But first, an introduction is in order! My name is Zaynab, and I will be a junior this coming fall semester. I am a double major in Public Relations and Psychology, and am studying abroad this summer in London through the Arcadia London internship program.
Why study abroad? It’s just something I’ve always wanted to do. I’ve been traveling since long before I can remember, and have been to more countries than I can count on one hand (which may not sound all that impressive but apparently is uncommon for someone my age.) Though I am grateful for all the places I have been in the past, I always find myself looking back and just wishing I had more time. Visiting an unfamiliar culture does not afford quite as many opportunities as does the chance to live in an unfamiliar culture.
So there I was, an over-eager sophomore sitting in my advisor’s office in early Fall 2013, telling her that I wanted to spend Summer 2014 either interning or studying abroad. She offered me a program that would allow me to do both, and now here I am writing to you from a coffee shop in London.
I never imagined myself choosing a study abroad program in Britain. Initially, I thought it was too familiar, that the culture would be too similar to America to really get a “foreign” experience. That misconception was quickly shattered.
My first day in London, I set out to purchase sheets, pillowcases, towels, and everything else necessary for me to take a shower, do my hair and makeup, live, etc. Mind you, I spent the entire previous night on a plane; this excursion was purely an effort on my part to combat jet lag by doing things that would not allow me to go to sleep.
I had never felt culture shock so acutely as I did standing in Boots Pharmacy (the closest thing Britain has to CVS,) staring at a shelf full of shampoo and conditioner brands I had never seen in my life. This may not seem like a big deal, but when you have illogically thick and curly hair like myself, and when you are running on little-to-no sleep in the past 48 hours, it can be quite anxiety-provoking. I did, eventually, get everything I needed, but not without feeling exhausted and terribly homesick.
Getting sleep and acquainted with the girls in my building helped me get through that initial sensory overload. I began to be more so intrigued than intimidated by the little cultural differences I found. For example:
- It is easier to find tikka masala sauce in the grocery store than it is to find pasta sauce
- The pasta sauce is imported from Italy, so even out of a jar it’s bangin
- Your orange juice is “no bits” not “no pulp”
- Don’t ask the barista for your coffee with milk and sweetener- that’s something you do yourself
- Milk comes in two forms: skimmed and semi-skimmed
- If you don’t get your food “takeaway” you have to pay a small fee to sit down
- The bars close at midnight. That’s not early; if you’re out any later than 5:00pm, you’re late
- It doesn’t get dark until 11:00pm and it starts getting light at 3:30am
- Don’t tip anyone. It’s rude.
I could sit here and list off a thousand more things, but I will let them be noted in future posts.
Until next time,
Cheers 🙂
*NOTE*
1. I have been here since June 3rd; this post is just extraordinarily late.
Location: London