My STEP project, Making My Own Steps: Global May Great Britain, was a four week study abroad program. Through the Global May Great Britain program, I was able to take a class through Arcadia University on the culture, history, and politics of London. I am thankful to have learned about Great Britain through my coursework and excursions.

When I first started to do research on the Global May Great Britain Program, I was excited mostly to travel to a country that was different from the United States. None of my family members had been outside of the country, let alone even really discussed Great Britain. One of the first aspects to the the United Kingdom that I had to learn was the geographic makeup of the country. I was taught that England was all just white British people. I soon found out from being in this class that there is a European Union and that entities such as London, Scotland, and Ireland are apart of that Union. Learning how large the city of London is compared to multiple States in America helped me start to process the entire structure of Great Britain.

I was first exposed to an American romanticized idea of what the city of London would be like. I was expecting diversity in race and ethnicity that is superior to the United States. I was expecting to see more people of color living in better conditions of life, potentially having more accessibility of upward mobility in society. I never took the time to think about what potential down sides the city of London has. Traveling to London, I saw that this expectation was higher than what was really found in London today. The city is diverse, but it was not anything exceptional in comparison to the United States. Our first evening in HighGate I did not see any people of color. The community was

Living in HighGate, I could see the amount of wealth in this area versus the wealth of the towns in zone 6 by the Heathrow Airport. When I was traveling towards the airport on the tube on the last day, I saw small houses that seemed to be mini complexes surrounded by tall grass and small children playing in empty patches meant to be play areas. Seeing and learning from our tour guides such as Dan about the history of gentrification and segregation of London reminded me exactly of the United States. Areas such as Brick Lane are prime examples of historical sites that were overwhelmed with immigrants and the hardships they experienced. Now some the generations of these immigrants that are left in Brick Lane have be pushed out by young British digital artists and increased costs of living. This specifically reminds me of my hometown of Dayton. A lot of people try to claim suburbs such as Centerville and Miamisburg as Dayton, but those communities do not experience the hardships that my community had to go through. The center of Dayton is connected by one central street, Salem Avenue. The streets in this area have been left to poverty while all the wealth has moved to the suburbs. The movement of money in both the United States and London is very similar.

Some differences I did notice about London was their social norms involving interactions with others. In The United States, specifically in environments like Ohio State University, it is expected that people smile, say hello, and even stop and have a conversation with someone. In London, I learned quickly that ear buds are always worn and a smile is rarely given. The guest speakers on the panel from the last day of the class stated they never understood when British people say “You Alright” and just walk away. That is the British way of doing a simple hello. The first time that was said to me, I thought that I appeared to be hurt or look unhappy. I had to just go along with these practices. Ironically, even though people in London May not being more friendly with their words or gentle when passing others, they believe in respect to those who need it. Not only are there priority seats in major public spaces such as buses and centers, but people actually stand by helping people in need be safe in their spaces. A major difference is how people will be willing to help a mother lift up their stroller onto the tube. In America, society has conditioned us to believe we must handle all of our issues on our own. If that same man would have just helped a woman with a stroller with such urgency, some Americans would question his motives.

These differences and simulators revealed to me that the United States is not alone in their issues and Great Britain is not perfect. From the Women’s Suffrage Movements, abolishing slavery, or advancing public transportation, both nations have experienced these moments in time, but just on their own schedules. I was able to realize that a lot of my biases to the bad relations in the United States had me overstate the good in London. I had to learn more about the history of London being the center of Great Britain’s Imperial conquest to start connecting the dots. While America fought for their independence from Great Britain, the United States continued a lot of the practices that were in the United Kingdom. To the latter, while Great Britain may criticize America for our actions and problems, Great Britain either has the same or a few of their own.

I believe by the end of week three I was able to function in Great Britain very well because I already had a sense of independence and open mindedness. I have been funding me own education and paying for majority of my daily experiences for almost three years now. Participating in this program was one of the biggest accomplishments because I was navigating it almost fully on my own. Having this confidence and determination already, I became less fearful of getting lost in the city of London and being around British people. I am used to taking public transportation in Columbus, so I just had to get used to a new route. It was difficult at first because I did not have data or phone service. I had to plan ahead before just going to a bus stop. This mad me more conscious of the need to establish a game plan for the day.

Some of the nonverbal norms I had to adjust to was tube traveling etiquette and feeling constantly watched by others. On the tube or just simply walking down the street, British people do not mind staring you down. I felt that as people stared, they were trying to figure out where I came from. I realized this when their stares were followed by “Which state are you from?” If you do not stand to the right of the escalator, someone may come rushing past you and tell you to step aside. People on the tube do not mind being crammed in tight places. This is also relating to the architecture and landscape of the city. There are multiple houses on one street. They are not too wide, but they are built tall. I think it was great to go to the primary school and see how well space has been used in London
One of the greatest things that helped me adapt to studying abroad in London was putting myself around people in my cohort who were interested in getting similar experiences out of this opportunity. My study abroad advisor Louise told me from the beginning that my experience in London will be completely different than many of the peers in my class. Being a woman of color and a first generation college student, I took my first time studying abroad more seriously than others. One’s life experiences shape how they perceive the world. For me, I believe that I appreciate learning and seeing social interactions and history. From my major in Sociology and Public Affairs, to my life experiences, my interests kept me eager to learn how to adapt to the London community.

Studying Abroad in London has been one of the best experiences of my life. This has been one big learning experience. From participating in STEP and applying to this program to educating myself on financial budgeting, there are skills I gained from just traveling. This was my first time flying by myself, let alone out of the country. It took a lot of confidence to convince my family and myself that I will be okay. While I was in London, I was nervous that I would get lost or loose my Oyster card, but I was able to maintain everything. This gave me the reassure that I could travel on my own and be secure in my ability to be independent.
The excursion to Oxford University was very motivating to me. I always heard about Oxford University being the top institution in the world. Being on the campus of so many powerful and intelligent historians was impactful for myself. While some people in my class felt that Oxford University was boring, If I went to Oxford, I would be proud to take part in every tradition. Taking exams in Harry Potter robs, going to the yearly torturous races, and orientation celebration would add me to the legacy of some of the most intelligent historians. I had previously thought about applying to be a Rhodes Scholar so I could get my masters of public policy from Oxford, but I was already doubting myself. I did not think I would be smart enough to even get in. On the day of our trip to Oxford, the teachers assistant for my class gave me words of encouragement. Now I feel hopeful in my possibilities to further my education, continue my research in Sociology, and potentially travel back to London as an Oxford University student.

Observing the education system in Great Britain made me reflect on my path in education and how the United States structures are impacting society. I am very passionate about children and child’s poverty. In the United States, poverty in a community can limit the educational opportunities of the students in that area. I was able to find similarities of that in some communities of London. The primary school we visited was so prosperous because they were able to depend on the resources of that community and some very passionate administration to ensure that those students can prosper in any way they choose to. While the school was small, it was filled with speech and hearing specialists, classrooms dedicated to teaching students how to cook, and even training professionals in counseling. If my elementary school had these resources when I was growing up, so many more of my peers would be more successful today. Being at the primary school encouraged me to ask questions on why Great Britain chooses to put their students on tracks and whether that is more beneficial that just keeping all students together.

By the end of this study abroad program, I learned that I want to dedicate more of my life and education to experiencing more cultures and communities that are different than my own. I want to say that I loved life traveling and doing new things. I never would have never went to as many museums, art galleries, or theater performances if I was not in London. I have found more interests in seeing live performances and trying to understand modern art. There is beauty in all things if one is open to change. I feel so positively moved by this experience abroad that I am encouraging everyone I know to study abroad. I want my family members, some who may not even have a college diploma to study abroad. Sometimes you can learn the truth of society and history through experience versus reading a text book. I feel stronger in my knowledge of the city of London and it’s contribution to the history of the world. I love the city, this opportunity, and the people who took part in it with me.