By Vlerë Qerkezi
You never know what life throws at you. One day you’re at home, having just finished your A-levels, the next you’re about to embark on a six-year journey with a bunch of strangers in a foreign country you’ve never been to before. Yikes.
Well, it wasn’t too bad. At least that’s what I thought. After a lot of research, I found Medical University Pleven in Eastern Europe, Bulgaria. The course was in English and my degree was GMC approved, that was all I needed to get me packing, as well as the financial support of course.
The application and the process of moving abroad happened quite quickly. I enrolled in February 2015 and that’s when I began my first year as a Medical student.
The challenges and how I overcame them:
Although the transition was easy for me, nothing truly prepares you. It is a life-changing decision, and quite frankly, six years is a very long time. To be able to get through my years here I really had to want to do Medicine. I had not quite anticipated how different the Eastern European way and standard of living was, as well as the quality of teaching, culture etc. For example, shaking your head equates to saying no in England, however, to my surprised first-year self it meant yes in Bulgaria - a concept I still grapple with today. Unfortunately for some, their drive for medicine wasn’t quite enough for them to continue their medical journey here. Not all of us have had it easy, with some people opting out of continuing their studies due to personal reasons.
Being homesick has by far been one of my greatest challenges. I know that I can speak on behalf of all the students here, that being so far away from home has been difficult for us all. Although it took time getting used to, I was constantly surrounded by amazing friends who have essentially been my family away from home. Meeting new people from all over the world can be daunting, but with that came the opportunity to learn about different cultures and ways to communicate with such people. Although Eastern Europe may not be as glamorous, I am now a true believer, it is not the elaborate buildings and restaurants that make the location, rather it is the people that make living here worthwhile.
Another challenge that I have faced was learning the Bulgarian language, something that I have struggled with during my time here, as have many other students. Although I get by with the minimal Bulgarian I know, I wish I had put in that extra effort to learn the language properly but I guess language isn't everyone's strong suit, it certainly isn't mine!
What am I doing now?
I am now in my final year of Medicine and studying for my final state exam in March. Alongside this, I am also in the process of preparing my transition back to the UK as an FY1. With Brexit, this has meant the transition period will not be as easy and smooth as last year's graduates, but it is still doable. This last year has been particularly challenging, as with COVID-19 we haven’t been able to attend our clinical rotations as much as we hoped.
It has been a long journey and I can't quite believe it's coming to an end. My experiences here have shaped me into who I am today, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. I have had my fair share of struggles with exam stress (if only you knew the amount of tears I have cried) and obviously, I would have wanted to be at home studying at the university of my choice - who wouldn’t? But at the same time, I am so grateful that I have the chance to study Medicine because honestly, I can't see myself doing anything else.
I understand that a lot of students fail to consider the option of studying abroad but I want you to know that the option is always there. My advice would be to consider the opportunities available in your home country, but if your options are limited and if it means you need to move abroad to chase your dreams then go for it! As long as you do thorough research beforehand and make sure that you get the required credentials, as far as I am aware ‘The world is your oyster’
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