The main identity that impacted my time abroad was my American nationality. London is one of the most diverse cities in England and Europe, so I never felt like the only person of color or Black person in the room, train, or area. However, whenever I began to speak, heads would turn because they heard the American accent. This was especially apparent in places that didn’t get a lot of tourists. I didn’t really expect this to be the main thing that made me stand out in London, but it definitely was.
In a way, I felt a little worried to talk about the United States to British people, because there are a lot of frightening and embarrassing things happening in our country right now. This is something I don’t hesitate to say, and I was happy to tell them the truth about what it’s like to live in the U.S. But on the other hand, many of them felt the same way when talking about things such as Brexit and their politicians. My nationality created a lot of interesting interactions and conversations that have opened my mind to world views and gave me an outside look on my country. Overall, it was a learning experience that I’ll never forget.
