Study Abroad: Filmgazing student learns a lot in London

I’m a conservative guy — politically, not so much, but in my tendencies, more or less. I’m too afraid to step out of my comfort zone. I’ve lived in the same house my entire life, and I tear up about the thought of it being sold. Ask me three years ago if I thought a Study Abroad program was for me, and I would’ve most assuredly said no.

So what changed? Why did I decide to participate in this film studies program? While I point to my love of cinema as a major factor, I think the answer is most accurately, “I don’t know.” And for once, not knowing is a comforting, even satisfying thing.

One thing I do know: London is the most diverse place I’ve ever been to. I didn’t quite expect the whole city to stop for tea-and-crumpet time, but I did think I’d hear “cheers” a little more often. This is truly an international city, and most everyone in it is a tourist — like myself. The hotel I’m staying at, the Royal National Hotel, is a prime example of this. Late at night, while taking advantage of the free WiFi in the lobby, I can hear a dozen different languages resonate from the hotel bar. Listening to them collectively creates this dense sound, a new language — it’s not English, Spanish, French, German, or Icelandic; it’s human.

Going out to dinner as a group is hard in London—“separate checks” is not part of the equation. This has led to many coin fights across the tables of restaurants as all twelve of us pitch our amount into and take change out of the pot.

The “do I tip or not?” question has arisen with every meal. Many of the restaurants have a 10% service fee worked in. Luckily, 10% student discounts seem to be all the rave in England, so we’ve managed to break even in that regard.

Starbucks has a stranglehold on this city. Caffe Nero, which seems to be the European equivalent, has an interesting way of doing things. Instead of ordering a frappucino, you take a pre-made cup from a cooler and give it to the barista to blend with ice. Nero, which is a British coffee shop chain, is advertised as an “Italian coffee bar,” so there are mixed signals aplenty.

Mayonnaise, or more specifically, egg mayonnaise, is popular around these parts. The substance, known here as “salad cream”—not to be confused with sour cream, as we learned one night— is a default for sandwiches and burgers. Sandwiches are cut in to triangles and sold by supermarkets, making picnics in the park all the more easy. There are vast, deep, beautiful parks planted everywhere. Regent’s, Hyde, St. James—each has its own personality, and I’m getting to know them very quickly.

I don’t care for the hustle and bustle of the London streets, although I’m not sure if this is specifically London’s fault. I think it’s the big city feel in general that bothers me—maybe that’s why I’m spending so much time in the parks. We traveled to Canterbury one morning. After comparing the two settings, I can say that the quaint, crooked alleys of Canterbury appealed to me crumpetloads more than London. Lights dangle on a string in-between fair-trade stores and locally owned arts and crafts shops that close at 5 p.m. It makes East Lansing look rather ugly and easy.

There are two faucets in my hotel. One for freezing cold; one for scolding hot.

Me? I like warm water, so I find myself running both faucets at once. Starting with the cold, I fill my hands up before switching to the hot faucet. I then wait until the hot and cold combine to form a semi-warm temperature. There has to be a more economical way to do this.

It’s odd to be American. I feel strangely stupid. I think I have this preconceived notion of how Americans are viewed by the rest of the world. It didn’t help that I heard a man mumble in a thick Canterburian accent, “There’s tourists everywhere, speaking different f***ing languages,” as we crossed paths. Maybe he wasn’t talking about me, since I speak English?

Either way, I’ve learned that the “American” way — slang vocabulary, separate checks, single faucets, late-night restaurants—to do things isn’t the right way of doing things; nor is it the wrong way. It’s just one way.

I’m studying film, but I’m learning more about people. There are so many of us. This is my last week in London, after which I will be heading to Edinburgh, Scotland. Everyone I’ve talked to has said something along the lines of, “Oh, you will love it there. It’s right up your alley.” I hope they’re right, because I don’t know where my alley is. Maybe I’ll find it there. If not, maybe I’ll find it waiting for me at the DTW Airport, July 13.

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Michigan State University Journalism Major Carter Moulton writes the well-received Filmgazing blog. We asked him to tell us what he’s learning on his adventures on the continent before attending the Edinburgh Film Festival.