As my time in London comes to a close, I think it is safe to say I have saw it, said it, and sorted it! My life here feels blissfully normal; I no longer react to British accents and the tube has become a way of life. These past six weeks, living as a Brit, have challenged me in countless inarticulable ways. Who was the girl who set foot on the plane six weeks ago? I shall never know her again…

To say studying abroad has been breezy would certainly undermine the essence of its impact. There have been times on the trip where I’ve questioned my choices. Why am I here? What greater impact will this have on my life? Intermittently, I had these thoughts in the first weeks. Specifically, when I would be at a park alone, on the phone with family, or dining out solo. I can describe this sentiment in no other way than feeling random. Being across the Atlantic ocean, navigating life abroad, is just random. The feeling of walking alone through Normand Park in Fulham, approximately 3,716 miles away from home, is just random. However, as I reflect back on those realisations and sometimes insecurities, the purpose of my being here becomes clearer and clearer…

The many long walks in thought and tube rides of pondering have led me to process and come to terms with the impacts of my London experience. Divided into three main categories, I reflect on gaining confidence in my independence, building inspirational friendships and mentorships, and challenging my instilled American framework.

• Being Confidently Independent
  • Although I have felt incredibly challenged at times, dealing with illness abroad and adjusting to the different demands of my internship and classes, I am walking away with unbelievable confidence in myself. It may be cliché to say, but truly nothing is impossible.
  • At times where I struggled with my health, I was frustrated, scared, and worried. On top of that, I stressed about meeting the demands of my employer and professors. During weeks two or three, it felt like an impossible peak to summit.
  • However, I not once felt the urge to book a ticket and go home. I didn’t want to give up in the face of adversity. I knew, what I needed most, was to rely and trust in myself, believing that I had the skillset and resources to handle the challenges. Thus, I leaned into my support systems and practised self-care. Every ounce of my being wanted to be here, and wanted to experience life in London. So, I did just that.

• Building Friendships and Mentorships
  • While in London, I have learned to rely on other people and communicate what I am going through, good or bad. It is vital to support and listen to each other because chances are, many people are navigating the same highs and lows of life abroad. Knowing no one coming here, initially, I’ve had to trust other people and be open to new relationships.
  • Additionally, I have connected with many unique and inspiring individuals, some taking roles as mentors. My social circle of likewise Pitt students, are passionate and diverse peoples. They all have a profound interest in exploring London, immersing themselves abroad, and learning. We’ve explored many new neighbourhoods, cultures, and partaken in various activities. From Paddington’s canal boat restaurants to the Brighton Beach Boardwalk, it’s hard to find something we haven’t done.
  • My experience here has been just as much fun as it has been intellectually stimulating (are they mutually exclusive?). While at first, I felt distressed about attending class for nine hours a week on top of my internship, it has been indescribably rewarding. My global internship course lecturer is genuinely interested in our lives and devoted to helping us articulate our experiences here. My international marketing professor has this contagious passion for the subject, he makes the content come to life. His assignments for applying real world examples, frameworks, and case studies, has shaped my interest in global marketing. The comfortably discussive environments in these classrooms is unmatched.
  • That is not to mention our guest speakers and class field trips. In the global internship course, we learned from a London recruiter, how and who they look for in job candidates. In international marketing, we visited a behavioural based marketing firm where they use heuristics and human centred research to drive marketing and campaigns. It wasn’t necessarily the content of these visits that changed my life, but the broadening of my perspective of international business. Needless to say, I secured those LinkedIn connections!

• Acceptance for the Outside World
  • Sometimes, it’s hard not to feel like I am from another planet, a so-called bubble, when talking to foreigners. Occasionally, every word that comes out of my mouth sounds like the stereotypical American. “You need a visa to vacation in America?!” I asked, stunned at both the fact of the matter and that I had no recollection of this. What else don’t I know?
  • Perhaps, we are naive to the realities of life outside of America. Perhaps we live in a bubble, where elsewhere is foreign and consequently, painted as less desirable. The only ideal situation could be America.
  • It is a fact that we dominate many aspects of the modern world, supporting the term globalisation. Specifically, I found this to be true in terms of businesses, digital media, and music. Although we live an ocean apart, Americans can easily relate to culture in the UK. Many Brits love The Office, Taylor Swift, and KFC, something we have in common. When I first turned on the television in my flat, I was stunned to find a “NEW” Dance Moms episode (it was from 2012).
  • This sort of cultural (and military) dominance we hold in the world is something we are actually blind to, because we are on the inside of it. I imagine it kind of like the Ancient Roman structure we saw in Bath. Inside, it was glorious with mineral baths, ancient recreation rooms, and natural hot tubs. One could probably live their whole life in there, never seeing the outside world, because it has much to offer. In this sense, it is similar to America. Yes, we could probably survive never crossing a border, because there is so much abundance inside. However, we might totally be missing what’s on the outside, what exists beyond the walls of our civilisation.

It didn’t quite dawn on me until I was living here that America’s reach is far beyond the coasts of our country. We have infiltrated global systems and cultures with ours… for better or for worse. The realisations and inspirations I’ve gained from being abroad are everlasting. Just how I will implement them upon return, only time can tell. But, I am undoubtedly walking away from this experience with a changed perspective, one that may lead me to seek a life abroad…