The calendar says that it has been just a little over a month since I arrived in London, but it seems almost yesterday that I was getting off the plane at Heathrow without any idea of what to expect from this amazing city. Now this is partly due to the fact that I have been fortunate enough to be able to travel to three other countries (Denmark, Belgium, and Latvia), but also because I have not had an empty day during this time. With so much to see and do, from the many museums, to the official buildings in Westminster and also the financial district of the City, London has kept me very busy and I expect that it will continue to do so for the next couple of months that I am here.

I’ve found it fairly easy to adapt to my new surroundings here. Although there are some big differences between the United Kingdom and the United States (like driving on opposite sides of the road), I think I have been able to get to a point where I have adjusted to these differences. I may have even adjusted too well. On my other trips I have caught myself expecting cars to come from the British side of the road even when all of the other countries use the same side as the United States. I think the key to adapting well to a new environment is being open to notice all of the unique characteristics of the new environment no matter how small. For example, even though everyone will understand if you ask for “fries,” asking for “chips” allows you to feel like a Brit and gives you a sense of belonging to the culture here.

There are many ways to be open to seeing these small details, but I think the most important way is to appreciate the disconnect you have from United States while abroad. It has obviously been much tougher to keep in touch consistently with friends and family in the U.S., but there has been so much to do here that I have barely had enough time to think about making more of an effort to do so. My first instinct when I walk into a place is looking out for the small details that I can adopt from the culture rather than finding Wi-Fi to keep up to date with what is happening back across the pond. It’s great to stay in touch and share experiences, but I think our time here becomes more valuable when we make our highest priority having a deeper and more meaningful cultural experience.

Post submitted by: Batu Otkeren, BSBA ’15