Expat observations

"London itself perpetually attracts, stimulates, gives me a play and a story and a poem, without any trouble, save that of moving my legs through the streets." ~Virginia Woolf

I have a confession. I thought London would be like New York, but with English accents. Silly right? I mean, how different could it really be here? Both NYC and London are metropolitan cities, melting pots of different nationalities. But I've noticed that these two seemingly similar cities have such distinct vibes. British mannerisms are vastly different to those of New Yorkers.

So what’s different? Of course, Londoners have a reputation for their politeness and if you’ve heard that it might take a bit longer to crack that outer shell - you’re not wrong. I’ve found it somewhat challenging to navigate the social nuances and found myself feeling weird for being, well, too American-ish here. 

For example, I found a wallet on the ground on the high street and picked it up and started shouting, ‘is this anyone’s wallet?’ In the US, I think it’d be a fairly normal thing to do but here, people around me looked horrified. In the lift, it’s a bit more awkward to make conversation but maybe that’s everywhere. I kind of like to make conversation in the lift. Maybe that’s more of an Erin thing. 

One thing I can say for sure, I’m working on being authentically myself and finding people who can honor that. Embracing the local culture while staying true to yourself is key to a rich expat experience. London's a diverse place, and it's important to find a tribe who appreciates the authentic you.