Student Spotlight: Kentrell Louis in the UK
What is one challenge you experienced during your first month? How did you overcome that challenge?
“The bus system is the first challenge I have experienced while in Colchester. Being raised in a small town forced me to walk or drive, so I had only experienced riding a bus once I came to the United Kingdom. There have been multiple times when I would board a bus, and it ended up being the wrong bus. I have also experienced stopping at a completely different destination. In doing so, I could travel around the town on multiple occasions.
I overcame this challenge by ensuring I was at the bus upon arrival, so I did not board the wrong bus and by watching the GPS on my phone to make sure I reached the correct destination.”
What similarities and differences have you experienced between your host culture and your culture?
“A similarity I have experienced between my host culture and my culture is the sense of community in the town. It reminds me a lot of how there is a sense of community in my hometown, where you would see many people conversing in the grocery stores or seeing families in a small town like my own, shopping and talking. The town also has a historical aspect, just like my own.
A difference that I have experienced is honestly everything. It is as though everything here is the opposite of everything in America. People drive on the left side as well as the car steering wheel is on the left side; instead of mainly walking to the right, you have to walk on the left, the locks on doors are upside down instead of upright, and even the zippers on jackets are on the left side. It is as though I am living life invertedly. It is interesting because it allows me to see a completely different side of the world that is hard to imagine while reading books or researching articles.”
What are you looking forward to experiencing in your second month abroad?"
“In my second month abroad, I look forward to meeting more people, traveling the United Kingdom more, and furthering my knowledge of international relations. The diversity of cultures allows me to get a first-hand experience of Indian, Middle Eastern, Russian, German, French, and even cultures from the GCC countries. That is the most exciting part of living in a place like the United Kingdom, which has one of the highest populations of immigrants outside of the EU. Learning, experiencing, and engaging more in those cultures are the main things I look forward to exploring in my second month abroad.”