Hi everyone, it’s me again! Living in London, the assimilation process has not been challenging for the sake of having the same language spoken as well as a similar work-life society. What has been the most surprising aspect of living in the city is the connectivity of the city. In living in Pittsburgh for three years, I have noticed the city often seems separated due to the public transit system as well as the overall geography of the area. Although London is a large city, each area is incredibly attainable to reach! This includes other areas of England as well, given that, from London, reaching other cities via public transport is quick and efficient. I am managing this experience well by utilizing the public transit and connectivity of the city to see the entirety of England as well as London itself. London is also showing to be much more connected than many other American cities just based around their cultural appreciation. There seems to be a community for so many groups, allowing others to be welcomed in and learn of other experiences.

In the classroom, the biggest change has been focusing on film from a British perspective as, with all of my previous studies, I have been utilizing an American or Hollywood point of view of film. This has been challenging because of the adjustment to understanding the norms of cinema. For one of my major projects, I am tasked with creating a screening guide for a festival program. In understanding how the visual landscape is viewed in the British context, I am having to shift how I approach the topic of censorship and public regard for the British public interest. With this, I am researching based on past festivals to better understand how other film programmers utilized the British audience as a guide for film selection. 

With my past experience of living and working in Prague, I am lucky to be able to understand how to adjust to living alone. Navigating a city alone is daunting at first, however, a truly unforgettable experience. In London, with so many cultures represented, it is incredible to be able to immerse myself into various activities which I may not have experienced back home or ever in my life. I am lucky to be able to explore the city with others from my program while still maintaining my independence of taking on London. It is important to maintain a good balance of such, as sharing experiences with others can leave a lasting impact on the relationship and the memory.