September 22nd, 2001 to June 8th, 2002

London, England

London Living...
Unshockable, Multicultural, Intellectual, Introverted, Liberal, Theatrical, Historical, Reserved, Proper, Exciting.....What isn't London?

Living in London for an entire academic year was quite the experience. In no other place can you witness a wide amount of cultural diversity working together in one crammed mecca. The way the city operates from riding the underground, shopping at the supermarket, walking on oxford street, etc., is something completely different to any other place I lived before. At first I was really tired and couldn't keep up with the high speed of things and would be very exhausted after coming home from school. Sooner or later I adapted into the way this metropolis operates and enjoyed its special charm along with the rest of its 7.4 million people.

London is the world's largest multi-lingual city with more than 100 languages spoken. The large variety of ethnic backgrounds come from Britain's commonwealth, Asia, Australia, the European Union, and also South America. Americans arrive in London expecting a silver platter of tea and crumpets when really all they find is an impressive collaboration amongst the different cultural backgrounds and an overabundance of fried chicken and curry kebab stands. The UK has such an important foreign cultural influence that according to the BBC, it has now adopted 'curry' as its national dish. The UK not only exposes itself to best of the world's cultures but celebrates it.

These world cultures are also displayed in London's British Museum. Inside this breathtaking and FREE attraction are historical artifacts from all over the world. Some items inside this amazing museum reminded me of the minute hours of world history I received while growing up. The BM has pieces of the Parthenon, The Rosetta Stone (which is claimed to be the first sources of scribing with its Egyptian hieroglyphics), and many other jaw-dropping assets. How the British government acquired these pieces of history is still an issue at heart. Some say they were donated, but one must really question that information. Were these items acquired while killing thousands of innocent people during the imperializing era or was it simply handed over as some descriptions verify? This museum is just an introduction to the vast amount of history, culture, and intellectuality within this rich country. History in addition to its more liberal social environments are some thing's America has yet to enjoy.

Unlike America, the same aged college students in England are generally more mature. They enjoy drinking at the age of 18. Also, the law enforcement allows people to be able to carry around open containers of alcohol on the streets, on the tube, and around the city. My first month in London was 'paranoia panic' when my friends decided to open a bottle on the streets. Sooner or later I realized it was such not a big deal, and I wouldn't be death penalized after bloody beaten by a steroid cop, or unjustly accused by a 'justified' system. Frankly, the laws in the UK allow more room for living and refrain from over-enforcing or over-controlling its citizens. Living in the UK made me feel like a monitored citizen when I looked back at when I was living in the States. Most of this liberality is spun off from a cultural attitude difference between the two as English just "can't be bothered".

English take drinking seriously and head to the pub occasionally to socialize with people and partake in their culture. They know how to enjoy the social hours of their day and don't work 50 billion hours a year to make their striving CEO living along with the rest of their cold-felt people like Americans do. Most of them enjoy a warm social environment conducted at the pub. By just walking around Friday at 11:30 PM you can feel a sense of difference between how Americans and English enjoy their lives. Sometimes it could be quite the challenge with the massive amounts of people crowded around the pub's pissed and very lively. People usually head to the pub after work on a Friday to drink the week away. Pubs close at 11:00 PM, but bars usually close at 3:00 am, while clubs operate from all night till the next day's afternoon.

One thing that makes London such a unique city is how the club scene and music industries infest itself within the culture. London has a clubbing nightlife like no other with more clubs you can imagine. It literally never stops, music is pumping somewhere at any hour of any day. According to ThisIsLondon, only in one city will you find a scientific estimation of 600,000 users of the drug known as Ecstasy per weekend. London and the drug scene run hand in hand whether your a high street banker or just a 'scally' trying to feed your kid. They take these practices a bit more seriously partly because the government is less controlling over its people.

While us Americans are slammed by a more intensive education as well as stuck at home due to our ineligibility to go out, the average English college student around the ages of 18-21 enjoys partying on the weeknights with friends. English people also recognize that similar aged Americans take their drinking to a belligerently binged level, proving the idea that we are a bit 'behind' on drinking maturity partly because we have been sheltered by such a conservative government.

It is sometimes hard to question which place is better to live based on the facts of the two countries. Is it more desirable to live in a place where people are less controlled, much more legally free to live, lower crime rates; or, a place where the government is overpowered, criminals and serial killers lurk, guns are legal, and greedy money laundering provide people's level of happiness. With noticeably less murderer's, serial killers, home grown terrorists and criminals, England's more liberal laws seem to work rather than the over-controlling and conservative political ideology of the States. In no American city, especially Los Angeles, does it feel much safer to walk through many central areas at any time of the day. Crime statistics for a large city are very notable, partly because firearms were banned in 1997 allowing less people to have access to guns today.

One surprising fact that opened my eye to the differences of Britain versus America was how long, what was covered, and in what opinion were topics of world news & affairs presented in the media. The people of the UK are generally more involved about being informed of world's news & affairs on a daily basis shown by how a more thorough and continuous coverage the media displayed of the Pakistani/Israeli conflicts. I was also surprised to see how much interest of the subject the people cared towards this important topic which the United States and its media coverage have shown less interest of. The US media tends to focus only on its interests. From learning about media by watching the news, I soon began to realize that America's broadcasting networks are structured in a centralized fashion.

Its not even possible to see the difference among the news coverages produced by US media sources as its a carbon copy from the three entities controlling the industry. Most Americans don't even have the capacity for the caring about anything beyond the country borders nonetheless question if our government is feeding us the right stories. Questioning the media is now a practice I have implemented into my daily routine from being exposed to much better sources in the UK. The BBC News, in my opinion, is a much thorough and a better opinionated medium for world affairs than CNN or any American news source.

Commenting about the Study Abroad Experience:

As a study abroad experience in such a similar country to the United States, I would say that the learning experience is quite comparative to that of studying in a completely foreign country. In London, there are many people from around the world who offer, in English, their views of world affairs and can provide for this need of a cultural experience. Second, its much easier to fully communicate and understand what others feel towards America by the help of inexistent language barriers and extremely different cultural differences. Third, most students from Europe and around the world study abroad in London providing a perfect setting to make good friends from different places. Fourth, since London and its working structure is similar to the United States it can keep you in some sort of economic focus in contrast to an abroad experience in a less-developed country. Lastly, London is such a great place that one must properly take the time to enjoy it. Apart from a tourist approach, living in this city is such a rewarding & incredible experience. A day, a week, a month, or a year is never enough time to experience it all. There is so much offered and so much to do that no Londoner truly knows the streets of London.

There is so much I can say about London that can't be expressed in words towards this city. I miss and will continue to miss it. I have a collection of photos that I treasure of my London experience below that I would like to share with you. Scroll down to view my pictures of London.

'look right', at each street crossing

live those fantasies from the escort/prostitution adverts available at your local telephone booth.

Shakespeare's Globe, where you can feel true Shakespeare productions in a theatre similar to its time.