My first impressions of London were honestly unexpected. This was my first time in Europe, and aside from what friends or classmates had told me, I didn’t really know what to expect. The moment we landed, everything already felt different especially when we made our way to Oxford University. Seeing actual British students walking around campus and going about their day gave me a small culture shock. Even though we speak the same language, everything from the way they dressed to the vibe of the university felt new to me.
One of the first things I noticed that really threw me off was crossing the street. In the U.S., I’m used to looking left, right, then left again. But in the UK, with cars driving on the opposite side of the road and the steering wheel on the right side of the car, I found myself double checking every time I crossed even when the ground had arrows telling me which way to look. It’s such a small thing, but it really made me realize how everyday routines can be completely different from country to country. Another difference I noticed quickly was the time zone. London is five to eight hours ahead of most U.S. cities, and adjusting to that was tougher than I thought. My body clock was definitely confused the first few days.
Despite those early adjustments, one thing that’s made this transition easier is the group of students I’m here with. I honestly thought trying to get 80 people to work together and learn each other’s names would be chaotic, but everyone’s been welcoming and genuinely trying to connect. There’s a shared excitement that’s really motivating.
