When I first rode on the tube in London, it was very quiet, and no one was talking. It was dead silent, and it was like a library, that’s how quiet it was. This made me uncomfortable, and it just felt weird to me. I was raised in a house where people talk all the time. My family is not quiet, so I made it feel awkward for me, as I really could not talk. Also, in American culture to me there are no real quiet places, people talk all the time. However, over time I got a lot easier to adjust to, and I began to like it. It helped me rewind some days, and just relax and clear my head. If I were to view this through the lens of British culture, then I realize that the quietness on the tube is something that has been built through time and remains today. Looking at this shows a sign of respect for personal space, and British people just wanted to maintain order in a tightly packed space. People who go to the tube every day, like me, just see it as a way to clear their thoughts, and just take a breath, without having to hear everyone’s drama. This exercise deepened my understanding of culture and preparing to navigate successfully in a multicultural world in many ways. The first way is that it helps me understand the importance of how to respect differences in culture, even when they are different from the ones I am used to. The second way is it helped me develop empathy and mutual understanding for all cultures now.
Another cultural aspect related to cultural values would be the pubs. British pubs throughout my time in London gave me a great experience each time. It was always a warm and friendly atmosphere. Not only could you get a beer, but also the pub was a place where people of every age go to socialize. This experience overall was always a good time for me, and I loved going to them. Going to the pub with my co-workers helped me learn more about their overall lives as well, and I learned more about people that I never knew. The biggest challenge for me was ordering at the bar, and tipping, as we do not do this in America, and it took time to get used to. From the perspective of the host culture, pubs hold a special place for people in Britain, it has tradition and community in their eyes. British people do not view pubs as drinking establishments, but as public houses where people talk and socialize about life. They view it as an everyday thing, and where to go after working the day. This exercise deepened my understanding of culture and preparing to navigate successfully in a multicultural world in many ways. It helps me hold an appreciation for social places and helps me understand that people in different cultures like to socialize in different ways. Another way this helps me is knowing the importance of immersing yourself in local customs when you want to learn more about a culture. With both cultural norms in mind, it overall helped me develop the tools to navigate different cultures successfully and build relationships.