The Scary Underground

May 25, 2016

Before we got to London, both our professors and the coordinator from our program warned us about “The Tube.” I use the tube to get to class, field trips/excursions and to go explore and shop, so almost daily. As a new avid user of the tube, I can tell you that it is not something to be scared of. I might be a bit biased because I have public transportation navigation coursing through my veins. (Thanks Mom.) In fact, it really reminds me of the T in Boston! There are color coded lines that have different names. They travel either Westbound/Eastbound or Northbound/Southbound. They are clearly labeled as well so it is very hard to get on the wrong train and if you do have to switch to the right one, it is as easy as crossing a platform.
The Tube, otherwise known as The Underground, does have its downsides. Most underground stations are severely underground. As in 15 flights of stairs, or 3 sets of escalators deep into the ground. The tube gets really packed around rush hour as does every other transit system. However, the tube is not as wide as our T so packing into a subway car, is rough. Also, the doors on the train are not automatic, which can be treacherous at times. As in, if someone is still in the doorway but the conductor closes the doors, they will not sense the obstruction and they will close anyway. So it’s important to be fast when using the trains!

However, there are also some good things about the Underground. It is by far, the cleanest transportation system I’ve seen. There is never any garbage anywhere. The tube lines are very easy to navigate and they intersect several times on one line. The trains run very frequently somewhere between 1 minute to 5 minutes behind the last one. There are stations in close proximity to each other, usually a 10 minute walk from one to the next. The best part about the transit system is the fact that it is FREE for me to travel just about anywhere in London being an international student on this program and Underground stations make some great photo opportunities!

Written By

Tyra Dukes

As a nursing major, it is very hard to squeeze in some study abroad due to my intensive curriculum. So a dialogue of civilizations was a win-win for me. I would have the ability to travel and immerse myself in a different civilization while also getting ahead on some major requirements. Both of which will help my professional career. I think it is important for everyone to be globally conscious but most importantly, health care professionals. At some point in my life, I will work with someone from a different culture so it is important that I understand, how to be culturally competent. That main skill is what I am most looking forward to from this dialogue.