Day 1 in the United Kingdom is in the books! Birmingham has lived up to my expectations and even had a few surprises. Traveling to Birmingham was my first time out of the United States. I still can’t believe that I am in a different country! I am so excited to explore the city and see other parts of the country. On our trip to Birmingham from Heathrow Airport I got to experience the English countryside. It was so beautiful and peaceful to watch as we drove on. It was very much similar to travelling along the Turnpike back home but much more vivid. The grass and sky seemed brighter. My favorite part was driving past fields full of sheep.

The city of Birmingham itself packed even more of a punch of excitement. In the heart of Birmingham is a bustling social scene with people everywhere. We ventured throughout the city seeing the canals and the streets. During my time walking along the canals, I saw a billboard that said that Birmingham was home to more canals than the city of Venice. This struck me as very interesting and a cool fun fact to save in my back pocket. Later on, in the night when we went out for dinner, I noticed that the streets had calmed down and was very peaceful. My hometown is not a large city. So, my first impression was that this bustling and busy city was quite overwhelming. After I got the chance to explore more, I have found it to be manageable and confident enough to navigate my way through the city.

Birmingham in my imagination was not as large as it really is. The city has rich history and diversity throughout. Everyone comes together in Birmingham to create a strong and diverse population. There are many different types of restaurants surrounding where we are staying. As we explored, I was making mental notes about what I want to try and what is something unique that I don’t find at home! For example, today we ate at a French restaurant. My favorite part was the desert of course, which was Creme Brulée. This is an excellent city to choose when wanting to understand and study how diversity impacts the many factors of life, including education and healthcare. One surprising piece of Birmingham that I was not expecting was the beautiful architecture and art in the city’s squares and plazas. As I was walking, I caught myself looking up and gazing at the large buildings that were towering over as we walked between them. Walking in Birmingham reminded me very much of Pittsburgh. The many inclines while going building to building. How you find yourself all of a sudden sweating from climbing up a steep hill.

Altogether, my experience has already been memorable, and I very much looking forward to venturing off to local towns, studying at Birmingham City University and ending our trip in London. Even though I am completely exhausted from traveling and exploring, I am just as energized to see more of what the city has to offer!