Comments on: The Life of an American Expat in London

By: Amanda Slavinsky

Amanda Slavinsky — Mon, 14 Apr 2014 10:14:09 +0000

That’s an interesting perspective! I guess you are kind of used to that feeling of looking different. It didn’t bother me at first, really, but after a while I was just annoyed by all the staring and Koreans reactions to foreigners. Like, yes, I can ride the subway and go to the store and eat at restaurants even though I’m not Korean…

By: MW

MW — Thu, 10 Apr 2014 00:18:44 +0000

This is such an interesting post to me…I moved from Manchester(a few hours north of London) to Seoul in 2013. The differences are definitely huge but so far I like Seoul more for similar reasons to yours for liking London! The only thing that *really* bothers me here is the language barrier, and hopefully that will improve with time. I looked noticeably “foreign”–as in, clearly not English or Irish in the UK, and Manchester is not as diverse as London, so I got used to being asked where I was from as though I didn’t speak English, and I kind of like that in Korea, it’s clear that I don’t speak Korean and I’m foreign.

By: Amanda Slavinsky

Amanda Slavinsky — Fri, 04 Apr 2014 15:26:58 +0000

Well, I’m glad that Brits have a similar feeling about American-UK culture. It’s amazing how different it really is.

I promise it will get slightly better in Korea. Even if you don’t have a grasp on the language, just being there will help you pick up on things, especially since you are in a public school! But I know the feeling. There were many times I was like…what is happening and why is it happening lol.

By: Ceri

Ceri — Thu, 03 Apr 2014 05:29:45 +0000

I love this.

I think I made the same mistake in thinking that the US was just a bigger version of the UK until I went to California and then New York, and realised how different American and British culture really are. I think that’s where my Americanphile-ness comes from.

And I definitely know what you mean about understanding more about the culture. In Mexico, it wasn’t until I’d lived there for at least a year and could speak the language that I felt like I was connecting to the actual culture. Here in Korea it’s so different and I just feel like a wet mop, standing there, unable to say anything. Haha.

By: Amanda Slavinsky

Amanda Slavinsky — Wed, 02 Apr 2014 19:03:56 +0000

Thanks Beverley! I’ve been here almost 7 months and still love it!

By: Amanda Slavinsky

Amanda Slavinsky — Wed, 02 Apr 2014 19:03:20 +0000

Yeah, it’s strange but sometimes it feels like the US but then something will happen and I’m like, oh yeah, this is really different. Nice to know he felt the same!

By: Amanda Slavinsky

Amanda Slavinsky — Wed, 02 Apr 2014 19:02:13 +0000

I’m glad I wasn’t the only one who was that pretentious

And yes, oh my god. I didn’t even really realize it until I left Korea and I was like…I contributed nothing to society there and could barely function as an adult human. So much better when you can interact!

By: Amanda Slavinsky

Amanda Slavinsky — Wed, 02 Apr 2014 19:00:59 +0000

Oh, I did not realize you lived in the UK! I think the cool thing about London is that there are so many people from everywhere that everyone can find a place to fit in.

By: Agness

Agness — Wed, 02 Apr 2014 00:39:48 +0000

I can totally relate to this post although I am not American. I moved to the U.K. for 3 years when I was 18. Everything seemed so different, but my life was not that difficult at all. Londoners are sometimes cold people, but I met amazing people.I’m glad to see that life as an American expat in London isn’t incredibly difficult for you and you are not a huge hypocrite.

By: Jessica - Curiosity Travels

Jessica - Curiosity Travels — Tue, 01 Apr 2014 11:08:51 +0000

I love this. I too judged people for studying in English speaking countries. For God’s sake, I even frowned upon everyone at my university for choosing Spain for study abroad rather than a more difficult and exotic place in Latin America!

There ARE so many pros to choosing these places though, like you’ve expressed so nicely. Also, don’t you feel less guilty when you can contribute? In Korea I sometimes felt like such a waste of space!