"Live From London" by MB Farley
as published in The Valley Mirror on October 7, 2010
I think it hit me that I was actually in London when I walked out of the underground tube station in Westminster and right in front of me was Big Ben. No, not our Steelers quarterback, but the clock and tower that are part of the Houses of Parliament in London. Big Ben was something I had only ever seen in pictures or movies, but there I was staring up at the 315ft tall tower, my jaw almost reaching the ground.
London is my home for the next two and a half months. While I’m here, I’ll be studying English at Queen Mary, University of London for the fall semester. Each and every experience that I’ve had so far has been mind blowing and eye opening, just as it was the first time I saw Big Ben.
Not only are the sights amazing, but the people are too. I came to London expecting it to be somewhat similar to the United States. Looking back, that was a very naïve mindset to have. Coming from the small city of Pittsburgh and even smaller town of West Homestead, London is by far the biggest, most diverse city I have ever been to.
Since I’ve arrived in London on September 18, I have learned a lifetime’s amount of lessons about myself, others, religion, politics and culture.
I’m living totally 100% on my own in a foreign country, which has turned out to be much more difficult than I’d thought it would.
I’ve learned that even though the British speak English, they are definitely not American and this is most certainly a very different country than the United States.
By simply talking to people of other races and religions I have gained more knowledge about the culture in London than any textbook could provide for me.
During my first two weeks in London, I spent most of my free time being a tourist. I visited Westminster Abbey, took a tour of Buckingham Palace, ate lunch in Trafalgar Square, rode the London Eye, walked through St. Paul’s Cathedral, relaxed in St. James’s Park, rode a red double decker bus and saw the Tower of London, among other things.
As my third week in London progresses, I feel myself becoming a “Londoner.” I’m attending classes, avoiding tourist traps, navigating the tube and learning the local lingo. While I’ll always remain true to my roots and be a Pittsburgh girl at heart (my Terrible Towel is hanging in my flat window), I hope to have experiences and learn things that will make me a better person when I return to the States in December.
I’m very grateful to be able to spend time in London and I’m excited to share the things I’ve learned and encountered. I’m having an amazing time and learning a lot while I’m here.
While I’m in London, I want to share with some of these valuable experiences that I have, as well as bring a little taste of London to my community. I’ve been a resident of West Homestead for my entire life and went to St. Therese School. In 2008 I graduated from Oakland Catholic High School and in the States I attend Villanova University, where I am an English major and Spanish minor. I know that I’ve brought a little bit of the Steel Valley community to London and I hope to share with you a little bit of the city of London.
