Submitted by Samantha Miles on the 2018 winter session program in London, England sponsored by the Department of Communication…
My name is Samantha Miles and I am studying abroad in London for three weeks this winter session! Although I have only been here for three days, I can already see the difference between behaviors in the United States and the behaviors of those who live in the city of London. In class, Professor Bartoo was comparing the people of London with the people of America. While most of us knew that Americans had a reputation for being loud, she emphasized that we needed to be more aware of our volume in public spaces than we usually would.
Immediately after we left the classroom and were walking down the street towards the Tube, Professor Bartoo had to remind us to take a look around. Sure enough, almost everyone else who was walking on our street was talking at a much lower level than us, if not silent.
Since then, I have been constantly catching myself on the street and in restaurants speaking above the “appropriate” volume for this city. I find it so interesting because I hardly ever find myself uncomfortable speaking too loudly at home. Yet, I think there is something amazing about being in a city, a place known for its constant noise and distinct sounds, where the streets are not muddled with the noises of people and the underground subways are not full of the screams of those trying to hear one another. It’s a beautiful deviation from my norm.