I once had a professor say “Knowledge is the creator of an unquenchable thirst; the more you drink, the thirstier you feel.”

By nature I'd consider myself a curious person, but studying abroad at Regent’s University in London only increased my curiosity and desire to learn more.

The first week of the semester in London was exactly what everyone warned us about: culture shock. Before leaving the U.S. I found comfort in my perception of the cultural similarities between my home and host country; the language was the same, and the values seemed to be alike.

The differences  became more prevalent the longer I was away from the U.S. I found myself observing the differences in terms of the experiences other people have had versus my own experiences growing up in a very small town in the U.S. Being away from home, I found myself suddenly emerged in a new culture that came with a completely different lifestyle.

For instance, people in London start and end their days much earlier than I was acclimated to. Everything seemed to be different from home, even the food on the menu at McDonald’s.

The first week in London was filled with noticing the differences, but as time went on I started to think further into these what seem like minuscule discrepancies and it sparked a curiosity to learn why these exist.  

Touring London left me in awe. I remember being amazed by the diversity, food, architecture, fashion, as well as the educational system. The lifestyle I was living began to evolve as I spent more time in London.

There were many elements I enjoyed about the new lifestyle I was living in London; I seemed to be much more active, my eating habits were evolving, and I was always out exploring, looking for opportunities to try something new. The U.S. and the U.K. are two countries with a long history and are commonly closely linked in terms of culture and values.

Living in the U.K. for a semester exposed me to many differences not only in the lifestyles of individuals, but the differences in the institutions and systems within the country that cause these differences.

One of the first differences I noticed was the influence an environment can have on the individual. It was easy to notice because I was an example of this myself. Living in a city as compared to a small town where a car is required and places are farther apart, I noticed myself more willing to go places throughout the day.

The convenience that came with living in a city was something I had never experienced before and began to enjoy. The new environment I was in provided me with many new experiences, some I learned I enjoyed and some not so much. I realized the importance of being open to new environments and experiences in order to increase my understanding of others as well as myself.

By being immersed in a new culture, the effects institutions can have on people became more noticeable. The history of the two countries helped me begin to explore answers to some of the questions raised by observing different cultures and institutions.

These two countries, which I had always thought were very similar in many ways and stem from the same original cultural practices and values, ended up being very different. The dynamics of society and the course of institutions have been influenced by the decisions made in the past and it is important to recognize the lasting and global implications these decisions can have.

Ignorance is far more dangerous than openness to new experiences. Leaving the U.S. provided me with many different experiences that furthered my knowledge of how others live and understanding as to why they live that way. I grew up in a very small town and had never been out of the country before my study abroad experience.

I found myself doing a lot of comparing between the way I grew up and how others around the world may have experienced life. The further I reflected on it, the more I began to wonder why the differences in the way many of us live exist.

This experience sparked my “why,” driving me to seek experiences that raise more why’s and to understand the reasons. The value of a person’s willingness to understand how others experience this world became prevalent to me, and it is a lesson that will be integrated in my life.

Returning home, I seem to have a different perspective. I am much less scared of change, in fact I now recognize the importance of new experiences. The goal I set for myself since reflecting on my experience is to have as many new experiences to not only to learn more about myself, but to also better understand others and appreciate differences; I think that’s an important lesson for everyone to learn in the world we live in today.

Recognizing the validity of different experiences can help facilitate a better understanding between different perspectives; a skill useful in all areas of life.