Our first day in Birmingham, UK

Today was our first day in Birmingham, United Kingdom. We flew into London overnight and took the “coach” to Birmingham City. We had the opportunity to have lunch together at Bistrot Pierre, a French restaurant along the Birmingham canal. A bit ironic that our first meal in the UK was at a French restaurant! After lunch we explored the downtown areas surrounding our hotel, including Victoria square and the train station. I noticed that many aspects of Birmingham reminded me of Pittsburgh. When we walked along the canal outside the restaurant, we saw that many of the surrounding businesses were older brick buildings. These buildings were originally for industrial use. In the early history of the city, the canal was used to ship goods to London. This reminded me of how Pittsburgh is also a city that has grown from industry, specifically steel production. 

Birmingham was also different from Pittsburgh in several aspects. Although I am visiting a country that speaks my native language, a lot of the vernacular is different. For example, when asking for water here, you have to clarify between still (bottled) water, and sparkling water. In the US asking for water simply indicates tap water. The UK also uses military time, whereas the US typically reports time using a 12-hour clock system.  It is very apparent to people I’ve interacted with so far that I am a tourist because of my accent and my vocabulary. Another difference I hadn’t thought of before is dress. In the states, especially on a college campus, it is common for people to dress casually and wear athletic clothing in public. While out in the city today, I noticed that people here are more dressed up and wear more professional outfits. I enjoyed this about the city, even though it made my outfit feel a bit out of place. 

Another difference I noticed was the amenities provided to Birmingham citizens. The United Kingdom has subsidized health care, which is more focused on providing care as a right, whereas the US healthcare system commodifies care. While walking downtown, we saw several public defibrillators with automated instructions and phones to contact emergency responders. This enables people to respond to a health crisis in public. In the US, AEDs are typically only found inside establishments. The fact that Birmingham has these machines outside shows commitment to providing healthcare as a right for all citizens. Another thing I enjoyed about the city was the diversity. Walking around the city, we saw many different places of worship from a number of different religions. We also viewed a statue that was designed to represent a family in Birmingham. The statue depicted two mothers and their children, including one on the way. This shows the city’s support and acceptance of the LGBTQ+ community. There is clearly a very diverse population in the city, which I feel enhances its culture.

Over the next two weeks, I am excited to further explore the culture of Birmingham. I am most looking forward to speaking to students and staff at Birmingham City University’s nursing program. I hope to further discuss the similarities and differences between culture and healthcare between the US and UK.