By Matt Williams
FOLLOWING your dreams often requires sacrifice, but for first year Sports Journalism student Barbora Safarova, following her dreams meant travelling nearly 1,000 miles across the world.
If relocating 984 miles from Czech Republic to the Welsh Capital in the hopes of becoming a sports journalist was not challenging enough, relocating during a global pandemic is a task the young Czech has found even harder.
“Of course, to be an international student during a pandemic is not an amiable situation” she says.
“I moved here in September without knowing if I will fly back home for Christmas, but that did not happen.”
“It was possible to fly back to the Czech Republic, but it was complicated and because I cover most of the costs by myself, I decided to stay here and try to find a job. However, I am still unsuccessful.”
The 18-year-old believes accommodation prices and the lack of jobs available due to the pandemic is one of the biggest challenges international students are facing.
“That is probably the biggest complication, that many international students cannot find a job, because accommodation here is very expensive in comparison with accommodation in Czech Republic.”
Safarova believes creative freedom is the biggest difference between the UK’s education system and the one she is used to.
“Czech universities are also using online education, so in that, there is not any difference but of course there are some differences in the educational system.”
She continued, “education here is more practical. For example, I feel more freedom regarding choosing topics for essays.”
The Czech credits her classmates and course leader Julie Kissick with helping her become acclimatised to her new surroundings.
“My lecturers are very supportive and sympathetic. With our course leader Julie, we sometimes talk through emails to check if I am okay, how am I feeling etc.”
“It is nice to see that someone takes care of you.”
She continued, “classmates are also cool. Our favourite sports are different, but they try to get me into the conversation even if it is about football.”
“Although I study in UK, I am more into ice hockey, skiing, snowboarding or tennis, because these sports are popular in my country.”
Despite the obvious challenges facing her, Safarova is determined to make the most of her experience.
“Sometimes being here is very challenging especially mentally, but I am trying to enjoy everything as much I can.”
