- A Kenyan woman working as a nurse in the UK shared a few things she regrets not doing after moving to the UK
- Miss Grace, who uses her TikTok page to share her journey as a nurse and educate others on working in the UK healthcare system, listed four major regrets
- Following her video, netizens shared diverse reactions, with many who work abroad offering their own experiences
A Kenyan woman based in the United Kingdom (UK) has shared four things she regrets not doing when she first arrived in the foreign country.
Source: TikTok
The woman, known as Miss Grace on TikTok, revealed that she moved to the UK three years ago. She has dedicated her page to educating and informing her followers about working in the UK, especially in the healthcare sector.
The young woman, a nurse by profession, listed four things she wished she had done sooner upon arriving abroad.
What does Miss Grace regret?
First, she regrets not applying for her UK driver’s licence as soon as she landed. She explained that the longer you wait, the more expensive it becomes to obtain one.
“I regret not starting my journey to getting a full UK driving licence immediately after arrival. It used to be a little bit cheaper than it is now, and the rates keep going up,” she said.
She also expressed regret about not applying for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) earlier. The ILR is a UK immigration status that allows a person to live, work, and study in the UK without time limits.
“When you first arrive, five years seems like an eternity, but it goes by very fast,” added the nurse.
Grace noted that she should have tempered her financial expectations, as when she first arrived at Heathrow, she began imagining how she would buy several plots of land and invest back home with the money she was going to make abroad.
Source: TikTok
“Expectation versus reality hits differently because what you earn is directly proportional to what you spend,” she shared.
The young woman also regretted not joining groups or communities that support immigrants, especially in times of need. She stated that joining such communities is highly recommended, as it’s easy to feel isolated or depressed as a foreigner.
After sharing her personal regrets, she prompted other Kenyans living and working abroad to share their own experiences and regrets.
Netizens share regrets after moving abroad:
Komando:
“Mimi hapo kwa groups ya community sijapata, and it’s my fourth year in Leicester. Please, si muni link up, guys.”
Michael Dodson:
“Mine is that I have to work 7 days before getting a day off. The travel to get to work by public transport is hard, and once Black, no matter how hard you work or how good you are, they still favour the other colour. That is a fact, not fiction. The weather is terrible, and there is no real friendship.”
Modarame:
“It’s not a regret; I see it as an experience. I’m glad I realised it so soon, in just 3 years. God is perfect and lets you realise things at the right time.”
Simple Progression:
“You still have like 12 years to save up for ILR. It’s 15 years; you’ve already used 3, remaining 12 years.”
What culture shocks do Kenyans experience in US?
In other news, TUKO.co.ke reported that Anne Waruinge moved to the United States in 2018 seeking a better life and opportunity.
Born and raised in Kenya, she believed the US was a land of opportunity where everything flowed freely until she experienced culture shock.
However, upon relocating, she was shocked by how cold, unforgiving, and lonely the country felt, adding that she would return to Kenya if a better opportunity presented itself.
Proofreading by Asher Omondi, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
