During my time abroad, I experienced many different cultural adjustments and confusion. One main adjustment is the public transportation system. Until my time in London, I have never lived in an environment where this was so heavily relied on. The systems consist of differing numbers of buses as well as various lines of tubes. London is a huge metropolitan city, and this system is important to the masses that can’t have a car – which is most of those living within the city. With the staggering numbers of lines, stops, and zones it was overwhelming seeing people of my host country float about the system with ease.
I believe the system has both positive and negative aspects to it, in the beginning, it was incredibly overwhelming to navigate on my own, even with the help of the app city mapper. Not only was it a hard adjustment navigating but getting used to the mass amounts of people there was a bit of a shock. This was more of a shock to me as I was constantly demeaned by people’s aggressive words and stares. COVID-19 was the main factor in the overwhelming aspects of public transport. The mask-mandate was not regularly followed, and the tube compartments tended to get extremely full at all hours of the day. While it was overwhelming, the system was incredibly helpful. I enjoyed not having to drive or use a ride-sharing app during my time and once I understood its system, I felt accomplished and independent. Reflecting on this, it’s such an important part of London that I wish the US transportation system would be updated to a fraction similar to the UK. Many citizens aren’t able to drive or have a car, like in London, so it would be incredibly beneficial to have here.
I believe someone from the host culture would be understanding as that’s the feedback I received when I had to ask someone for directions in my confusion about public transportation. I found this uplifting, they acknowledged that even though these people had been navigating its system their entire lives it’s still confusing to have to experience it for the first or second time. Someone was constantly asking me or someone around me and the response was (mostly) kind. I also think someone from London would see my experience as very reflective towards their culture as I view its system to be integral towards society and hope its expansion towards the United States.
Reflecting on my time abroad, I think they prepare me to look further into the culture that I’m going into and whether it would be acceptable to just ask someone within my host country the cultural norms that I am confused or overwhelmed upon. In today’s society, we have everything at our fingertips, so there it’s important to use that technology to our advantage and research.