I’m halfway through my program here in London and equally grateful for everything I’ve experienced so far and excited for what more there is to come! I’ve had the opportunity to tour Buckingham Palace, visit the city of Bath, take a stroll around Regent’s Park, and eat lunch at a restaurant inside of a prison!  

One thing that has stood out to me about London is how it is a truly global city. There is a wide range of authentic cultural foods to choose from (we have a couple of delicious Indian restaurants right across the street from our apartment), I’ve met people from countries all over the world, and even on my morning commutes to class on the tube (which have certainly been an adjustment to get used to) I can hear multiple languages being spoken around me. This has been an extremely cool part of studying in London because it not only allows me to immerse myself into British culture, but to get the chance to experience many others as well and how they interact to create a vibrant and diverse city. 

As a field trip for one of the classes I’m taking here, Global Perspectives on Human Rights in Action, we had the opportunity to visit Minority Rights Group, an international organization that fights on behalf of ethnic, religious, and linguistic minorities around the world. Their presentation was very enlightening and uplifting, but it was also interesting to see how the varying identities within that office helped to inform and shape the very important work they are doing. It serves as just one example of how a multicultural city can produce positive international change through these very connections. 

The few obstacles and adjustments I’ve faced from living in London have largely been small; cars on the ‘wrong’ side of the road, a lack of air conditioning, and a different approach to service were all slightly jarring at first but not too hard to get used to. Mostly, it has taught me to notice small cultural nuances that in the United States I wouldn’t even think twice about. I’ve grown to quite like the dead-pan British delivery of jokes, although at first I couldn’t tell if people were actually joking or not. 

While British and American cultures share quite a few similarities, the little nuances of differences have been exciting to explore, especially given the rich traditional history of this country. Combined with the fact that London plays host to many immigrant communities from all over the world, I can confidently say that I’ve already learned a lot from my global program here. I cannot wait to continue this learning for the rest of my stay.