This week I spent a lot of time thinking about the different aspects of the classes I took while studying abroad as I began finalizing the work from those classes at home. It is a very different vibe working from my room rather than taking the tube for over a half hour to get to my classes. Not being in London while taking these courses definitely puts things into a different perspective. One of the bigger components of the class time that I am miss most are those that had walking tours implemented into the coursework.
Through the walking tours I was able to learn about and see first hand not only the different areas within London, but also all the variety of things it had to offer. Over time and through the many walking tours, I was able to see the how London had developed over the years. Not only while visiting different areas were we able to see how they developed in many ways over the centuries , they were also able to maintain a status of being recognized as a global city. One of the main aspects I appreciated the most when exploring London was its overall diversity within the city. From the diverse styles of architecture through the neighborhoods, the various themes used throughout, to the different cultures and traditions of the people living there. Even though English is spoke in London, going into this study abroad program, I did not have high expectations for a lot of diversity. The more I got out and was able to learn as well as explore, I began to realize how London is much more diverse than I initially thought.
One of my favorite walking tours happened to also be one of the first ones I went on. This tour was to the region called Brixton. Brixton is an area where there is a longer history of the Caribbean culture. I was not expecting to find a culture like this to be in London. Add to this my Haitian, Puerto Rican, and Dominican background, there were many aspects of this area that reminded me of my family and childhood. During this outing, we were able to explore the area a bit and get food during our quick break. I will never forget stumbling upon a Jamaican restaurant that sold Jamaican patties with coco bread. This was something that instantly reminded me of my family and childhood mainly because every time we visited New York growing up, there was no way we could leave the state without my mom getting multiple beef patties with coco bread. I had to stop in and get some for myself and as soon as I ate it I had that instant connection to home. It seems no matter how far away these two countries are, there are so many similarities that connect us. The diversity of London is something that is very special to see and is also something I will miss greatly.
Isaiah's Travels 