Returning home has been an odd experience to say the least. As expected, jet lag has set in (as I fear is evident in this post) and added to the general sense of disorder and confusion which I have been feeling as of recently. Accompanying the jet lag has been the cultural changes which I find myself having to adjust to more than I thought I would need to. While the cultures of the U.S. and the UK are relatively similar, there are some significant differences in the most common parts of a daily routine. For example, I have some reservations about driving places as I have become so used to vehicles travelling on the left side of the road that I fear that I might look in the wrong direction before pulling out into a road. Not only this, but I have to readjust to smiling more and having brief conversations with strangers. While this might seem to be an odd thing to have to adjust to, a these aspects are much more prevalent in society in the U.S, and I gradually became accustomed to life in London where it is more common to ignore strangers to some extent. In other words, I would not make some sort of conversation with or congenial gesture to the person behind me in line at a store in London contrariwise to what I would do in a store in Orlando. On top of this, I must readjust to speaking in the U.S. Though I never developed an accent, I became accustomed to using colloquialisms and other words and phrases used in the UK which would not be used here in the U.S.
Not only have I been daunted by the task of adjusting to living in the U.S, but the realization of a greater workload to come causes extra unease. Unlike the U.S, my professors at Queen Mary University of London gave out very few tests and assignments, leaving much of the learning to come from readings and intensive lectures. As a result, I only had to dedicate a couple hours of my week to homework whereas I will need to readjust to performing a couple hours of homework a day.
Yet returning home has not consisted solely of challenges. Now that I am home, I am thrilled to be able to grill steaks again. While the UK had most of the food found in the U.S, beef was not nearly as common and inexpensive as it is in the U.S, and due to the climate, grills were few and far between. Not only this, but I am excited to see my friends—some who I have not seen in nearly a year.
As I reflect on my time abroad, I cannot help but appreciate all that I have learned and experienced. The amount of personal growth certainly is notable as I had to create new routines and new ways of thinking for a successful adjustment. If asked about my greatest takeaway, I would say that the most important skill I learned was the ability to relate to others in a manner that put you in an approachable position. In other words, I recognized that as a foreigner, people might be wary of me or have a difficult time initially connecting with me as I come from a culture with a different set of ideologies and cultural norms. Because of this, I learned that I need to gingerly enter a social environment and establish a common ground so as to diffuse any potential hostility or offense that might arise.
In conclusion, I would highly recommend studying in another country as it helps to grow an individual both intellectually and in regards to their character. It will provide one with phenomenal memories and unique experiences.