COMPOUND is dedicated to exploring the identity crisis faced by Chinese students living in London. For many Chinese international students, adapting to this unfamiliar city can be a challenge. Living between two or more cultural and social groups, international students may feel nervous, lost and unstable. The survey found that they tend to use the Chinese social media app "Xiaohongshu" first to get information on travelling and eating, but sometimes the recommendations are not accurate. This leads to a discrepancy between international students' perceptions of London life and the reality of the city, making it harder for them to integrate into London society.
We wanted to showcase international students' identity anxieties and their outward appearances through a guidebook. The handbook is divided into five sections: Clothing, Food, Housing, Travelling and Studying, and the audience can start reading from any section. It aims to respond to the needs and concerns of specific social groups in uncertain or challenging environments.
