Why I love London: #1 Truly Global City

 

Above is my class list for my seminar (my discussion class). Now, look at the names. How many countries do we represent? (Don't look at the countries listed, those are our presentation topics... obviously, I am not  from Kosovo.) With names like Angbazo, Seremwe, Thapa, Ahlblad, Ovcinnikovs, Lyubenov etc that is already 6 countries we represent (not even counting dual citizenship's people may have). It makes me laugh now that UMD boasts of being super diverse... nothing compared how diverse London Met is. The diversity in my class represents London as a city as well. Everyday, I hear people speaking an array of languages-- Eggon, French, Portuguese, Yoruba, Chinese, Urdu, Polish, Igbo, Greek, Cantonese, Farsi, etc etc etc. I absolutely love it.

I have considered myself a very cosmopolitan person. I love diversity. I love seeing people different from me and I am amazed by the differences. I just want to immerse myself in everyone's culture and speak every language in in the world (HAHA). It is really refreshing to see. Another plus is the fact that no one is expected to assimilate to any culture. London culture is being diverse. By being different, all of us in the class are part of London culture.

NYC and DC are also considered global cities but I cannot remember getting this vibe when I visit. Maybe because being here I am more open to seeing fascinating things. But next time I go to NYC or DC, I will try to look out for signs of openness to diversity.

What do you think?

London: First Impressions

I've given it a solid 2 weeks before my first real post to give my initial and thought-out first impressions here in my blog (sorry to those of you who have been waiting).  I hope you enjoy my first impressions below, of everything from crossing the street, to classes, to meeting people, and to watching the Superbowl in London. ENJOY!

London/UK: It looks like DC architecturally  but the vibe is so NYC. The buildings are gorgeous, although old, and everything is filled with so much history. It seems like learning about culture is a big deal here so museums, galleries, showings are very much a requirement for living here. I am obsessed with accents of course and I will try to pick up on terms and phrases. Newsflash! Its cold, it rains, and it's gloomy normally but when it snows even an inch (apparently once every 10 years) people flip out and everything closes. Everything i$ $o expen$ive!!! FIRST IMPRESSION: LOVE LOVE LOVE... What if I accidentally miss my flight back?

VIEW---->>>>>  Outside Tate Modern

Fashion: Coming from the land of College Park, I and many of my peers, can attest that sometimes deciding whether to wear sweatpants or yoga pants is troublesome and even more daunting is deciding which sweatshirt to wear with it. So being in London is a refreshing experience that allows me to put effort into looking decent (trendy) on a daily basis. :) FIRST IMPRESSION: Everyone dresses so well!

Food: So far, I've had Nando's, McDonald's  sandwiches, meals I cooked, noodles, and basically food I normally eat in the US so unfortunately, I am disappointed in the fact that I am not getting "real British food." I guess I need to search hard to find a proper restaurant that serves traditional British/English food but that is hard to find in London. I live by a Subway, Starbucks, Pizza Hut, KFC, CHIPOTLE EVEN (which by the way is $10 a burrito, so stop complaining about prices people and feel my pain)! I have seen food from every other culture but I haven't seen food that I can consider staple British dishes. Maybe it is because I am living in a city and nothing is like "home-style cooking" restaurants... I hope I do the HostUK program that UMD subsidizes for free so I can meet a real family that cooks real food at home. FIRST IMPRESSION: Can you believe I haven't even had fish and chips yet!

Safety & crossing the street: Apparently, the biggest threat to my safety is crossing the road. London is actually a really safe city, crime wise (for example, all gun violence in the UK is nationally broadcasted because it is that rare)  But coming from a country that has a completely opposite driving pattern, I have many times seen my life flash in front of my eyes (or maybe it was just the headlights...) because instinct took over and I didn't look the other way. Thankfully though, there are signs everywhere that literally tell people like me, which way to look before crossing the street. FIRST IMPRESSION: Thank You for teaching me how to cross the street.

                                 

Superbowl:  We watched the Superbowl Sunday at University College London Union (aka Stamp Student Union HAHA) and it was wild and fun. I'm not a huge "American football" fan but it was fun to do something American-y while abroad, especially because of UMD alum Torrey Smith was playing for the Baltimore Ravens (who won need I remind you?). It was an interesting viewing party because the British students from the American Society (this is a legit club) cheered for the 49ers. It was ironically like the American Revolutionary War--of which we also won against the British. :) FIRST IMPRESSION: I love how some Brits actually watch the Superbowl ... also... would it be weird if I joined the American Society? 

  VIEW VIDEO------>>>>>> SUPERBOWL! @ UCLU w/ the American Society

People: I am a bit reserved so meeting randoms off the street was never part of my master plan :). So, I am doing an internship, joining clubs, and actually meeting people in my classes which is slowly working but hard though because British people are also generally reserved as well. Also, it is true: BE SILENT on the morning Tube ride. You know that awkward moment when you and a group are talking then you realize the rest of the room is silent? That is basically how awkward it is on the Tube and immediately you will see stares and glares from people annoyed by the "loud Americans" who are basically having a casual conversation. There seems to be these unwritten rules of conduct and interaction. Never make eye contact or smile at strangers is another "unspoken rule" that I find really weird too. My aunt warned me about this and told me not to take it personally because it is just cultural, but I didn't expect it--even for a reserved person it was really odd. FIRST IMPRESSION: Americans are much more outgoing and Brits almost seem cold. I do hope to meet British people who challenge this first impression though. I would really like to make real friendships.

Classes:Maryland is a great school. I have heard nothing positive about London Met so far. Why are we not taking classes (modules) somewhere more reputable? Will classes be a joke then? If someone asks, I will say I am only taking Maryland classes. The school seems to be in the ghetto (lol). Sadly, these are my first impressions. The most annoying thing was that the week classes began, classes were being changed and my schedule (timetable) kept changing! At Maryland, I could very well have a set schedule 4 months in advance and at London Met, changes are being made weeks into the semester (term). I am an optimist though and I figure this semester is going to be a great GPA (which in the UK, the highest grade I can get is 70% apparently...) booster so as long as I don't tell anyone I go to London Met, I will be fine. FIRST IMPRESSION: Why London Met? 

               

---- I am a firm believer in second and third impressions--first impressions are almost always incorrect. So I look forward to feeling better about some of these experiences so far and I hope to learn and experience even better things than what I have already. I hope that through this blog you will experience London candidly, through my senses of course.

Thanks for reading

jo, xo