International week is all fun and games, and you'll make great friends. But as you internationals arrive a few days early, there's a risk that you'll end up elite and cliquey and isolated, with no friends. This isn't really something we recommend (although us internationals are superior by far).

So, when D-day arrives and the Britons descend on Collingwood, have some mercy. Talk to them – they're Woodsmen, so they must be nice. Don't hide away! You may love your newly formed band of fellow foreigners, but don't deprive the domestics of the chance to get to know you. Knock on your neighbours' doors (we went around our blocks, banging on every door), leave yours wide open, talk to literally everybody! Do learn from our experience, though, and try not to come across as all crazy... One of us discovered later that a guy remembered her as the scary foreign student.

Once you've settled, you'll probably want to explore town. Take some of your new friends, internationals or domestic, and stroll down. Durham's really lovely, and most of the locals are too. Get used to being called “pet”, “love” or “dear” whenever you go shopping! However, be warned that some (a very small minority) won't be as friendly towards students in general. This attitude of “town versus gown” is silly, but unfortunately, it exists.

One issue for internationals is ID. In college bars, as well as most clubs in Durham, your student ID should suffice. However, there are some bars which require ID with your birth date, and most shops are really strict about what kind of ID you can use when buying alcohol. There have been problems with perfectly valid IDs, seeing as they're written in different languages. Usually, you'll be fine –just be aware that you may occasionally have problems without an ID with your birth date and a holographic picture.

Ultimately, though, we're all just Woodsmen. There's no real distinction at all – we're just slightly cooler...

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