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Josephine Sharples describes how a creative writing and computer course changed the course of her life

This index covers all issues between February 2005 (Volume 9, Issue 1) and November 2008 (Volume 12, Issue 4). Numbers in bold refer to yolume, numbers in brackets refer to issue, with subsequent numbers to pages.

The purpose this paper is to offer an understanding of the role of food in the adjustment journey of Nigerian students in the UK.

A qualitative approach was used, involving interviews with ten Nigerians studying in the UK.

Thematic analysis revealed that participants found the food they ate locally to be bland and fattening, and that they quickly adopted a home country diet, using ingredients bought locally or sent and brought from home to recreate Nigerian dishes. Eating Nigerian food had a positive emotional impact, and it was also a vehicle for social interaction.

It is acknowledged that this is a small-scale preliminary study that could be extended across the UK with a more quantitative approach to get a broader picture of the eating habits of Nigerian students at British Universities. There is also an opportunity to widen it to include other African states which are neglected within the present literature. A more longitudinal study picking up migrants could also explore how adjustments have been made in their eating habits. Participants in this research equated fast food with local, English food due to their limited access to authentic local cuisine.

There are practical implications of this study whereby actions can be taken to help avoid the negative impacts experienced causing concerns in around mental well-being and poor health.

This study fills a gap in knowledge on how this important segment of the international student population adapts to a new food culture.