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• 1 media/IMG_1765.JPG 2019-05-05T10:31:50-07:00 Officially a Londoner 9 Annie O'Neill image_header 2019-05-29T10:16:34-07:00 I have held English and British people in a very specific place in my heart, but it was my version of them. I had a clear idea of my England and that was supported through my brief tourist trip 2 years ago. I saw the England and British person that I wanted to see. Through this trip my eyes are being opened to the real England not the tourist or pop culture view. I am now a Londoner for a month living and experiencing what a real Londoner would (with some touristy stops thrown in). I have found a very different England and British person to the one I imagined I have looked up to for years.
  
  One of the things that has stood out to me most is the cultural diversity of London. I feel as though I haven’t seen many Brits with there stereotypical swoon worthy accents. Many of the interactions I have had or overheard feature a foreign accent. Majorities of people seem to be Italian or speak a form of Spanish. It was something I didn’t expect coming in. I assumed living and studying in London we would be experiencing many true Londoners and Brits, instead I am seeing a United Nations like city. I also see many different cultural and religious clothing. This was seen especially in the Brick Lane area. London is city full of cultures while also staying true to their own. 
  
  While I have experienced some lovely Brits, I did have one negative experience with a Brit on a tube. While sitting on the tube I didn’t notice an older woman that had just entered the train until I overheard her say something negative about sitting down. It was then I turned and asked if she wanted my seat. She gave a snappy response “No, I’m sure you need it much more than I do”. With that I got up with no words. I usually relate the Brits with more biting humor not biting personalities, but this is something I am discovering. Luckily one negative experience is outweighed by many positive.
  
  I have also discovered the patterns and attitudes of the city people, as I become an active Londoner. London is a very fast paced city which I only somewhat expected coming from New York City. Londoners have a place to go and they walk with a purpose to those locations. Since we as a group as usually turned around and taking in our surroundings I understand why people would be annoyed by us. I have also realized the silence they use on the tubes and other public areas. As Americans we are very loud. We enter a tube, restaurant, or store with a wall of sound. I originally didn’t think anyone minded we talked but I have come to notice that we are out of the ordinary doing that. I want to blend in more to really have a true experience. As a small thing I have seen so much more smoking in London and the UK than in America. 
  
  I have seen many more differences between Americans and British people than I thought I would. I assumed that London being a metropolitan city it would relate to the big cities I know in America, but it really doesn’t. They have much less nationalism and yet a much older country. The history goes back so deep yet America’s history is much shorter and we are very proud of it.
  
  Overall these first 2 weeks have been an eye opening experience that has changed the way I see British people and England. I still love this place so much and still have so much to see/do. I can’t wait to see what the rest of the trip holds for me.