The United States is often referred
to as a global melting pot, but my experience was that London could be
considered for this title as well. While in London it was not uncommon to sit
on the subway and see every race and religion while hearing the chatter of
numerous languages in the background. Claimed to be, “One of the most diverse cities in Europe” London has an expansive
culture of its own, but also has borrowed from many cultures around the world
(Lu). Being the largest city in all of the United Kingdom, one could only
fathom the many cultures that are represented on the streets of London.
We quickly learned about how
diverse London is with our first dinner. Our first group meal abroad was at a
restaurant called Hummus Bros. This Middle Eastern meal hit the spot after a
long day of traveling and touring. An added bonus was that the restaurant had
Wi-Fi. Little did we know that it would be our last free Internet connection
for days! We ate a large bowl of hummus, flavored chicken, pita bread, and
tortilla chips while scrolling through our Facebook feeds and socializing with
each other. Dinner concluded with a delicious dessert called Malabi, which is a
milk-based dessert, topped with date honey. Initially it didn’t look too
appetizing and I resisted eating it. Fortunately, I quickly reminded myself
that I went to a new continent to have new experiences and to try new things. I
then stepped out of my comfort zone and ate the dessert, which proved to be
scrumptious. Our dinner the next night was just as much a cultural event. Our
second night in London we ate fantastic Indian cuisine at a restaurant named
Mela.
On our third night we ate like the
English. Fish and chips are a traditional meal made famous in England decades
ago. If you are as clueless as I once was, you would expect some white fish on
a plate and a bag of Lay’s Potato Chips for dinner. At dinner I found that this
was not the case, rather fish and chips are a meal consisting of battered fish
and thick French fries. Our savory meal
was served with peas on the side and a lemon wedge for extra flavoring. All in
all, the Brits are not well known for unique food, but fish and chips are one
dish that is recognized around the world as an English meal. As the National
Federation of Fish Friers declares, “Fish and
chips are the undisputed national dish of Great Britain becoming a cultural and
culinary symbol of our country” (“As British as Fish”). Eating authentic fish
and chips in London is an absolute must on any visit to the city.
Moreover, London’s diversity
extends beyond its copious food choices. The city also has an active Chinatown
that I visited when we were given free time. Chinatown is adorned with red
lanterns hanging between buildings that light up the sky each night. Further,
there are a multitude of authentic restaurants that line the streets of
London’s little oriental corner. There are many traditional Chinese shops with
clothing and even markets selling oriental produce. My friend Bridget and I
stumbled across Chinatown by accident and are so glad we did. Refreshingly, unlike central
London, this area was not heavily populated with tourists. Therefore we found
unique shopping different from the many souvenir shops that boast all of the
same shot-glasses and postcards that we became accustomed to seeing. We also
had the chance to interact with London natives in the context of beautiful
Chinese culture. Through further research I learned that every year London’s
Chinatown holds the largest Chinese New Year celebration outside of Asia
(“Chinese New Year”).
It is hard to believe that we
experienced Middle Eastern, Indian, English, and Chinese culture all within the
boundaries of one city in less than one week. I never knew how many lessons in heterogeneity
could be learned in London, and the city’s rich culture only enhances its external
beauty. A tour of London is like multiple snapshots into the world’s amazing diversity.
If you keep an open mind, the unique cultural experiences in London are
limitless.
Works Cited
“As British as Fish and
Chips.” www.federationoffishfriers.co.uk. National Federation of Fish Friers.
“Chinese New Year
2013.” www.chinatownlondon.org. 18 January 2013. WEB. 18 January 2013. h http://www.chinatownlondon.org/page/chinese-new-year-2013/378
Lu, Denise. “London’s World of Cultures.” www.thecultureist.com. 31 October 2012. WEB. 31 October 2012. http://www.thecultureist.com/2012/10/31/london-culture-photos/
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