Today was officially my first day in Birmingham, England, and honestly, it still does not feel real. After an overnight flight and barely any sleep, we landed this morning and jumped right into action! I expected to be completely exhausted all day, but once we got into Birmingham, all of the excitement had kicked in and was enough to keep me awake. Since this is my first time out of the United States, I spent most of the day noticing all the differences between here and home, even the little things.
One of the first things I noticed about Birmingham was how diverse the city is. Everywhere we walked, there were different languages, cultures, restaurants, and people from all different backgrounds. This diversity made the city feel really alive and welcoming. Even though I’m far from home, parts of Birmingham still felt familiar. We saw places like Popeyes and Burger King, which honestly surprised me because I wasn’t expecting to see American fast food right away. But at the same time, there were so many things that felt completely different from home, too. Before starting our walk around Birmingham, we had stopped to eat at O’Neill’s. This gave me my first real look at what a British pub was like, very laid back, a different soccer game playing on each screen, but overall very enjoyable.
The Bullring Shopping Centre was one of the main places we visited today. It was a lot bigger than I expected and had a mix of stores, restaurants, and people everywhere. Right nearby, we saw Ozzy the Bull, which was huge and definitely stood out during the tour. Another thing I noticed was TK Maxx instead of TJ Maxx. It’s basically the same store, just with a different name, but little things like that kept reminding me that I’m in a completely different country. We also visited the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery during the tour. It was really interesting to see the artwork and historical exhibits because they helped me learn more about the city and its culture during my own exploration. It was also a nice break from the busy streets and shopping areas.
We also walked around the canals, which ended up being one of my favorite parts of the day. Before today, I had no idea Birmingham was known for its canals. The area was really pretty and calmer than the busy streets around the shopping center. There were restaurants and little cafes all along the water, and it seemed like a place where people come to relax and hang out with friends. We also passed by The Malt House, which held an atmosphere that felt really relaxed and social. Walking around the canals honestly made the city feel a lot more peaceful and gave me a chance to slow down and take everything in after such a long day of traveling.
During the tour, we saw a lot of historical landmarks and statues too. We visited St. Martin’s Church, which was beautiful and stood out against all the modern buildings nearby. We also saw the “A Real Birmingham Family” statue and the Boulton, Watt, and Murdoch statue, which represents Birmingham’s industrial history. Another highlight for me was seeing the Ozzy Osbourne bench and shrine. Even as an American, it was easy to tell how important he is to Birmingham and its music culture.
Overall, today was a really good first impression of Birmingham. The city feels modern, historic, diverse, and busy all at the same time. Even though I’m definitely tired and still adjusting to the time difference, I already feel excited for the rest of this trip and everything else we’re going to experience while studying abroad!