Ever since I arrived in London, it has been thrilling and exciting. I was nervous for my ability to immerse myself into the culture in order to truly experience the city, but those nerves subsided quickly. As I walked the streets, I could pass a historical landmark, such as Westminster Abbey and right across the street, a sleek glass skyscraper. The beautiful architecture, efficient public transportation system, and way of life are distinct from anything I’ve experienced in the U.S.
Overall. There’s an overall energy to the city that feels fast paced, but still composed.
We visited businesses including Design Bridge and Partners and Lloyd’s of London. At Design Bridge and Partners we were able to visually see how they continue to innovate within marketing as they work with companies such as Aston Martin to create an advertisement for the Las Vegas Sphere. Meanwhile at Lloyd’s, history is pertinent to the establishment of the company, from a coffee shop to a global insurance brokerage. It has been interesting to see how cultural values and local regulations influence corporate decisions here, and I look forward to learning more about how international business strategies are shaped by the environment they operate in.
The most noticeable cultural difference to me was in communication. People in London tend to be more proper and subtle in their communication, Phrases such as “sorry” and “cheers” are used more often. Public etiquette is also more structured, for example, standing on the right side of the escalator and keeping quiet on the tube are unspoken rules that everyone seems to follow. These small differences are subtle reminders that I’m part of a different cultural system,
and adapting to them has been both fun and humbling. Besides learning the cultural norms, adapting to the public transportation system has taught me to be more confident and independent. I am looking forward to experiencing these differences from country to country.
