Travel Day
Today, May 5th, has been a busy day full of traveling! My Plus3 United Kingdom program began on May 3rd back in Pittsburgh, and on May 4th we took a red-eye flight to Heathrow Airport in London. The flight departed at 9:45 pm and we arrived in London around 10:33 am. From there, we had a 2 hour bus ride to Birmingham where we had a delicious lunch at Bistro Pierre followed by a walking tour of the city.
First Impressions are Important!
Driving into Birmingham on the bus, although quite exhausted from my travel day, I was intrigued by the most obvious difference between the US and the UK: the roads. When I looked down at the cars driving on the highway, I was consistently shocked by the drivers on the right side of the car and the passengers on the left! I also found the suburban neighborhoods outside of Birmingham to be very beautiful; I love the cottage style houses that look so cozy to live in.
In the city, I noticed a lot of diversity and the immersion of various cultures within the city’s landscape. Birmingham is a combination of old and new English architecture with hints of various cultures. For example, we walked through Victoria Square where there were very old buildings like the Birmingham City Council directly alongside modern restaurants. We also walked to the Library of Birmingham which has been redesigned with modern features that include a uniquely artistic exterior and roof gardens. In front of the library is also a statue of two women holding hands with two children, where one of the women is pregnant. This statue was made in 2014, and represents a real Birmingham family. This statue acts as a symbol of acceptance that is welcoming to LGBTQIA+ citizens and families. Also, in the middle of Birmingham there is a Chinese Pagoda which represents the immersion of Chinese culture into the city.
Locks & Keys…
On the walking tour, I noticed that Birmingham is similar to the US because there is a bridge with locks! I was so excited to see that Birmingham has a bridge where many people have visited and left locks behind, just like in Oakland, Pittsburgh. Seeing the bridge with locks reminded me of campus back home, and made me realize that although the US and UK are on opposite sides of the globe, they still have similar traditions that help make the city feel like a home!
City Defibrillators?
There is one big difference I noticed between cities in the US vs. Birmingham when walking along the streets, and that is public defibrillators. I find it fascinating that public defibrillators are easily accessible on the street in the case of an emergency where someone goes into cardiac arrest. This subtle but huge difference between the cities in the US & UK demonstrates their differing approaches to healthcare accessibility. By having a defibrillator open to the public like it is in the UK, healthcare is treated as a right to all people whereas it can be seen as more of a privilege in the US where healthcare is not equally provided to all citizens.
More to Come!
Overall, today was a very fun day in Birmingham! I am still trying to process that I am out of the USA and have to keep reminding myself that I am in a completely different country! I am excited to explore more of the city tomorrow and continue learning about its diverse, historical culture.