WE LOVE PORTSMOUTH: '˜We feel very much at home in this city'

07/02/18

Students from Portsmouth University talk to the News about why they like the city of Portsmouth for the We Love Portsmouth feature. (left to right), Marwan Kisserwan, Ihab Alkhaldi, Alex Uibariu, and Ndanu Brown.
Picture Ian Hargreaves (180195-1) PPP-180902-181425006 — 07/02/18 Students from Portsmouth University talk to the News about why they like the city of Portsmouth for the We Love Portsmouth feature. (left to right), Marwan Kisserwan, Ihab Alkhaldi, Alex Uibariu, and Ndanu Brown. Picture Ian Hargreaves (180195-1) PPP-180902-181425006

A team of international student and staff ambassadors at the University of Portsmouth provide support and insight to prospective international students.

The group met with The News as part of the We Love Portsmouth campaign to talk about why this city is their home away from home.

Ndanu Brown from Kenya is in her third year studying Criminology & Forensic Studies.

The 24-year-old said: ‘My favourite place is the beach and I love it because I was born near the sea and it reminds me of home.

‘It is a city but I forget it is a city because of the sea being so close.’

Romanian Alex Uibariu is doing a PhD in Criminology and Criminal Justice.

The 25-year-old said: ‘I like the community spirit in Portsmouth. I think I was really impressed by not only what has been done by asylum-seekers and refugees but the silent protests for various causes.

Pro Vice-Chancellor for Global Engagement Chris Chang is originally from Malaysia and moved to Britain 26 years ago.

He said: ‘I like that the city is compact and public transport is great.

‘We are close to the beach but we have the key shops and you don’t miss out on anything. There is a buzz to the city.’

More than 20 ambassadors make up the international student team and communicate with other students across the university and accompany the marketing team on recruitment trips across the globe.

Ihab Alkhaldi from Palestine is studying an MSc in Mechanical Engineering.

The 26-year-old said: ‘I enjoy the young, dynamic vibe, everyone is interactive and there is a multicultural sense.

‘You walk around and you talk to people of all countries and it is like a mini international community.’

Marwan Kiesserwan is half Dutch and half Lebanese.

The 22-year-old is in his second year of his Accounting and Finance degree.

Marwan said: ‘Back at home I live 20 minutes to the beach and so I love being so near to the sea.

‘There is so many parks and things to enjoy outside.’

Course leader for Mechanical and Manufcaturing Engineering, Dr Hom Nath Dhakal was born in Nepal and came to Portsmouth with his family in 2001.

He said: ‘I came as a student so when I finished my degree my two boys were happy in their schools and there was political problems at the time so we stayed here.

‘The longer we stayed the more we felt at home in Nepal.

‘We feel very much at home in this city.’