It has been less than a week since I returned home from London, but I already miss my time there so much. While I was in London, I fell in love with the city, the independence I experienced for the first time, and the friends I made in my church community while I was there.
It is funny to me how many things shocked me initially while I was there like British accents, terminology differences, and how nonverbal interactions that I may have interpreted incorrectly. By the end of my time abroad, I was accustomed to many of the things that initially shocked me, and I barely noticed them at all. One of the distinct moments in my first week was loud chanting throughout the underground station as a group of men walked through the station and awaited the Tube. They were all headed to a football match that they were all excited for. I was told by my family friend who I was traveling with that this was a normal occurrence in British culture. This shocked me since it was my first time traveling underground and seeing so many people crowd together on the Tube. This experience came to mind again when I heard that familiar chanting in the last weeks of my time in London. I was used to it by now and I began to see how the Londoners felt when they chanted together. It was exciting, they were thrilled to see their favorite team play, and people of all ages who could relate began to chant together even if they didn’t know each other. That unifying emotional and vocal outburst and outcry must feel so livening and fun, knowing so many people love the same thing.
Another unique part of British culture is pub culture. On my first night in London, I went to a pub next to campus with study abroad friends I had just met. By the end of my time abroad I went to the pub around five to six times total. At the pub there are many people ranging in age who go in groups or sit alone and engage in a range of activities like watching sports on the TVs or meet with friends/have social gatherings. I personally do not drink much and before going to London all I heard about the pubs was from my parent’s perspective of pub culture which was more negative than positive. After I experienced for myself, I could see why pub culture is such a strong part of socializing and context for gathering in British culture. In the fast-paced nature of the city, the pub is a relaxing and fun place that suits groups or individuals that want to stay in one place for hours or just a few minutes.
My time abroad taught me a lot about myself, how I undersold my personal ability to be independent, to explore, to travel, and to live on my own. It also taught me a lot about having preconceived notions of people and places based on things I have seen or heard from others. I think the key to avoiding cultural misunderstandings and conflicts is to be open minded and more than that to take time to observe, engage, inquire, and understand. All of these experiences are things I am glad I can use in the future while traveling or living in a new city and at home as I make adjustments to life here again.