Culture Shock: Living Abroad Will Complicate Your Worldview
*Article from Lexington Lines Autumn/Winter 2023 Issue, pages 22-25
Check out the full issue here.
Growing up in America, which centers most things on itself, I always dreamed of traveling the world and seeing what else our beautiful planet has to offer. Although I was fortunate enough to go on several family vacations during my upbringing, I always knew I needed to eventually take an international trip on my own.
When I saw the opportunity to study abroad in London with LIM College for a month, I immediately started getting visions of spending the summer with new friends alongside Big Ben and double decker buses. However, I failed to think about how my experience as a Black women could differ from that of my white counterparts.
Immediately after I touched down in London, the air felt different. Of course, the air was literally different, but in a figurative way, I could feel a shift. While there was an incredible amount of diversity in the airport, it was almost as though everyone immediately conformed to the reserved, individualistic demeanor considered typical of English culture.
For example, I left America with the parting gift of overstimulating crowds, annoying background music, and constant overhead announcements. But as soon as I stepped off the plane in Heathrow, the loud crowds became murmurs, the overbearing music became silent, and the announcements were much quieter and less frequent.
The mass of people kept to themselves and even flowed naturally with walking traffic, which is not always the case in America.
However, when I met up with my peers and shuttled over to Central London, the air was different yet again.
The open land, narrow roads, and few quaint neighborhoods we drove past quickly became bustling streets, bright lights, and large apartment buildings, or flats. One of said flats, in the heart of Central London on Great Russell Street, would be mine for July.
Right away, I noticed an uncanny similarity to Manhattan in the sense that it is an extremely populated city filled with all kinds of people, restaurants, stores, and offices. However, there were a few things that were quite different; the cars drove on the left side of the road, the streets were cleaner, and the people stared.
Naturally, in a place with tons of people, you may get a strange look from the occasional passerby. But this was different.
It seemed as though everyone walking by was giving glances of confusion or concern. Was it because I am Black? Could they tell I was American? Or was it because I was holding an oversized suitcase and two other duffle bags in the middle of the sidewalk?
Over the next four weeks, I found out that it may have been a combination.
According to both the U.K. and U.S. Census, Black people make up approximately 23% of New York City’s population and 13% of London’s. Although this statistic does not at all mean that London is full of racists it does prove that Black individuals are outnumbered.
During the first few days, I was in complete vacation mode. Along with the 10 other girls on the trip, I used this time to explore, be a tourist, and get a feel for my new home.
While I can’t speak for everyone, I know I was in an almost paralyzing state of joy, excitement, and inspiration, paying no mind to others’ opinions or to those who may have been staring.
Once the adrenaline rush ended and classes began, one of my peers who quickly became my friend, Raiel, informed me that she had seen some content online about racist experiences in London.
“I was scrolling through TikTok looking for things to do in London when I saw a video of three girls around my age sharing their stories about being discriminated against at a nightclub in Central London,” Raiel told me. They had to wait longer to get into the club, were charged more, and were treated poorly once they were inside.
As a 21-year-old Black woman living in an urban area herself, this concerned her.
“I’ve had things happen to me or comments made because of my race in New York, but I didn’t know what to expect in London,” she said. “So seeing this while I was already there made me a bit nervous.”
When she told me about this, I tried to stay positive and reassure her that we would be okay, but I kept it in the back of my mind throughout the whole trip.
In 2018, The Guardian conducted a survey on everyday racial bias in London. Out of 1,000 surveyed minorities, “more than two-thirds reported Britain having a problem with racism.”
Raiel and I spent a lot of time together, so we experienced similar things. On one occasion, we went out to a few stores before exploring the nightlife. At one of the souvenir shops, the male clerk was very forward. He compared my skin color to different foods, made remarks about my “big lips,” and said he loved my “wild hair,” among other observations. Obviously, I became extremely uncomfortable, and we decided to leave the store.
As we walked out discussing his disgusting and unacceptable behavior, a group of men walked by and started to whistle and shout at Raiel.
“Since we were going out, I was wearing a cute outfit for the night that I felt comfortable in. But the next thing I knew, these men were calling me a ‘hoochie’ and saying stuff about me ‘chocolate skin,’” she remembered. “It gave me such a nasty feeling that I hadn’t experienced that intensely before.”
Although in shock, Raiel and I decided not to let anything stop us, and we continued to enjoy our night.
We ended up making plans with the other girls to meet at a local bar/ nightclub chain, Simmons, which we had been to a few times before. While we have not been to this specific location, we expected to have a good time like we had before.
When we arrived, our friends had already been waiting in line for a while and were almost at the door. Raiel and I, decided to hop over the entrance rope to meet up with the rest of our group.
Our other friend went first with Raiel following. Before she could get over the rope, the bouncer made his way over to us.
I swiftly tried to hop in with my friends so I wasn’t alone, but his deafening shout stopped me in my tracks. As he continued to approach us, the bouncer repeatedly motioned for only me and Paiel to step out of line, ignoring our friend who had successfully joined the group.
Although we were confused about why we were the only ones who had to wait, Raiel and I made our way to the back of the line.
The anger began to settle in at this point, but we were still uncertain about why we were singled out.
We ended up chatting with the neighboring friend group, which consisted mainly of Black men from London. When we explained what had just happened to us, one of the men responded with, “Welcome to London.” The rest of them chimed in with their experiences, informing us that they believe certain things are harder for Black people to accomplish or enjoy due to prejudice.
Eventually, Raiel and I reached the club’s entrance.
Following standard protocol, security quickly went through everyone’s belongings upon entry. I noticed the girls in front of us were getting their bags checked within approximately five seconds, so I was expecting the same.
But when it was our turn, the search took far longer.
The bouncer started unzipping and searching every pocket in our purses, which is understandable. However, he proceeded to remove items and question what they were or why we were bringing them in with us.
By all means, this in-depth hunt could have been for safety reasons. But it concerned us that we were two of the only Black ones being questioned.
Of course, there’s no way to prove or know for sure that this situation was based on racial bias. If this had been the only incident, we probably would’ve thought nothing of it.
According to a 2018 article published by The Guardian, “ethnic minorities are three times as likely to have been thrown out of or denied entry to a restaurant, bar or club in the last five years.”
Aniyah, a 20-year-old Black women, also went abroad with us for the month. As someone born and raised in New York, she too endured a bit of culture shock—just in a slightly different way.
“I haven’t had much experience as a Black woman in other states, let alone other countries,” she said. “So being in London was a very new experience for me.”
During the trip, Aniyah did not personally face any forms of racism and came to the conclusion that she actually felt safer there.
“In New York, I never feel comfortable walking home at night, especially in a group without men,” she admits. “I felt a lot more relaxed walking through the streets of London and not having to constantly be worried if I was being followed or looked at the wrong way.”
Although she spent a lot of time with our group, Aniyah also explored by herself. This allowed her to get a feel for what it was like to be alone and with others, which she believes did not have an effect on any of her experiences abroad.
Considering she has lived in New York for 20 years and was in London for a month, she naturally has more racist experiences in America. However, Aniyah said she prefers the social and cultural tone of New York.
“We [New York] have a lot more diversity than what I saw when visiting the U.K.,” she recalls. “Though I am mindful of the fact we were mainly in Central London and didn’t get to visit many of the less touristy areas, Brooklyn’s social aspect definitely feels more welcoming.”
Overall, Aniyah recommends that people visit London. However, she said it’s important to remember to take precautions, because there is not a city in the world that is completely free from prejudice.
To be clear, I would not trade my time abroad for anything. In fact, I could potentially see myself spending my older years in the outskirts of London.
Because there is truly so much to love about London. Whether it’s the breathtaking architecture on every corner or the exquisite museums and boutiques in almost every neighborhood, there is something for everyone to fall in love with.
My personal recommendation would be to spend some time in Central London for its high energy and rich history, but more often than not, to stray away and explore other parts of the city. Try places like Shoreditch, for delicious ethnic foods and vibrant street art, or Kensington, for a posh shopping spree and a stroll in the Palace Gardens.
I would also encourage any person of color traveling internationally, despite the location, to research the culture beforehand and go with people you feel safe around. Fortunately for me, I went abroad with a cohort of girls with similar interests and trustworthy personalities, meaning I had built-in friends. While I most definitely would have enjoyed my trip alone, being with friends doubled as a safety measure and opportunity for companionship.
Experiencing life in a different country completely shatters whatever illusion one may have about the world in the best way possible. International travel not only supports new ideas, sparks creativity, and expands horizons, it also provides valuable learning experiences.