England: Deanna Frater

Program: University of Westminster, Fall

Major: Political Science

What is the moment you are most proud of?

I would say the first dinner I went to by myself! During my first week there, I went to the Polo Bar, which is a restaurant on Liverpool Street that serves English food 24/7. I went there and got sausage and mash and just soaked in the fact that I really took this chance, though I was afraid. After that, I met up with my friends, which I thought I wasn’t going to make any friends during this experience (if you’re thinking this as well, I promise it isn’t true).

What is a custom, food or tradition from your host country that you are taking forward? 

Beans and toast! Oh my gosh, or Sunday roast, or a spud/jacket potato! Though it’s a controversial opinion, I loved every English meal that I tried! Absolutely amazing, I can’t wait to go back and eat it again. Also, just the manners & community that they have in London! I spent a lot of my time in Brixton with a lot of Jamaican people who enforced the “manners” that I grew up with, saying good morning when you enter a room or pass someone, saying hello, asking someone about their day, etc. I strongly believe that these manners and conversations are what drive and build the communities that we all crave to be a part of, so I’m taking this back with me!

What challenges or barriers did you face as you prepared to go abroad and/or during your time abroad? How did you work through them?

I knew it was going to be difficult going abroad my senior year, so I just wanted to ensure that I would still be on track to graduate in the spring! I met frequently with Elijah, who helped me figure out which courses would have the right equivalents to ensure my degree completion. I’m happy to say I’ll still be graduating in May! Also, finances were very difficult to navigate for me! I saved as much as I could, but once you’re there, you’ll realize it’s very possible to stay within your budget if you’re okay with missing out on certain experiences. For example, I wasn’t able to go to every dinner I wanted to, and some nights I had to eat a Sainsbury’s meal deal, but it’s okay because I prioritized the experiences I wanted.

How did your identities impact your experience? What advice would you give to students with similar identities who are considering a similar experience?

Being a Black Jamaican woman, I thought it was going to be easier for me to adapt to British culture since British culture is so heavily influenced by Jamaican culture. Though in some ways it was easier because Jamaican people have their own community in London, and Jamaican music, food, and culture are everywhere, it was also quite difficult. Many Jamaican people in London view Jamaican-Americans differently in the sense that we aren’t as Caribbean. Also, being a Black American person overall was a bit difficult abroad because you will encounter ignorant people who try to force their assumptions on you. I would recommend going into every situation with an open mind, enjoy the positive situations and handle the negative situations with grace. If it’s something you’re open to, even try educating the ignorant people, because for the most part, they only know what’s being shown through media, not the everyday experience of the average Black American person.