Coming from Florida, a place rich in palm trees, sandy beaches, and cheeseburgers to London, a place that you can see possesses an abundance of rich history and a diverse population expanded my perspective of the world. I had never been outside the United States, therefore, I only knew what I had seen in America. The most fascinating thing that always caught my attention was the architecture. The different statues, churches, homes, buildings, etc. hold onto its past and all that happened within it while continuing to stand tall in the future. I found myself navigating a blend of familiarity and novelty.
London is indeed the melting pot of cultures, with millions of people calling it home. The city’s multiculturalism is evident in its foods, neighborhoods, festivals, and event art scenes. In the United States, the communities are more spread out, whereas in London, the neighborhoods are densely packed and in smaller spaces. In London, the sense of community is a bit more intimate and transient than in America. Public transportation is one of the main forms of transportation besides walking or bicycling, therefore, you are often in communal areas with your neighbors, creating a different and more communal experience than in American cities. Additionally, local neighborhoods and pubs have a strong sense of identity and tradition. My trip happened to occur during the Men’s World Cup of England v. Spain. Early in the morning around 8am everyone in the city had their shirts on to support their football team (American soccer) on Saturday even though the game didn’t start till 3pm Sunday! A couple fellows and I went to a nearby pub to watch the game and feel the rollercoaster of emotions with the locals. It was incredible to watch and experience such an event that brought so many people together (a few brawls here and there).
I did find myself part of a new community amongst those in the fellowship with me. We had commonalities amongst us like being from the US, wanting to pursue a career in law, around the same age group, etc. I made a lot of fond memories with those in the fellowship that I will cherish for a long time. One night we had a movie night where we watched Legally Blonde and the Kingsman, another night we all went to get dinner together, a different day we went grocery shopping together, and we even went traveling around London to different experiences like Big Ben together. We created and shared so many things with one another that it was bound to create a bond among us.
Overall, my sense of community was strengthened not only by what I got to see around me but what I was able to feel with those who supported me.
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