Experiential Blog Post 6-- Recognizing Culture

Things in London are certainly different than they are in the U.S. in terms of communication. People tend to be quieter in London; if I've learned anything on this trip, it's that we in the U.S. are LOUD. There is a very small personal bubble here in the U.K. as well. In the states, we tend to stand quite a ways from each other, and grow uncomfortable otherwise. In the U.K., though, they tend to touch each other during conversation. Whether it be a pat on the shoulder, touching of the hand or otherwise, they are much more comfortable with physical contact than we tend to be. There is an air of politeness here in the U.K. as well. Not to say that we aren't polite in the states, but it's almost a general rule here to be nice to one another. People tend to wait behind you for you to move; you won't hear an excuse me. You'll hear a thank you, or "cheers", for the smallest of things, including buying a drink or thanking someone. Overall, I think it is important to be open and compromising when living in a different culture. We should embrace what we aren't accustomed to, and incorporate it into our daily lives. We should be more polite, less obnoxious and more friendly when communicating, as I find it to be much more pleasant.