United Kingdom: Calvin Dong (Food in London)

As an individual who grew up with two parents who own a small restaurant, my love for food developed rather quickly due to all the exposure. A big reason why London was so attractive to me as a study-abroad destination was because of the cultural diversity and the wide variety of local cuisines available. The city is full of restaurants from countries all over the world. Some of the most popular are Indian, Chinese, Turkish, and Italian. Although London does consist of lots of British cuisines, the variety of food available exemplifies how much of a melting pot the city is. There are also different regions of London that are separated by the term boroughs, and I noticed the borough my student housing resides in is very heavily influenced by Turkish culture. Since there are lots of Turkish restaurants available, I’ve gotten dishes like Chicken Shawarma which is a dish I hadn’t tried until I came to London. The technique in which the dish is made is truly unique and something I’ve never seen before in the United States. When I first stumbled upon a restaurant that sold them, I was ecstatic and when I found out there are plenty of Turkish restaurants available all over London, I was even happier. The variety and availability of numerous cuisines in London is a food lover’s dream and I’m glad I get to live out that dream in the city I’m studying abroad.

 

Calvin Dong 

Hometown: Wauwatosa, Wisconsin

Major: Marketing & International Business

Program: IES Direct Enrollment – City St George’s, University of London

I chose City University of London because it will allow me to take on the challenge of facing uncertainty in a large city with people from diverse backgrounds. Growing up, I’ve lived predominately in the suburbs which refrained me from experiencing what city life is like. I strive to utilize the location and vast amount of culture immersed within London to learn and enjoy the unique experiences it will provide me.