Koy

Koy Mendee is a Marketing major from Rhode island, studying at Northeastern University (Massachusetts, USA). She gave us an insight into London nightlife and Goldsmiths accommodation. She also spoke about the differences between the US and UK education systems, and about the skills she’s learned from studying abroad.

What classes have you taken here at Goldsmiths?

Back home I study Marketing, but here I wanted to take the opportunity to learn different things. I did one History module, The History of Resistance in the Middle East, one Marketing class, Marketing Management, and then London Theatre, which has been amazing. We’ve watched a different play around London every week and then discussed it in class critically. I’ve also studied Anthropology in London, where we’ve explored gender and ethnicity through a lens of anthropology. It’s been really interesting to see London from that point of view.

Was it one of the advantages of coming here that you got to pick different classes from different departments?

I would definitely say it’s an advantage for me personally. I know that when I go back home my classes will be set, so it’s nice to go abroad and have the opportunity to, not only take different classes, but to hear from a different point of view.

How did you find the style of teaching here at Goldsmiths?

I think the teaching is similar in that it was lecture-based, but in terms of the grading and the independent nature of it there was a big difference from the States. Here the professors and convenors were far more engaging and tried to encourage discussion, whereas in the States it’s known that if you are taking a lecture class you don’t talk to the professor at all – you won’t even meet them by the end of the semester. The professors here were all really kind and helpful, and I enjoyed the connection that I had with them.

Have you done many things in London since you’ve been here?

I’ve done a lot of exploring in London. I’ve been to Piccadilly Circus, Soho, Notting Hill, Kensington, Chelsea, Shoreditch, Hackney – I’ve tried to cover lots of different parts of London. I’ve also spent time exploring New Cross and Peckham. I love the location of Goldsmiths, especially as a person from my African background. I just feel like there is so much culture and so many things going on here in this part of London. If I had studied abroad at a different school, I might not have known about all this. It’s been great to have been exposed to all that.

Do you have a favourite bit of the local area?

I really like Peckham. They have a really nice bike path and I’ve loved exploring Rye Lane. Greenwich is also a beautiful area. I’ve also spent a lot of time in New Cross, as there are usually a lot of young people and that environment reminded me of back home in Boston when I’m on campus.

Have you got plans to see other bits of Europe while you’re here?

I’ve already been to Barcelona and Dublin, and then we are going to Greece, Portugal, and Amsterdam. I’m doing the majority of travelling with people that I’ve met here, but me and my best friend came to Goldsmiths together, so we are seeing places together.

How have you found the accommodation at Goldsmiths?

I’m in Loring Hall. I did like the single studio, with a bathroom vibe. It’s also great to just be able to go into a common area and talk to my flatmates if they were there. I definitely prefer this to my freshman dorms back in the States. The location is amazing – Sainsbury’s was right there to get groceries, and the train station is just opposite!

How did you find the nightlife in London?

We’ve asked locals – and the locals here are much nicer than the locals back home. We started off doing things in central London, and we realised that was expensive, so we ended up going to places like Shoreditch, or Camden, or Clapham. We’ve been out in New Cross a ton, and the Deptford area. We’ve just tried to explore a different part of London each night because it seemed like each section of the city had a very different vibe of nightlife. I enjoyed Shoreditch because it had a very typical American college vibe – young professional people. I did enjoy New Cross too, because it had a more artsy vibe.

What are your plans for the future?

I’m graduating next year and I get to have a six-month break right now. I’m looking for an internship back in the States and then I’m hoping to get into product marketing and tech, specifically tech start-ups. Then I may take the MBA track. I’ve been trying to network here and so I’ve been in contact with a lot of London tech companies to see if I can do an internship here in the fall, so I might be back.

What have you learnt from studying abroad?

I think coming here teaches you skills that you can’t really get otherwise, like how to be adaptable, and how to cope with change and exploring a new culture. A lot of people think that America and the UK are one and the same because we share a common language but it couldn’t be more different. It’s definitely been a very different experience that I’ve had here. Learning how to navigate is a good skill to have.