I am days away from embarking on my study abroad and internship opportunity to London and I have been contemplating how my identity will change throughout my time there. First, I should begin with identifying how my identity can influence my experience of the world; above all the way one experiences another culture largely depends on how open they are to accept another culture’s language, traditions, and people and to respect it and not attempt to modify it to better suit their own customs. Tradition is important when it pertains to one’s personal beliefs as opposed to trying to inflict upon others that they must follow the same traditions whereas change is good in in all spectrums of life if one is open to expanding their life in ways where traditions can limit opportunities they wouldn’t have being in their comfort zone. I believe that people who have very different identities than I would all have different experiences, preconceptions, preferences about the world and the ways in which we would approach certain situations and how we would interact with others. However, I do believe everyone understands the power of respecting others and therefore I believe everyone would experience the world in a way where respect is evident when doing major things like traveling to a different place than your where you are from. Another important thing is to avoid comparing experiences from back home and to where you are traveling to. As part of my identity of being a young adult soon to be graduate I identify with someone who will appreciate where I am traveling to by being open minded and respectful of the new world I will be living in by not looking for negative reasons to be envious or disappointed about where I am far from home. Additionally, my identity as an American student will influence how I experience the world and interact with people while abroad because I will have the different knowledge from attending school in America and I will find the differences in the education system fascinating and I will take things I learn from the United Kingdom and implement them for when I return home.
