“Wow, will someone pinch me already, this has to be a dream!” Those were my exact words after my first steps onto United Kingdom soil. After getting off the plane in London, our group were headed by bus to our destination, Birmingham. During the drive to the city, I had already become aware of some of the cultural differences between the United Kingdom and the United States. One major difference were the European car brands on the roads. I also discovered that the driver seats are built in the right side of the vehicle whereas in the United States the driver seat is built on the left side. Another major difference that I noticed were the numerous sheep farms, compared to the United States where the most common livestock animals include chicken, cows, and pigs. One of my favorite’s discoveries during the dive from London to Birmingham was the amount of rural green space between cities. This was a surprise because I expected England to be completely built up. 

Once we arrived in the city of Birmingham, I would say being in Europe really clicked. The buildings looked historic; the streets were cleaner, and some of the paths were made of cobblestone. The first task of our group was finding the hotel where we’re staying. It took time to locate the building as we were distracted by the different vintage boutiques, cute coffee shops, and adorable dogs, but we eventually found our way. 

After dropping off our baggage and recovering from our long journey, our group hit the city streets. While walking around Birmingham I was introduced to the numerous nationalities within the city that makes up the national culture. I noticed distinctive Indian, Middle Eastern, and Asian presences. During our stroll across the city the group and I also stopped at a few tourist attractions including Chinatown. My personal favorite was exploring Chinatown as there were numerous restaurants, clothing stores, and markets. I also enjoyed looking at the unique style of buildings of the culture near the pagoda. After exploring that section, our group ventured into a popular unique clothing shop called Cow Vintage. While in the shop I was able to get an idea of the trendy styles currently within Birmingham. Finally, to conclude my first day in Birmingham I got dinner from a local Turkish spot, and I must say the lamb shish was some of the best I’ve ever had. This was a great way to end the night or as the locals would say: It was “brilliant!”

On the second full day in Birmingham, our group went to our first study abroad class held at Birmingham City University. When walking to the university I noticed a considerable number of upscale restaurants and homes compared to residing within the inner city the previous night. During my time on campus there were many aspects of university life in England that stood out to me. There were numerous green spaces between buildings and in the surrounding area. I also picked up on the huge emphasis made to retain an eco-friendly campus, as items like paper, plastic, and metal had their own disposal bins. This differs from college life within the states where many city colleges have little to no green space, as well as not pushing eco-friendly systems vigorously enough within the college community. Another interesting aspect of college life, specifically the educational system within the United Kingdom, is the focus on student life and implementing support systems that are geared toward allowing the student to achieve their maximum capacity in all that they do. While the education systems back in the United States allow for similar opportunities, they do not go into as much detail nor are they as heavily respected. For example, in Birmingham students who fall behind the learning curve are expected to attend various programs after school programs to aid them in the subjects they are struggling with. The education system and instructors are also penalized for low standardized testing rates which encourages teachers and professors to push their students to meet the necessary marks. While the United States education systems remain a very test heavy environment, and there doesn’t seem to be as much support for those who are struggling to reach the necessary marks. As a result of these factors, there is a lower drop-out rates within England compared to the United States, which struggles with capable students ending their schooling years too soon. 

Well, that is all for today, stay tuned for more exciting takeaways from my time in magnificent Birmingham!