False impression of London’s diversity
I did not have any prior knowledge of how life in the UK looked like or how diverse London was before arriving in the country. People often say that London is one of the most diverse cities in the world. However, I got disappointed when I could not see the diversity that people often mentioned when I first got here. I think one of the easiest ways to see a city’s diversity is to observe people riding the subway. In New York, when I got on the train, I saw a very distinct diversity. I saw people from different walks of life and racial backgrounds.
However, I failed to see such a mix in race on the tube here in London. Therefore, I did not fully understand why London is often said to be the most cosmopolitan city. However, as I lived here longer and studied more about the immigrant communities, I realized how ignorant I was. Many immigrants in the UK are from Europe. Polish is the largest group of immigrants in the UK. Therefore, when I saw white people on the train, I did not think that they were from other European countries. I immediately made an assumption that they were all British. Therefore, I did not see diversity on the ground of racial difference.
I have the opportunity to explore different ethnic neighborhoods in London such as Brick Lane, Southall, Brixton, and New Malden. After my visit to these places, I have a different perception of London. Now I know why London is a very diverse place. In such a glamourous city, one can find many segregated minority communities from British former colonies. Many groups of immigrants lead parallel lives and do not try to integrate with the majority culture. Many problems regarding to wrong-headed traditional practices like forced marriage or female genital mutilation are still prevalent in such a developed country like Britain.
Suffice to say, all of these experiences just blow my mind. I am thankful for the chance to go to London and learn more about the world, seeing an aspect that I have never seen before.
