As I have now been studying abroad in London, England for about a month, I have learned many things I would have never thought I would learn. From making friends with girls from countries around the world, I have had more culture shocks than expected. Our simple day to day mannerisms differ in little ways, and larger ways. Though, together we spend every day going through the streets of London. It seems as if every week we are finding a cool new market or an authentic restaurant that we would never find in our very different hometowns. We have even been searching TikTok for affordable options being university students. We have found many, many places that one day we can come back to. The other day, we found a smaller for market. This food market was in an old Cathedral. It was nice because it was indoors, and with London’s weather, sometimes that’s necessary. The food market consisted of foods from around the world. Each of us could get something different and try one another’s. I have really loved the many different food markets in London and how they represent the melting pot of a city it is. From these markets, you not only learn about the blending of cultures today, but they resemble a lot of what I have been learning in class. I have learnt that England was a very strong empire which conquered many colonies. Hundreds of years ago , there were markets where global goods were exchanged among these different colonies. These food markets are an exact representation of English history. They are a place where people from opposite sides of the planet can unite, just as London has been for my new friends and I.

I think this aspect of London has made it very easy to acclimate to the environment. Typically, it is hard to feel at home in a new country. Though, here, in London, it feels as many people are visitors as well. In this way, it gives a sense of security. Everyone is in the same boat and is therefore willing to make you feel more at home as that is what they are looking for as well.