I’ve been back in Florida for a week and a half now. I’m still adjusting to the glaring hot sun and summer weather in the winter. I miss the friends I made in London the most. Being Venezuelan-American and from South Florida, I was able to maintain these identities abroad.
When it was 60/70 degrees Fahrenheit in London, people were still dressed as if it was 40 degrees. To be fair, it would drop to 50 at night, but I still enjoyed the warm weather during the day. I’d wear shorts and a t-shirt, maybe a sweater. Meanwhile, everyone else was wearing jackets upon jackets. I stood out a little until I noticed other American study abroad students like me. When it got colder, my friend Harvey pointed out that I dress for warm weather and bring a sweater in case I get cold, while British people dress for the cold and take off a layer if they’re warm. My South-Floridian identity really jumped out then. I also noticed my South-Floridian identity when I realized I was much more optimistic than most British people. I think British people are realistic. Meanwhile, coming from a hometown that is residential suburban and close to Disney made me grow up to be someone that thinks life is beautiful. This only becomes a fault when I want things to go perfect.
I went to the Latin Society meet and greet where I met other Hispanics. It was coincidentally at an arepera, and arepas are a Venezuelan dish. I found more Venezuelan food at the Brick Lane Sunday Upmarket where a stall sold arepas and cachapas. Talking to other people in Spanish also helped me stay connected to my Venezuelan-American identity. It also helped those I was talking to for the same reason. I talked in Spanish to my Spanish, Puerto Rican, Mexican, and American friends who learned Spanish in their hometown of New York City or Washington D.C.
One of the biggest things that made me stand out amongst my British friends is how expressive I am while British people are more reserved. I think I helped my British friends be more expressive and fearless because of my identities. Cold weather is a big part of British identity. Now that I’m back in Florida, I’m questioning how much I like hot weather now. It was good to experience the beginning of winter in London. It’ll take some time to go back to laying under the sun like I did before my study abroad, and I’m sure I’ll visit London again soon.