This is the biweekly diary following the journey of a Northeastern student studying abroad in London.
As my mates and I roamed a posh London club blasting American music, as they all do, I attempted to convince a cute British bloke to buy me a Magners. Once he opened his mouth, however, I quickly learned he was definitely not English.
He told me he was from Boston and I thought, “What a small world.” Here I am, on the other side of the world to experience a different culture and meet diverse people, yet I keep finding myself in the company of other Americans.
He said to me, “You don’t know how great it is to meet another American,” and I wondered if he had been thrown into this country flying solo. To me, other Americans are commonplace, seeing as I came over with about 15 of them. In addition to that, there are students here from other American universities.
Without realizing it, I have spent most of my time with Americans. This is mostly because the English kids have seen the country and most of Europe. So while my British flatmate Colin sits on his bed spending countless hours on his Playstation, I am out experiencing the country and continent with my American comrades.
I’m not saying I haven’t befriended the English. I feel I fit somewhere in between actually being a Brit and a tourist. I am an outsider looking in, yet I am afforded the time and opportunity to engage in the society.
My ownership of an Oyster Card (a tube pass, a.k.a. subway pass) makes me a Londoner to some extent. When I am not traveling I enjoy the company of my flatmates, who are from various parts of England.
The true test of my belonging here will be upon my return home. Throughout my time here I know I will develop a real connection with this country and will genuinely miss many cultural aspects.
However, I am thankful to have other Northeastern and American students around me. Even though Northeastern is such a large university, I only knew one person from the group, but within only six weeks I have become good friends with each of these once-strangers. For some reason, here, meeting other Americans is exciting. Their company establishes a sense of identity in a foreign place. Back home we may have passed each other along Huntington Avenue without acknowledgment, but here, our nationality brings us together.
Just as commonalities bring people together, so do differences. Most conversations with those having anything but an American accent usually begin with questions about and comparisons of ideas and practices.
It is quite amusing and interesting to hear an outsider’s view on America and its people. Many ask if I like President George W. Bush, hoping I will change the negative impression they hold of me and other Americans based on his representation. Of course, my anti-Bush response always quells their concern.
Where many Americans have no clue, everyone here is politically informed of both their government and ours. As a Massachusetts native, I never encounter political arguments with the extremely liberal attitude here.
Courtesy of some different student groups here, I have some amusing political posters hanging from my wall. My favorite reads “Make Tea, Not War” as Tony Blair holds a machine gun with a teacup on his head.
The British are very blunt and have no problems expressing themselves. Their humor is a bit more raw, their billboards more obvious and the media more scandalous. For example, the Sun’s semi-naked propaganda includes a famous topless model on page three.
If media mogul Rupert Murdoch introduced his popular page three model in the States, there surely would be controversy. The laid-back lifestyle here, however, takes it in and enjoys the ride.
I, too, am enjoying the ride, and it’s now about half up. Coming back to fast-paced Boston will be good when I can get my high-speed Internet in not only my apartment, but Starbucks and The Wrap. But as Matthew Broderick’s 1986 classic “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” taught us all, “Life moves pretty fast,” so I am stopping to look around. Here especially, leisure rules.
