As an American, I’m always in a rush. I want to get to my destination the fastest way possible, get irritated when there’s a roadblock in my path, walk as fast as my little legs can take me, and feel anxious if I’m not at least ten minutes early.

After arriving in London, I quickly realized that power walking everywhere makes it incredibly easy to identify me as an American. Locals look at me as if I’ve just shoved them aside and caused complete chaos.

The culture in London—despite being a major city—is leisurely. No one is truly in a rush (unless their Tube is about to leave and the next one isn’t for another twenty minutes). The norm is grabbing a cappuccino on the way to work, enjoying long chats with coworkers over post-work drinks, strolling through markets on the weekends, and lingering at dinner to soak in the atmosphere.

I started adjusting my habits to immerse myself in London’s rich culture. I left for class with plenty of time so I could stop for coffee or chat with a friend in the CAPA lounge. I kept my earbuds zipped away in my tote so I could be more present. I wanted to be more aware of my surroundings and the conversations happening around me to truly absorb the culture. I went with the flow, and even though I had planned to catch up on the latest season of Ginny & Georgia, I accepted a spontaneous invite to a pub with my new classmates after class.

As someone who’s always been go-go-go, this shift in pace was a big adjustment, but a good one. I usually pack my days down to the minute, leaving no time to stop and smell the flowers. But here, I’ve found myself still busy, just in a new, more mindful way.