It would be hard to identify the “culture” of London, since it’s literally made up of hundreds of ethnicities and nationalities. Amongst this culturally rich energy, I do feel a sense of unity. Everyone seems to coexist peacefully, for the most part. For example, my street has so many diverse shops and restaurants; no two are alike. Off the top of my head, there is a Black barbershop, a Syrian-style takeaway, and Italian Cafe (homemade pasta!) within one block. There is no quarrel, no sense of “I own this block.” It seems like everyone supports each other. At the Lebanese grocer yesterday, I was graciously welcomed with hot coffee. Around me, I heard people speaking Spanish. This is so London, I thought. 

In a more traditional sense, I notice a few key aspects of London’s “deep culture” that I suppose were derived from English heritage. Obviously, there is tea time. I loved tea before I came, so I knew this tradition was one I’d resonate with. It is a great ritual that a lot of Brits seem to follow, whether it’s at a coffee shop or work gathering. Our first week here, at orientation, we had tea and scones at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Kensington. They were quite literally the best scones/biscuits I had ever tasted. Warm, pillowy, and paired perfectly with clotted cream and homemade jam. It’s the perfect mid-day pick me up, and a time to relax and refresh. My favorite brand I have found here is TeaPigs, licorice and peppermint specifically. 

In addition to tea time, I’ve noticed the overall leisure in Londoners’ step. While people do walk fast on the streets, this doesn’t seem to be the tone of their life. They seem overall relaxed and not like they are tasked with a million things at once, an American forte. People will hangout in coffee shops or even pubs, reading their book for hours. Restaurants don’t rush you out, like they are desperate to clean your table. Also, people will just sit in the park for hours, and this is not an exaggeration. This is a rarity in America. I really appreciate and integrate well, in this sense. I foster this slow paced lifestyle, in London and at home. Amidst the chaos of this city, people find time to slow down and embrace their surroundings…something I really cherish. 

I have found the necessity of taboos interesting, in London. Purposefully, one may not notice if they are oblivious. People here will not come out and say if you are being rude or doing something incongruent to their norms. They may simply roll their eyes, instead. For example, we were at the grocery store and accidentally jumped the “queue,” where a lady scoffed and rolled her eyes at us. When my roommate and I were walking on the footpath, we chose the American right side (it was the first day!) and got scoffed at, yet again. In short, people won’t tell you when you’re in the wrong, they prefer a more passive aggressive style of confrontation. Outright face-to-face aggression is not very British! 

Relative to this “taboo” culture, where is the Prince Harry book, Spare? As central as the Royal Family is to London and the UK in general, you’d think there would be a lot more talk of it. Coming from the U.S., where government and politics are the substance of many conversations, this is a bit jarring. While it is nice to have a break from this constant dialogue, I am curious about this Royal Family drama. My roommate and I went to a bookstore in Hampstead Heath, and this Prince Harry book was no where to be found. Actually, there was no literature that would seem to cause or spark a political stir. This could not be more different from America, where every book store seems to display the most controversial and provocative material. 

Thus far, my experiences have been diverse and character-building. I am learning a lot about British culture, the marketing and journalism industry, but most importantly, myself. I love the walkability of this city and think it leads to a happy and healthy lifestyle. I don’t love how you can’t wave at cars here for letting you cross the street. I love how everything is so accessible and affordable, my groceries for three days are roughly £20. I miss recognizing faces in the street or on the bus. But I love hearing the some 300 languages being spoken all around me. My time in London, so far, has revealed to me that there is no absolute blueprint for being in your 20s, finding a job, or even living life. Everyone, all over the world, has vastly different ideas of what that looks like. I am learning that this is okay, and this is good. It makes me excited to think of all the possibilities my life could end up as, the diverse people I will encounter, and the opportunities I will seize. And it’s only just begun….