Seeing the World from a New Perspective

Thanks to American University’s excellent study abroad program, I’ve been able to call London, England, my home for the past month, and I will continue to have that privilege until April 22.

I chose to come here because I completely fell in love with the city when I first visited in April 2009, and also partially because the official language of the United Kingdom is English.

Granted, it is a slightly different version of English, but it’s still English, and if I need help I can ask a native for directions and they will be able to answer me.  I also like the fact that I can understand what street and store signs are telling me.

But people shouldn’t be fooled: the pace of and attitude towards life is quite different in the United Kingdom than it is in the USA. And that’s what makes this experience so worthwhile.

First of all, the British are courteous and respectful. I’m not saying that all Americans are rude, because there certainly are many pleasant and kind-hearted Americans, but I can say with full honesty that every native Brit I have come across while over here has been nothing but helpful and gracious to me.

When I ask for directions or am inquiring about basic information, no one makes fun of me for having an American accent, nor do they appear to be annoyed or bothered when I ask them.

When I first arrived at Heathrow Airport on Jan. 5, I was incredibly jet-lagged and stressed out, and one of the airport employees took me under her wing by helping me with my luggage and directing me to where the taxis were.

I think this sort of courtesy should be required of all people in every country. There is nothing worse than being confused and overwhelmed and having people give you the cold- shoulder. I can say from experience that there are some people in the United States who could learn a thing or two from the British when it comes to how we treat other people.

Something else I admire about the British is their healthcare system, The National Health Service. It most definitely is not a perfect system, largely because people often have to wait fairly long amounts of time for certain types of care, but I still find it to be far superior to the United States healthcare system.

In my British Life and Cultures class, my professor explained to us that the core values of the NHS are equity (free healthcare for all), and meeting the needs of many. They strongly believe that healthcare is a basic human right rather than a privilege for those who can afford it.

A fundamental value of the United Kingdom is collectivism, where everyone takes care of one another and helps each other out. The British, as well as many other people throughout the world, are often puzzled when they hear the heated, sometimes nasty debates that exist in the United States over whether to implement a national healthcare system or not. 

The United States seems to have an obsession with individual liberty, and while allowing people to make their own choices with regards to matters like religion, gay marriage and abortion is necessary and good, there is something to be said for a government that helps people out when they need it rather than turning a blind eye.

President Barack Obama touched upon this in his recent State of the Union address when he said, “Government should do for people what they cannot do better by themselves.”  

For the 50 million-plus people in the United States who are uninsured, being given health insurance by the government is clearly better than having no insurance at all and being one illness away from financial ruin.

The British recognize that there are people who will sit around and smoke all day and abuse the system, but they value the fact that the NHS is for the greater good. Implementing policies that benefit the many, not just the few, is something the United States needs to do more often.

While the United States does have its problems, it also has its strong points, just as every other country has. Unlike many people in my study abroad program, I have no desire to permanently move to Europe after graduating from college. I absolutely love it here and I am enjoying every minute I have, but I know that I will also be excited to return home come April 22.

I’ll be anxious to return to a country that has a strong sense of patriotism, unlike here in Britain. The British never experienced a revolution like the United States or France did, and there is really no sense of accomplishment over great struggles.

It’s seen as “uncool” to be overly Patriotic here, and the British struggle much more with their identity than Americans do. Despite all of our differences, Americans in general have a good sense of who they are: people who value freedom, equality, and happiness.

Furthermore, anyone can come to the United States and be an American, but it isn’t that simple here in the United Kingdom. Diversity is a much newer and scarier phenomenon in the UK than it is in the US.

So despite our setbacks, I will always call myself a proud American and continue to work hard and fight for what I believe will make our country a better place to live in.

Finally, I will always look back fondly on the time I spent here in London because it allowed me to open my eyes and see the world from a completely different perspective. If you ever get the chance to spend a few months abroad, seize it.

As my school, American University, says, “It’s not just about the sights, it’s about the insights.”