Submitted by Tatiana Salermo on the 2020 winter session study abroad program in London, England sponsored by the Department of Communication…
During my first week studying in London, England I have had so many incredible experiences. I was shocked to see the cultural differences between here and America. When riding the Tube, even at its busiest rush hour, everyone remains so quiet. People don’t speak or they whisper while on public transportation. As an Italian girl from New Jersey, I am usually not a very quiet person. When I speak, I speak loudly and I talk with my hands, but here I have adapted to the culture and have been increasingly quieter. I also noticed that while walking down the street, people are not really talking on the phone or speaking loudly, either. I am used to the busy streets of New York City, where everyone is on a phone call while walking around or speaking loudly to their friends, so this was very shocking to me.
I was also shocked when entering a local pub for dinner. We walked in and waited to be seated by a hostess and then realized that you are supposed to seat yourself and order at the bar with a table number. Waitstaff in London will never ask you if you want the bill, instead they will wait for you to ask. This was a cultural adjustment I had to make as well.
We went on an excursion to Westminster Abbey this week and I did not expect to be as astonished by the art and incredible ceilings as I was. The view was breathtaking. Inside the Abbey, you are not allowed to take any photos so it was easy to pay attention to the real view in front of your eyes rather than being distracted by a screen. I am excited for what the next few weeks will bring!