An experience where I was confused and had to adjust to London culture was using the Tube as a main source of transportation. The Tube was very confusing to me at first because I do not take trains where I am from because I am used to driving everywhere. I had to adjust to the train schedule and give myself enough time to get where I need to be because there was often delays on the underground. The Tube is a large part of London culture and I used it to get everywhere around the city. By the end of my semester in London, I understood how the Tube worked and became very comfortable using it to get around.
I enjoyed my time in London but I have learned that I do not like living in cities. I became very frustrated at certain aspects of living in a city but I am glad that I had the opportunity to figure this out for myself. Studying abroad definitely changed my perspective on a lot of things in a positive way and I am thankful for my time abroad and being able to see a different side of the world that I have never explored before.
I believe someone from my host culture would view my experience as successful because I was able to accomplish a lot of what I wanted to while studying abroad. I was able to travel on most weekends and see different places that I had never been to before which was super eye-opening. I also completed an internship while studying abroad and I am proud of myself for that because many people cannot say that they have done so. I really enjoyed my internship and I am very thankful for the experience I had.
In reflection, I believe I am prepared to respond to cultural misunderstandings and conflicts in a more positive light because I had to adjust to certain cultural differences abroad. I have now seen a different side of the world that I will always remember and cherish forever. I believe my experiences have allowed me to understand different cultures better and I am more aware of these differences.