After spending 6 months studying abroad in London, I have learned how to expand my horizons and how to relate with other cultures. One of the ways that I expanded my horizons was by adjusting to the lifestyle in London. In the United Kingdom, it is typical to have moments in the day allotted to relaxing and enjoying the environment. Whether that was having tea or going out for drinks, I would always make sure to reserve time in my day to enjoy life. These moments of purposeful relaxation coincide with British values of hospitality and cordiality. I was familiar with the concepts of British hospitality, but was surprised to the extent that it went to. When I was returning home from the theatre one night on the tube, I encountered another group of theatre goers across the train car from me. They noticed my theatre programme in my hand and started asking me about how I enjoyed my theatre performance and asked for recommendations. In an attempt to return the hospitality, I asked them about their evening and had a small conversation about their theatre experiences. I slowly learned how to be more outgoing and friendly with strangers by striking up conversations with others on public transportation.
I really appreciate and respect the time that I had studying in London. I think it is especially relevant to study my major [international relations & communications] in such a global city like London. Although at times I struggled with adapting to my new surroundings, I made a lot of great new friends that helped support me through my time abroad. The friends that I made abroad have stuck close by me and we plan to continue to see each other in the future.
Coming from America, many students might be nervous about studying in the UK due to how different their lifestyle is. Driving on the other side of the road, pub culture and the London atmosphere can be shocking for new study abroad students. However, most Londoners are very welcoming of international individuals. London is a very international city where most people come from international backgrounds. People welcome differences and always seek to understand where others come from.
I believe that my time abroad has made me into a more global individual. After spending time in London, I have learned to give others time to explain their background and their cultural beliefs. It has especially helped me understand my major better by opening my eyes to a European perspective of politics on the global scale. It was especially interesting to be witnessing the teaching and nursing strikes in London and having those strikes affect my time abroad. Experiencing political actions and their repercussions made the knowledge that I have learned much more real and applicable to every day life. In an international city like London, the political course of the country is felt more directly. Having studied abroad in London, I am more willing to understand and respect the actions of others, because now I understand what others go through better. I am slowly growing into a global citizen and my time in London has accelerated this process by making me more curious about the world on an international scale.