I returned home from London at the end of March after spending two wonderful months in the city. Looking back at my original blog post and reflecting on my time in London I have realized how much my perception of identity has changed. Before I went to London I lacked confidence in my identity as well as how others may perceive my identity. My experience in London changed this for the better.
London is a large city with cultures from all over the world. By just traveling 20 minutes on the tube I could go from a Bangladeshi community to a community full of Caribbean culture. London does not have one single identity and it has helped me to realize that no one person has a single identity. One’s identity is reflective of their life experiences and how they absorb the culture they are surrounded by. Living in London taught me how to live surrounded by people of all different cultures. I found that everyone I came across in London was open-minded and friendly. Everyone within the city lives as one group from many different backgrounds. Living in London taught me how to live independently and problem solve instead of just calling my parents right away for help. I was able to move out of my comfort zone by navigating the confusing tube system and discussing politics with my co-workers. Most importantly, London gave me confidence to be independent and share my thoughts and ideas with those around me.
In my original blog post I wrote that one’s identity can be developed by “the way they see the world”. I still believe that this is true. Through my time studying abroad in London I also traveled to Scotland, France and the Netherlands. I am now more open-minded towards how different countries are organized and the cultures within them. Moving forward in my life as I travel to other destinations I will keep an open-mind as I gather experiences from all over the world. Studying abroad was such an amazing experience that helped me to grow more independent and find out who I am as a person. I will no longer try and search from one single identity but instead reflect on all of my experiences living among different cultures and let my identity find me.