How Can I give thanks man...?

December 13, 2007 8:34 AM

How can I thank the UK for the opportunity its provided me?

I have, through no fault of my own, managed to acquire a PhD in computer science in the area of OSes at a (really good) British university.

I'm a recent immigrant to the UK, having arrived here at 18. While I got nothing for free, and paid (sometimes extortionately) for the education I received, I have recently realized that anything and everything I'm going to achieve in my life will be due to the fact that (1) I've worked for it and (2) the UK provided me the opportunity to achieve as much as I have.

Furthermore, I find my thinking has changed dramatically over the years, becoming much more liberal, open-minded and conducive to tolerance, fair play and supporting others as much as possible.

This is made ever sharper to me as I see the mess that is occurring in my country of birth (somewhere in E. Africa).

While I'll probably stick around a little work and pay taxes, I guess at some point I will move on to other things. I'm looking for a way to express this gratitude to the UK, and looking for a way that is possibly low-key.

The ideas I have so far are:

1. Try and teach other kids
2. Write a letter to the Queen/government

But im looking for some other ideas if anyone has any

posted by gadha to Grab Bag (19 answers total)

I can't think of a better way than to join a volunteer program where scientists go into classrooms and help with science. After doing this for a little you can write a letter to the head of the program explaining how grateful you were that you could give back to a country that has given you so much. They might be able to reuse your comments to inspire others.
posted by grouse at 8:43 AM on December 13, 2007

Stick around; use your ability and training to advance British computer science, whether in academia or industry. That's why the opportunities are provided.
posted by nowonmai at 8:45 AM on December 13, 2007

Buy me a pint if you want ;)
posted by tomw at 8:45 AM on December 13, 2007 [4 favorites]

Whatever you decide to do, it wouldn't hurt to write to the Queen, your MP, your Uni etc and express your gratitude. Stories like this are often lost in the avalanche of negativity over the immigration problems in the UK.
posted by fire&wings at 9:02 AM on December 13, 2007 [1 favorite]

Write to other PhD candidates in your field, invite them to come to the UK for their PhDs, thereby increasing the exposure, and "brand" loyalty of the country.
posted by blue_beetle at 9:13 AM on December 13, 2007

British universities have traditionally received much of their funding from the state, but, increasingly, they are looking to build their own endowments though private fundraising. In the US, where endowment funding has long been essential, institutions work hard to get some sort of contribution from as many people (particularly graduates) because having a broad base of support helps persuade larger donors. So, make a small regular donation to your schools endowment, also your story might make a good one for fundraising. You can also help by volunteering to interview prospective students for your alma mater if and when you leave the country.
posted by Good Brain at 9:21 AM on December 13, 2007

Volunteering and working on a program for recent asylum seekers might be a good idea.

A lot of Asylum seekers are judged and discriminated against and then understandably detach themselves from society and lose out on a lot of the benefits being in the U.K. can give. Someone who has been through the process of getting used to a foreign country and all the language and cultural differences could give so much to new entrants to the country.

If you look on www.do-it.org for voluntary opportunities, that can bring up some ideas in your geographical area.
posted by lemonpillows at 9:27 AM on December 13, 2007

Go grass-roots: find other kids or communities in the UK that come from your country, and like you say, teach them. Not just the technical stuff (although that could lead to them gaining the same skills as you, and opportunities like you'll now have), but also the wider stuff you've learned/realised. You could do this just be being active in your community, not necessarily an activist. Be a role model. Lead by example. If that means integrating with the rest of the UK more than others from your own background tend to do, that might be the most valuable thing you can do: show everyone that you can take advantage of the opportunities you've been afforded without abandoning your roots, and they they could do the same. But worthy as all this definitely would be, keep a sense of balance: you've obviously worked for what you've gained, so take time out to enjoy life as well.

Caveat: I'm a bit of a country boy so not necessarily the best one to dish out sensitive cultural advice, although I did do a stint with VSO once.

Good luck - I admire you both for what you've done, and for what you hope to do.
posted by dowcrag at 9:32 AM on December 13, 2007

Go back to your original home and help change things there; that would be the best way to thank the system that helped you see things better / differently and so-on.


Take back a skill set you couldn't earn there; it may take a year or two further to acquire; perhaps water management or something akin to that, that might be used in a charity enabled situation - medical skills of course would be good, as would perhaps things like agricultural skills and knowledge; Mine clearance would be a *very* good skill to take back to certain areas of EA.

*Then* write a letter to the Queen, and ask for more funding.

Best wishes
posted by DrtyBlvd at 9:53 AM on December 13, 2007

It might be worth a look at the British Council website – they deal with the promotion of the UK 'brand'.
posted by liquidindian at 10:10 AM on December 13, 2007

I'm a civil servant, and although if you write a letter to an MP or Minister it may not get seen by them, you will raise a huge smile on the face of the official who reads it. It is lovely, if rare, to get a positive letter in the post. And you never know, they might actually show it to Ministers (I've done this with particularly nice letters before - "hey Minister, it's not all going to hell in a handcart!"). But that's only benefiting that official - in terms of really putting something back, what others said: volunteer and pass on the help you've had to others.
posted by greycap at 10:16 AM on December 13, 2007

Seconding the VSO suggestion. Be the change you wish to see in your country.

Congratulations and best of luck.
posted by arcticseal at 11:01 AM on December 13, 2007

Wouldn't bother writing to the Queen (how much mail do you think she gets?). A local MP or newspaper might be more likely to be read. Other than that, I'm with the others who suggest volunteering.
posted by Infinite Jest at 1:13 PM on December 13, 2007

Agree it would be better to write to your local MP or newspaper as it would be more likely to get a response (or actually get to the person rather than a flunky).

Volunteery work is a good idea... you don't mention it but if you can speak another language as well as English I imagine translation skills would be useful somewhere. Try asking around your university, local volunteer bureaux, library etc.

There's also the Olympics in 2012.. you might be able to help teammates from your home country if you are still around.

And don't forget to support England at all sporting occasions though... we need all the help we can get at the moment!
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 1:31 PM on December 13, 2007

Nthing volunteering - it gives you a tangible way of giving back to the community (however you define that) and can be incredibly rewarding. www.timebank.org.uk has loads of ideas, many of which can be fitted around full time work.
posted by finding.perdita at 3:06 PM on December 13, 2007

Have a look at TeachFirst - an organisation that gives people a short term opportunity to teach in schools before going out into the wider world, and cuts through all the training you need to do it. There is an ever increasing educational divide in the UK, so helping others overcome this would be a wonderful way to contribute.

Also want to say how great it is that you have this attitude!
posted by csg77 at 4:03 PM on December 13, 2007

You rock. In case you haven't come across this, WriteToThem will tell you who your government (local and national) representatives are and how to contact them.
posted by quiet at 5:10 PM on December 13, 2007

Perhaps you should get together with this man.
posted by markdj at 3:00 AM on December 14, 2007

And on behalf of the UK--you're welcome.
posted by Hogshead at 5:01 AM on December 14, 2007