings feel bright and crisp, others grey and drizzly, but the walk to campus is always calm. One of the things I appreciate most about living here is how walkable everything is. Passing cafés and other students rushing to lectures makes me feel part of something bigger.

The walk to campus

Morning walk and study session

By 10am, I’m sitting in my seminar trying to look confident, even if I’m still figuring things out. First-year seminars can be intimidating. Everyone is new, everyone is adjusting, but I’ve realised most people feel the same way. I’m slowly getting used to speaking up in discussions, and each time I do, it feels like a small achievement.

After class, I head to the McClay Library. Managing my own time has been one of the biggest adjustments. In school, everything was scheduled for me. Now, it’s my responsibility to stay organised. Some days I feel productive. Other days, I question my life choices halfway through a reading.

Coffee, catch-ups, and countdowns

A quick stop at Hope Café for coffee is non-negotiable. It’s one of those places where you’re almost guaranteed to run into someone you know, and five-minute catch-ups somehow turn into mini therapy sessions about assignments and life.

By mid-afternoon, my concentration starts drifting towards dinner. Messages start coming through: who’s bringing the vegetables, who bought the sliced beef, did anyone remember the dumplings? Preparing for the Chinese New Year abroad feels strangely emotional. It’s more intentional, more appreciated, just to make everything feel closer to home.

Studying in the McClay

Chinese New Year Hot Pot Night

In the evening, our hosting kitchen at Treehouse slowly fills with warmth, noise, and the unmistakable smell of simmering broth. The table slowly fills with plates of thinly sliced meat, vegetables, tofu, noodles, dumplings, and carefully mixed dipping sauces. The broth begins to bubble in the middle of the table, and suddenly everything feels warm.

As well as food, hot pot is about conversation, laughter, and shared moments. Everyone leans in, cooking their food in the bubbling broth, laughing while trying to rescue overcooked mushrooms or fighting over the last dumpling.

For a few hours, deadlines don’t exist. We talk about our New Year wishes, upcoming assignments, summer plans, and what we miss most from home. Celebrating Chinese New Year in Belfast feels different, but not in a bad way. It feels shared. It feels like building a second home.

Later that night, once the kitchen is clean and the noise fades, I sit for a moment in the quiet. University life is busy and sometimes overwhelming, but it’s also full of moments like this where community matters more than coursework. Days like today remind me that as well as assignments and lectures, studying abroad is also about connection, culture, and creating your own traditions wherever you are.

I set my alarm for the next morning, knowing tomorrow will be back to normal: lectures, study blocks, routine. But tonight, I go to sleep feeling grateful, full, and lucky to celebrate a piece of home right here at Queen’s.

Reflections

The first year isn’t always smooth. There are moments of homesickness, confusion, and self-doubt. But there are also moments of growth, such as learning to live independently, managing responsibilities, and building friendships from scratch.

Celebrating Chinese New Year in Belfast reminded me that home is about the people you surround yourself with. It’s the traditions you choose to continue. It’s the warmth you create in unfamiliar places.

Balancing lectures by day and cultural celebrations by night made me realise that studying abroad isn’t just about earning a degree. It’s about discovering who you are, far from what’s familiar, and slowly building a second home.  And somehow, on this Chinese New Year in Belfast, that’s exactly what I felt.

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Bryan Tong Pharmaceutical Science | Undergraduate Student | Malaysia Hi! I’m Bryan, a first-year Pharmaceutical Science student from Malaysia. Moving to Belfast has been both exciting and slightly overwhelming, but I’ve loved discovering what university life really feels like here. Outside of labs and lectures, I enjoy staying active, trying new cafés, and getting involved in student events. I’m always looking for ways to step out of my comfort zone, whether that’s meeting new people, joining societies, or exploring somewhere new in the city. Studying abroad has been a journey of growth, independence, and discovery. I’m excited to see where these next few years at Queen’s will take me, both academically and personally.