Why England?

 I've dreamed of studying abroad for years. In fact, that is one of the reasons I chose to attend the University of Idaho. This trip, spending two and a half weeks in London while studying intracultural communications, seemed like the perfect first opportunity. As someone hoping to become a successful Irish dance teacher and work within the Irish dance organization CRLG, having good communication skills with those from other cultures is an ability I believe will be quite helpful in the future. I hope that through taking lessons from British professors, partaking in local community service, and touring some of England’s historical buildings and cities, will allow me to leave with a greater understanding of communication across cultures as a whole.

During my preparation for this course, I have heard the phrase “In studying other cultures, we do so very often from the perspective of our own culture;” which I find to be completely true. As someone who grew up in Olympia, Washington, I always knew a certain way to drive. However, in moving for college to Moscow, Idaho, I had to adopt a different way of navigating the roads. I learned how to follow the relaxed Moscow driving culture by comparing it to the rushed, aggressive city driving I had grown up with and understood. While I wasn’t adjusting to big cultural differences such as switching the side of the road I drive on, like in the United Kingdom, I feel that learning about cultural differences with other countries is the same way, just on a larger scale. 

To prepare for my time abroad I have begun with a bit of research, which I would like to share as part of my learning journey.

As we all know, "England", "United Kingdom", and "Great Britain" are all terms that generally describe the same location. However, there are distinctive differences between each name. According to CIA Factbook, England is the name of a singular nation within Great Britain. Great Britain is a name that references both England, Scotland, and Wales; which all coexist on the same island. Therefore, this term is referencing the geographical connection of the three nations. The United Kingdom is bigger, referencing Great Britain along with Northern Ireland, who were joined together during the Acts of Union at the beginning of the 19th century.

There are many cultural separations between Americans and British that are important for me to note while studying abroad. The largest difference that seems to stand out is emotional expression. According to AFS Americans have a tendency to be quite emotional. Whether that feeling is joy, sorrow, or anger, Americans express these feelings outwardly in ways that could be seen as loud or aggressive. The British on the other hand tend not to openly express emotions in the same way. Instead, while someone might be angry, they prioritize social harmony by continuing to hold a polite interaction with a low vocal tone.

Beyond the tone of speaking, within British culture it is common for those who make absolute statements to be seen as suspicious. What this means is instead of statements such as “The blue dress is better”, the British prefer to utilize works like “perhaps” or “possibly” to cushion the comment, such as “perhaps the blue dress would be better for this event.” This is due to absolute statements being presented in a way that sounds like fact, even if the speaker is stating an opinion and has no sources to back it up as complete truth. Following this same idea, the British have a tendency to understate their appreciation for something. While one might be passionate about a sport, hobby, or other interest, the British often express so in a way that would seem as disinterested to us Americans. 

Now, these are all generalized statements found on AFS. Therefore I would not assume that all those I meet will be the same when it comes to communication. There is a wide mix of cities, cultures, and ethnicities within England. Therefore, many might have different mannerisms that are common to their local city or home. This research will just aid me in analyzing the situation more, to best connect with those I talk to. 

I am hoping this preliminary research will enable me to have a fuller experience filled with connections and learning. I look forward to taking off on a plane this Sunday, to step for the first time in the United Kingdom.