Flying to London is an amazing experience! However, it also may become a nightmare turned into reality if you do not know the basic DON’Ts of the city. Keep these DON’Ts in mind to make your experience in London amazing!
1. DO NOT withdraw a small amount of cash, every day
Although it may sound like a good idea to withdraw just enough money to get through the day, the best idea is to withdraw a large amount of cash at once and keep them in the dorm. Because the banks in the United States do not exist in England, ATM in England charges international transaction fees every time a person tries to withdraw cash. Although a small amount, they can build up very quickly. Also, withdraw money on your way back to the dorm to reduce the chance of getting pickpocketed! Luckily, I did not have to deal with this problem as Bank of America has a sister bank, called Barclays, in England. Yet, I still withdrew a few hundred pounds at once. I kept all the money in my dorm safe, and whenever I ran out of cash, I took them out of the safe. Using debit or credit card can be an option, but there are international transaction charges when you use cards for purchases.
2. DO NOT walk on the right side of the stairs or escalators
Many people are aware of the fact that cars in England drive on the left side of the road, not the right. This “left-side rule” also applies to stairs and escalators; on escalators, people stand on the right, and whoever wants to walk up the escalator use the left side. On my first day of class, I bumped into a different Londoner every minute because I was walking on the wrong side; trust me, I was not trying to bump into people. Although the stairs in the tube, which is like T in Massachusetts, stations did have “Keep Left” sign, because I am conditioned to walk on the right side, my shoulders were barely attached to my body at the end of my first day. After a few painful and awkward days bumping into hundreds of people, I adapted to the “left-side rule.”
3. DO NOT wear Northeastern sweater everywhere
I am definitely not trying to bring down school pride, and, after all, my favorite hoodie a navy Champion Northeastern hoodie I bought at the Northeastern bookstore. The reason you want to stay away from school clothes is to blend in with other Londoners; Northeastern University hoodie is not a thing in England. It definitely is not my goal to scare people, but I want to inform that tourists and other people who are not from London become easy targets for pickpockets and tourist traps. There are a plethora of places where you can buy good quality clothes for a reasonable price if you did not bring enough clothes; PRIMARK was my go-to place when I needed summer clothes because all I packed were black hoodies. However, do not be intimidated by troops of men and women in business clothes everywhere nor try to dress like them every day.
4. DO NOT drink like there is no tomorrow
The legal drinking age in most of the countries other than the United States, including England, is 18. This means that most, if not all, of the college students are able to walk into a pub and get a pint of beer with no trouble. However, it is important to remember that you are in a foreign country and do not know the neighborhood as well as others who have lived in London for years and years. When going to a pub or clubs for a drink or two, make sure you are with friends and let other friends know where you are. I do not have any stories to tell about drinking as I do not enjoy consuming alcohol, but you will hear plenty of horrible stories related to irresponsible drinking during orientation and safety talks. Yet, that does not mean I am against drinking. I definitely recommend going to a local pub and getting a beer with fish and chips just to experience the pub culture, legally. But, responsible drinking is something to keep in mind all the time; also, drinks in pubs are really expensive, so choosing other local foods over a pint of beer may be a great idea.
5. DO NOT spend every weekend and free time in the same places
During the Dialogue, you will have multiple weekends and plenty of free time to explore the city of London. And, the main difference between a person who made every moment count and a person who have regrets after the program ends would be how they spent their time. On my first week in London, I was exhausted every night from classes, jet lags, walking, and dealing with people in rush-hour tubes. I spent most of my free time napping and watching TV shows to recharge myself. After my first week, I came to a realization that already one-fifth of my dialogue was gone. Then, I decided to do the resting when I go back to the United States and explore as many places as I can in London, which I did end up doing. Also, try not to visit the same places more than twice. London is a very, I mean VERY, large city. Visiting the same places over and over will eliminate chances to visit new places. Planning out each weekend beforehand can be very helpful as many of the attractions in London tend to require reservations or bookings ahead of time; my experience competing for a spot for Harry Potter Studio Tour London is not what I want to remember.
Most of these DON’Ts that I have listed may seem somewhat absurd or even obvious to many of you guys. But, keeping in mind reminding yourselves of these tips may really have a positive impact on your experience in London.
