Submitted by Kathryn Deaver on the 2016 fall semester study abroad program in London, England…
Picture that moment – that beautiful, exhilarating moment – when the plane touches down, bumping you up and down in your seat, and you’re preparing to take your first steps in a new country.
Except it is in that moment when the captain (in his beautifully somber British accent) comes on the speaker to tell you that there is no crew member to work the air jetty currently, but it should only be a few more minutes, but you’ve been on the plane for over seven hours straight already, longing to finally unfold out of your seat and emerge from the plane like a newborn child from the womb, born again as a student of London – fresh-faced, open-minded, and eager to soak in the sparkling diverse city.
But not yet. First, the jetty must move. And finally, it does.
Although my British Airways flight faced a bit of a post-arrival delay, the suspense only lasted 15 minutes before Heathrow’s ground crew worked out the air jetty issue. Aside from that, I did not have much difficulty during my journey to the UK. After making my (long, tired) way through UK Border Patrol and Customs, I boarded the Piccadilly Line of the London Underground (the “Tube”) and ventured toward my flat – a 2-bedroom, top-story apartment in the neighborhood of Shepherd’s Bush.
Only having ridden a subway once or twice in my life, the prospect of relying on the Tube as my primary means of travel initially intimidated me. However, the station in Heathrow Airport was extremely navigable, and my subsequent journeys have confirmed that this is true for the whole system. As part of my program, I received an Oyster Card, a wonderful investment that gives me reduced fare and allows me to “tap in” and out of every station without needing to buy or scan tickets. The Tube is definitely my favorite way to get around here, and I use it whenever my destination is too far to walk.
Walking, while it allows you to see much more of the sights and sounds of the city, can be a hassle, particularly when you need to cross a lot of streets. I have noticed that the crosswalks of London are vastly different from those of American roadways. Pedestrians have to cross the intersection in pieces, hopping from one area to another like the character in Frogger. Also, the crosswalks are not as clearly marked as in the United States – I’ve stood at what I thought was a crosswalk for several minutes, waiting for a break in traffic, only to realize that there was no pedestrian light there. Also, I’ve heard that London drivers are more aggressive and traffic laws favor them over pedestrians (“They will run you over.”), but I have a feeling that it is just the normal city-driver mentality that you can find in just about every metropolis.
Now that I’ve tackled transportation, I’m ready to begin classes tomorrow!