I'm Normal, You're Weird

As we made our way through the first dragged out, jet lagged day in London, frustration is the key word to describe how I was feeling. The British accent, the food, the walking, the tube, the crowds, and my tiredness were all adding to this horrible feeling. When one visits a foreign country for the first time, the first and most obvious difference that’s noticed is the accent. At first I thought it was entertaining to just listen to all of the British people talk because it’s not everyday you hear that around the United States, but then it got old very fast. My friends and I were given looks as if we didn't belong there because of our “accent” as well, but we didn't think anything of it, just like the British people.

            The transportation aspect of London was also way different than here in Livonia. I soon had realized the tube (subway) was going to become one of my best friends because of how often our group was using it. The first experience on the tube was interesting to say the least, noticing the different ways of life in London than in America. The Europeans are very quiet in social places like the tube. We quickly began to tell we were like a fish out of water because of loud and obnoxious we were acting. Throughout the 12 days we were traveling, our group attracted a countless amount of unwanted attention because of this, but we shall have no shame. Also, personal space is an unknown phrase over in Europe and we became aware of this when first riding the tube. People will try their hardest to squeeze into the already constricted, claustrophobic train car, no matter how full it already is. Nonetheless, we got used to this lifestyle promptly, due to the fact we had an hour ride every night from downtown London back to our hotel.

            The way everyone dressed was another difference that I observed while on the long, strenuous walks we took and the tube rides. Personally, I felt as if I was under dressed the whole time I was there. The European’s are the trend setters and very interested in fashion. The women would all be wearing skirts with a nice, steamed blouse or a dress with fancy pantyhose and high heels. There are also the men who wear button up dress shirts with a pair of pressed trousers and pointed dress shoes, as if they were getting ready to go to a photo shoot for Men’s Warehouse. Even walking around the streets I noticed that their casual wear is what we call “dressy.” With all of these differences, it opened my eyes up to new way of life, even if it was difficult to understand and adapt to.