A Chinese student had to resort to eating from a soup kitchen outside the GPO after he was left penniless once he paid his rent in Dublin last month.
Shucheng Yang said he’s been forced to lie to his parents about how much he is struggling financially in Ireland in a bid to stop them from worrying.
The 22-year-old, who is studying for a Masters in Applied Linguistics at Trinity College Dublin, revealed he’s paying €800 per month for a property that he shares with more than 10 other people.
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He said his parents send him money every month to help but said once he pays rent he is left with just a couple of euros, often surviving on just one sandwich a day.
Shucheng, who is from Fujian in China, said he was so broke last month one of his friends introduced him to a volunteer from the Muslim Sisters of Eire charity who regularly hand out free food outside the GPO on O'Connell Street.
He said before Christmas he had part-time jobs working in a warehouse and as a waiter in a restaurant but said at present he’s currently unemployed despite handing out countless CVs.
Shucheng said his student visa only allows him to work 20 hours per week during college term time and up to 40 hours on holidays.
The student said he is constantly stressed about how he is going to pay rent and it’s never off his mind.
Speaking to The Irish Mirror, he said: “Rent is not so nice for international students.
“It’s so crazy. I pay €800 a month and then there are bills every couple of months. I have a small room. It’s crowded where I’m living. Paying the rent is all I can think about all month. It worries me."
“Once I pay my rent, I don’t really have any money for food, I have a couple of euros … I usually buy one sandwich a day from Lidl. That’s all I have enough for.
“It’s not enough food but I don’t really have a choice.”
He added: “My parents worry about me in Ireland. We didn’t expect this situation. Before I came here, I never got information that the rent situation was so bad.
“I lied to my parents. I just said to them that I’m doing well here. I don’t want them to worry. It’s so difficult. I didn’t expect this.
“It’s really tough here. I will have to go back to China when my studies finish. I love Ireland but I just hate having to pay so much rent.
Shucheng said he’s only gotten free food from the soup kitchen once but said he would go back again if it was necessary.
He explained: “When I went I had just paid my rent and I was really hungry. It’s nice food. I will go back if it’s necessary. My Irish friends are helping me a lot.”
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