Hi again! One of the biggest aspects of the “deep culture” in London that I find the most interesting is the etiquette on public transportation. The first time I took public transportation, my friends and I were definitely humbled when we were the only ones talking, and people kept looking at us, which is never a good sign. It wasn’t until after a few more rides and social media telling us how rude it was to talk on the tube or the bus. Generally, on the tube people avoid eye contact and talking to others. Most people read books, listen to music, or just use their phone. This definitely took some adjusting, as my friends and I wanted to use the ride as a way to catch up or talk about future plans. Some other aspects of “deep culture” here in London are queueing, pub culture, and a lot of apologizing. Queueing is huge in London, and people here are so respectful about it, meaning no one will cut in front of you, and if they do, it will warrant some mean looks…so beware. Pub culture is also very different from the US! Pub means public house, and it serves as a space outside of a flat where you can hang out with friends and catch up, and it is also a place where just one drink can turn into a few very quickly. Overall, the hardest and most interesting “deep culture” here in London has to be public transportation etiquette for me!
A few aspects of “surface culture” I most connect with are the food, like fish and chips, Sunday roast, and afternoon tea, free museums, and how people dress very put together. Starting off with the food, it is absolutely amazing, and one of my favorite ways to explore a city is eating the food, and London makes it so easy. There is such a diverse selection, and you can find a restaurant for every cuisine. Of course, fish and chips are known for being the classic takeaway food, and I’ve heard people on the phone talking about getting fish and chips for an easy dinner, which was honestly so cool to hear and quite a shock. There is a huge culture of Sunday roasts that bring the whole family together and are a nice way to end a week. Lastly, afternoon tea is also a great way to bring people together, and looks can be deceiving because afternoon tea made me quite full of only tea sandwiches and sweets. My most notable experience was getting to have afternoon tea on the London Eye!
