travel advice | The Accidental Extrovert

Sometimes, I just hate writing. “But isn’t that the career you’re kinda trying to pursue?” I know, it’s ironic and horrible

While everyone else on my trip has been updating their blog, I guiltily purposefully neglect mine and instead, look up pictures of overweight cats (the ONLY good kind of cat because they’re just so fat!) and Aziz Ansari standup. All great, great things, but it’s been two weeks since I just set foot in the United Kingdom. It’s time to write.

I mean, come on.

Let’s get this out of the way: I will NOT be writing a daily itinerary of what I’ve done. Boring. Just look at Facebook or something.

Here are 5 truths I’ve learned while here:

Nobody thinks you’re an American…until you talk. Unlike what some people told me before the trip, it IS possible to blend in. On my third day here, someone asked me for directions (luckily for the ONLY road I knew, the one our hotel is off) and just yesterday, a check-out person asked me what country I’m from (which I mean, duh, not like Canada or something). I’d like to say that I’ve been a lot less garrulous (in attempts to blend), but c’mon, it’s ME.
Bless them.
I actually like America. When I went to Europe for the first time a year and a half ago, I came away sort of annoyed that I was from the United States. Granted, I was in Italy without knowing a word of Italian, but I remember wishing I could speak anything BUT English. America felt so lame. Fast forward to now here in the UK, I love it here, but I don’t hate being American. In fact, I feel a little more patriotic. Being surrounded by a culture that is still indelibly marked by the old class system, I can’t help but appreciate the fact that you can rise out of certain situations in the USA and truly pursue any career. But then again, I still have 11 more weeks here, so…
#Murica
Experiences > Money. As someone always financially mindful, it’s hard to not be here and think about saving every penny and eating cheaply or skipping out on a university play. BUT I can always replenish money eventually, but these 14 weeks are literally one in a million. Being present is the easiest thing to do here.
Sometimes I feel like Queen Elizabeth is judging me when I buy stuff. Look at that smirk.
And with that in mind…a sense of wonder is a MUST. It’s so easy to get disillusioned by the fact that history is literally around every corner, but I cannot tell you how many times I’ve been biked down a little street, or sat in a café, or explored Roman Baths and it hits me: I’m in ENGLAND and my life is even better than a movie. So many world changers have been in the same places, walked down the same lane—when in Bath visiting a Fashion Museum, we realized that Jane Austen went to balls in the same building! It’s incredible to see ancient Roman ruins right next to a grocery store. It’s like, is this even real life? I’m still figuring that out.
Remember this candy? Because I sure do.
People are the real treasures. Yeah, there’s so much beauty and history, but let me tell you, I’ve met incredible people here. So much hospitality, warmth, and genuine kindness from everyone, even just store clerks I encounter for 2 seconds. And I absolutely love the other people on my trip. Not going to lie, I was convinced that 18 girls + 2 guys would prove disastrous but so far, so good. I’m thankful for the dynamics and love how everything has worked out, especially with my roommates. So, naturally, as an extrovert, I’m on cloud nine.
Two of my roommates and I in Wales!