England: Logan Hanson (My First Year of College Abroad)

My First Year of College Abroad

When I was applying and interviewing for this program, I was excited to learn about the variety of culture in London and the amount of history harboured here. From the thirty-two boroughs of London and their different communities to city living and the cultural shift I would have to acclimate to; it was something considerably different from home and I was eager for something new. Not only have I learned academic lessons that I will bring back home, but simple life lessons about time management, planning, and cooking, too. Many of the skills, tools, and knowledge that I have learned here in London will be instrumental in my return to Madison.

I expected to learn about the history and culture of Britain. What I did not expect to learn was that, because of its complex history, the culture of Britain is difficult to strictly define. On top of that, there is the complexity and interconnectedness of London itself. There are the wealthy and predominantly white neighborhoods of central London tied to a history of wealth and aristocracy. Then there is East London, previously the home of Jewish communities in the 19th century and early 20th, but then became a Bangladeshi community after the dissolution of the British empire and its colonies, but has been under threat of gentrification and the growing central London. Similarly, South London became a big community for Afro-Carribeans after the abolition of slavery, a community that has also seen threats. Just these two examples provide a lot of context for what has shaped current culture and society in London and the United Kingdom as a whole. Britain’s empire and its relationship with slavery has left an undeniable mark while gentrification and a fight for culture has remained an issue. Learning about the history and culture of this city and nation has allowed me to become more understanding of different people’s ways of life and has made me question my own relationships and values.

With the city and university, I have adapted from the car-centric life of small-town Wisconsin and have learned to accept walking and public transport as a regular part of life. There is certainly a learning curve, but hopping on a train or a bus has not gotten old. It has been extremely convenient and eye opening as I am able to explore a variety of London but has taught me to plan and stay organized to get where I want when I want. It’s also taught me some patience and tolerance as I have to compromise my way through London streets, deal with a delay on the Northern Line, or squeeze onto the crammed tube at rush hour; a valuable lesson if not a wholly enjoyable experience.

On the other hand, with college living, I have learned a lot about cooking and how to grocery shop on a tight budget. Learning what stores offer the best deals but also what ingredients will give me the most bang for the buck while also being conscious of my nutrition. This has meant buying ingredients that I have never cooked with before, like mushrooms and lentils, and perhaps even eaten, with the case of tuna. I have learned many new recipes and cooking techniques that usually revolve around pastas, rice, stews and soups, but it has been a great learning experience and will definitely be something I bring back to Madison.

In all, there are a lot of lessons I have learned from London in my first year of university, probably many more than are immediately obvious. My appreciation for cultural diversity has broadened and I have become more accepting of the differences between all of us and our cultures. I have learned a lot from living in a large city and having to balance my time with studies. There is so much to do here in London that learning to organize my time so that I can both enjoy my time while also completing homework in a timely manner has been a real hurdle. This includes making time to cook meals, which has also been a learning curve with time and money. However, all of these lessons have been great for me to learn and will benefit me greatly back home.

Logan Hanson

Major: Physics

Hometown: Wittenberg, Wisconsin