As I make my final preparations to go abroad to London for the semester, I can’t help but think about all of the new experiences I will be met with once I am there. I recognize that because I am going to a country that I have never visited before, I will be faced with things that push me outside of my comfort zone, such as having to walk everywhere rather than using my car or learning colloquial terms that aren’t used in the United States, but that’s what I’m excited for most. Part of my identity originates from my father being from Argentina, so growing up he always reminded me that the world was so much more than what I knew in Orlando, where I’ve lived my whole life. Even though I won’t know exactly how I will adjust to the cultural and lifestyle differences in London, I do know how to go in with an open mind and accept both the good and the bad. Of course, there will probably be times where I feel like I’m not having the most fun or reality isn’t living up to my expectations, but I’ve come to realize that it’s quite naïve to think that everything will be just how we picture it. Observing and making broader generalizations from London’s culture is the best I can do from an outside point of view until I become immersed in the culture, experience it first hand, and learn which find out which parts are similar to my expectations and which ones are different. My identity as a United States citizen may clash with the identity of Londoners, whether it be choice of clothing worn in public, eating etiquette, or how I speak, but I’m interested to see both the similarities and differences between my culture and theirs. I anticipate that I might feel like I am an outsider in some instances because there will definitely be an adjustment period for my new surroundings, but with time I hope will also come an enhanced outlook on how Londoners live their lives from day to day.
