Who’s a Tourist? You’re a Tourist! (Perdomo)
By Angelynn Perdomo.
Traveling to another country has always been a dream of mine. Having never even been on a plane before this, this entire experience of leaving home and living in England has been terrifying, but even more, so rewarding. Going out and sightseeing the first few weeks was very exciting for me. The streets were loud and busy and everything about London felt so different from what I was used to. I had this urge to take pictures of any and everything I thought I might like to look back on when I was home. I found myself pushing these feelings down out of fear that I might reveal myself as a tourist and that people might laugh or look at me funny.
The first few days after arriving in London were especially difficult. I wanted to point out and audibly express excitement over everything new to me, telephone booths, red double-decker buses, and even watching drivers sitting on what we Americans know as the passenger side of the car. These are all normal things in London and I knew that my reactions would give me away so I held it in as best I could.
What is so wrong about being a tourist?
I had heard stories of Americans traveling and being made fun of, or locals being rude simply because they’re tourists. I did not want any experience like that to ruin my semester, so I did what I thought was best, spoke quietly, and avoided bringing any attention to myself. It was a few weeks into my semester that I asked myself, what is so wrong about being a tourist?
My family kept asking for more photos
after I sent the few I had and I just kept thinking about when I was back home and I was missing London, what would I have to look back on? It wouldn’t hurt to have a picture of the London streets I walk to get to class or the ones near The Stay Club in Kentish Town where I live, and had recently started referring to as home. I just began to understand that I might never get to come back to London, even if I did, I might never live here for months at a time and I would certainly never get to experience it for the first time again.
Yes, I am a tourist and a part of me wants to walk the streets and feel like a true Londoner but who is to say that I can’t be both? If I want to wait in line and take pictures in front of Big Ben, or stand outside the gates of Buckingham Palace, why shouldn’t I? My time here is so limited and going about my days with this new attitude has felt very freeing. Being halfway through the semester, I am realizing how much London has changed me already. I am feeling less like a tourist every day and I’m loving every second. I find myself becoming frustrated with people at tube stations who stop mid-stride to look at signs to find their way, and I remember a time when that was me. The more that I let myself be, the easier it has been to embrace London and fully appreciate all the city has to offer.
