While abroad in London, I’ve had some amazing times. It has definitely been an experience everyone should get to go through. Now I’ve had some good times but have struggled with a couple things that I had to adapted to. I’d say the biggest thing I had to get used to is the transportation system. Back home I have a car and drive it everywhere. I really enjoy driving and its sometimes and outlet for me to drive alone and just listen to music, and here in London I can’t drive. I found it really hard to understand the tube system and which way is which. Coming from a place where there is no public transportation, it’s for sure been a struggle. When I came to London, I figured I would just go everywhere with one of my roommates but quickly found out that I am doing my internship by myself, meaning id have to travel there by myself. I used the app city mappers to help me get around and most of the time it helped and got me where I needed to be. Although it has helped me a lot, there have been times where it hasn’t. Once you enter an underground tube station, you lose all service. So sometimes what can happen while you’re on your trip somewhere, the tube can get canceled and you have to get off and get on a different line. When this occurs, someone like me who doesn’t the lines and tube system very well, you get lost and have no service to look up a different route on the app city mappers. So, I end up being lost at the station running around trying to figure out where I’m supposed to be going. A you can see, it’s very stressful and can cause you to be late to your classes or appointments. If you live in this country and you take the tube system every day, you are used to finding new ways and lines to get you where you need to be so I feel they would understand my frustration of being lost. But I feel they would also say its quicker and easier than driving because there’s no traffic underground. So, I think someone from London would be understanding but also feel that the tube station is the most efficient way to get around. Looking into the future, I think that being put in a different culture you’re not used to, it a great way to become a well-rounded person and will help you understand others. Studying abroad here in London has been a great experience and has defiantly prepared me for any other cultural conflicts or misunderstanding because I’ve learned that you just adapt to the new norm and learn how to function in a different area. I feel I am now prepared for anything and have such a better understanding of the culture here in London. I’m supper glad I decided to study abroad here in London and can’t wait for my next adventure.
