What?
I participated in the MUNDO Multicultural Histories and Legacies of London and Edinburgh program. The trip was a 18 day study abroad/ service learning program in May Session 2014. Our group studied the multicultural neighborhoods of London to observe the dynamic of race and class divisions in London. We spent a day at the North London Action for the Homeless organization to help them serve a meal for the clients and to help them organize the facility. The group also studied the impact of the referendum for Scottish independence in Edinburgh. The trip also engaged me in dialogues with faculty members of the University of Edinburgh and former OSU faculty about the above issues.
So What?
I was surprised to see firsthand how divided an international city like London can be. In certain neighborhoods, the mood of the street radically changes depending on what the cultural division of the neighborhood is. There is a very alarming distrust of the police due to brutality and corruption in the department. However, I fell in love with London with the flow and pace of the city. I learned that London is a city that holds more than theatre and literature. The importance and regard for church and state create a refined culture in the city.
Also the political issues that the US faces in regard to the welfare state and the growing influence of business over government are the same issues that England faces. It is because of these issues that Scotland wants to gain independence. I was fascinated learning about these issues from a British perspective because I spent the past semester learning about them from a US perspective in class.
Now What?
This trip has shown me the growing importance of learning and understanding cultural differences between groups of people in order to build community. The struggles that have arose in England over the years stem from intolerance towards other groups of people. The work I have done with my English Conversation Partner during spring semester 2014 and the work we did at the North London Action for the Homeless have allowed me to see the benefits of welcoming others into one’s own community.
In regards to my interests in pursuing a career in Higher Education/ Student Affairs, this trip has shown me the array of possibilities that wait in this field. Our conversation with a faculty member at the University of Edinburgh showed me how a position in the field can literally take you all over the world. She said that after working as a hall director at a small college in Connecticut, she got a position at Edinburgh. In addition, the people leading the trip were assistant directors of housing. This is not to say that I would be able to travel the world if I worked in this field, but rather the field has amazing opportunities for people to do.
This experience has sparked a bug in me for international travel. I will continue to try to find opportunities to travel abroad in the future or to encourage others to travel abroad.
