There have been many charming cultural differences that I’ve encountered since getting to London and living here as an American abroad student. However, there have been larger differences that have changed the way I look at the world and, more specifically, look at America on a global scale. One of those prominent differences is my home nation’s stance on guns compared to England’s and the rest of Europe’s.

In recent events, there was a devastating school shooting in Nashville, Tennessee. A former 28-year-old student of Covenant School returned and killed six people, including 3 children and 3 adults on Monday, the 27th of March. The shooter was armed with three guns, including a semi-automatic rifle. All of these were obtained legally per the gun laws within the state. Despite having been treated for a mental health disorder, this was no hindrance to acquiring these weapons. Someone actively struggling mentally was able to go out and purchase guns that could take precious, undeserving lives in just seconds. How senseless are we to legally protect the rights of inanimate objects over our own citizens? It’s time to wake up.

When you grow up in a nation whose gun culture is instilled in the very words of the document it was built on, there is a shocking normalization towards objects that can be used to end a person’s life. It is unfathomable that America places so much importance on the right to purchase and own guns, especially given that this right was formed in a reality almost three hundred years ago that could not look more different than the modern day.

After having lived abroad for over two months, I’ve come to realize that I now walk onto public transportation or through a crowded shopping center significantly less on edge. I no longer think about the fastest way to escape an enclosed area in case of an emergency. Although there is no shortage of crime in Europe, it doesn’t feel like any place I go can be turned into a shooting range at any moment. It’s made me realise how abnormal and heightened my fear of guns is, simply because of the political climate in the States and the failure of legislators to meet citizens’ needs.

Headline after headline lights up my phone. “3 dead”… “6 killed in mass shooting”… “leaves 8 children dead”. What has begun to haunt me is the sense of normalcy that is felt when I read these things. My heart, of course, still drops when I read a new headline detailing a mass shooting. However, there have been so many instances of this happening, that it feels like a miserable routine. As an American, I have become desensitised to events that are considered tragic–and relatively rare compared to the rest of the world. There is a sense of normalcy to occurrences that are nowhere near remotely normal.

I have begun to realize how unique this is to America, which makes the issue even more frustrating. The United States is gridlocked and polarised on the issue. Very little progress can be made given the current political landscape. Living in the United Kingdom, where some of the world’s strictest gun-ownership laws are implemented, has shown me that there is a whole other world without living in constant fear of gun violence.

In 1996, the Dunblane massacre occurred in Scotland when 43-year-old Thomas Hamilton used legally owned handguns to kill 17 people: 16 students aged 5-6 and one teacher. After that, there was widespread revulsion against guns. The Conservative government banned all handguns except for .22 caliber single-shot weapons. The Labour government following banned all handguns as well as .22 caliber single-shot weapons. After these regulations were tightened, there has only been one mass shooting that took place in 2010 in Whitehaven, a part of northern England. In comparison, the Gun Violence Archive has counted 130 mass shootings in 2023 in the United States alone.

I am an American and I have been conditioned to fear for my life when I walk on the streets. I fear for myself, my family, my friends, and the generations that follow me. Yes, the Brits do tea and scones very well. But, they also know how to prioritize and keep their people safe: an area that America severely lacks in.

By: Maddy Adler

Growing up in New York, I was raised on some of the most iconic Broadway shows performed by some very incredible actors. I was privileged to be able to live by and experience the epicenter of the theater industry, and have always been fascinated with live theater as an art. A large part of why I chose to study abroad in London is because of the amazing West End theatre and what it has to offer. 

After taking a class on media in Britain and learning about the intricacies of British humor, I grew interested in comparing the American media I am used to and the British media that I am immersed in as a study abroad student. However, much of the British media I’ve seen has been in the form of movies or television shows. I figured that it would be interesting to see how this form of entertainment, rather than pre-recorded movies or TV, would compare.

When my parents came to visit me the other week, we decided to go see The Unfriend, a dark comedy written by highly-accredited Steven Moffat. The play focuses on Peter and Debbie, a British couple who are parents to Alex and Rosie. It begins on a cruise, with Peter and Debbie meeting Elsa, a flamboyant and hilarious American. Sporting her velour tracksuit and oversized sunglasses, Elsa’s personality and presence had the audience laughing from the moment she came on stage. 

What makes Elsa’s character even funnier, is that Peter and Debbie end up finding out she is a serial killer after having invited her to their family’s home. Upon a quick Google search, it was found that she was tied to a string of 6 murders, one murder having been her own husband. To their dismay, Elsa arrived days before she was supposed to. The couple was no longer able to send a quick email letting her know she would no longer be able to come. Instead, they were forced to confront her in person, making for a very uncomfortable yet humorous rest of the show.

The typical “British politeness” is something I’ve noticed a lot in British media. It very evidently comes into play during the performance as manners often get in the way of Peter and Debbie’s desires. This internal conflict between wanting to be polite in true British nature, versus the motivations they have for themselves as parents calls for a very cringe yet funny dynamic between the cast of characters. Much of the comedy within the performance was built from awkward situations, which I found very charming and unique as an American.

One thing I did notice was that the sets and costumes were very mundane. The majority of the play took place on the set of a typical family home. This normally would be slightly off-putting for me in media as I often admire elaborate costumes or set designs. The comedy and plot itself were also simplistic, but in reality, added much to the show. There was no trying too hard that made it cheesy. It felt real and more so an imitation of life, rather than a dramatization like I often find to be the case in American media. This is what I particularly loved about the play: unlike American media, British media leans more into simplicity and relies on good writing and acting to make it a successful piece of art rather than material grandeur. 

Overall, I had a great time watching The Unfriend and highly recommended it to anyone looking for a laugh. It has undoubtedly been one of my favorite shows I’ve seen in a while and has proven to be widely popular across the board.

By: Maddy Adler

At home, my family and I love going to the cinema. A few weeks ago, my parents traveled to London to visit. Coincidentally, the new Creed movie, Creed III, was released in theatres days before they arrived. Although we traveled a lot, we made time to go to the theatres while they were in London. We went to the ODEON Luxe Leicester Square. It was a great experience; however, it was very different from the United States.

There were three main differences between the cinematic experiences, one of which was the prices. The standard ticket price for the theatre in London was approximately 16 pounds. Once you factor in the exchange rate, the ticket would be around 19 US dollars. In the theaters in my hometown, our tickets range from 10-13 dollars. But even though the tickets here cost more, the concessions were cheaper. Two drinks, popcorn, and candy cost around 10 pounds which translates to 13 dollars. At home, it would cost 5-10 dollars more. 

The next difference was the theatre in general. When I saw the theater, my jaw dropped. The ODEON Luxe Leicester Square in London had multiple floors with an escalator, concession stands on each floor, people waiting in front of the theatre rooms to look at tickets, and more. At home, it is the complete opposite. There is only one floor to the theatre, you scan your ticket on the way in, and there is only one concession station. In addition, the screen room in the London theatre left me speechless. It was at least two to three times the size of the theatres in the United States. I estimate at least 200-300 seats. However, in the United States, the seats at many theatres recline, which makes for a more relaxing experience. The ODEON Luxe Leicester Square did not have reclining seats. The theatre lacked in this area. 

The last main difference between the theatre in the States and the one in London was the food. As stated previously, the concessions in London theatres are cheaper. But I was surprised to learn they do not butter their popcorn in London. The choices were either sweet or salty popcorn. I chose salty because I expected the saltiness to help with the lack of butter. I was wrong. It tasted like bland popcorn. In addition, they didn’t sell candy that I was familiar with. There were no sour patch kids, M&M’s, Skittles, etc. The concessions were probably the most disappointing part of the entire experience. 

Even though the concessions and lack of reclining seats were a letdown, the overall experience was great. During the movie, it felt like I was at home, sitting on my couch watching a movie. The surround sound in the theater, the screen, and the comfortable seats enhanced the experience. Creed III was also a good movie. The audience was captivated the entire time. The audience was quiet until the movie ended, and everyone started clapping. I rate the experience an 8/10. All in all, I recommend the ODEON Luxe Leicester Square.

By: Chloe Franklin

The greatest thing about meditation is that it provides a tool for allowing you to become more you. But, what is meditation? The definition has a lot of gray areas. According to Dr. Andrew Huberman, most scientists agree meditation occurs when someone employs certain methods to develop mindfulness, though there is no precise definition of mindfulness. Most scientists agree it is about being present and conscious of your state of mind.  Its purpose is to create a healthy gap between you, your thoughts, and your emotions.

A common misperception about meditation is that it is about clearing your mind and having no thoughts at all. That is not true. If I told you to not think about something–like a hyena devouring a hot dog–you will inevitably do so. Instead, mediation is allowing thoughts to come to you, while refraining from analyzing, judging, or assigning meaning to them. A psychology course I took taught me that an emotion only lasts for around one and a half minutes. The thoughts we attach with the emotion prolong the time we experience it. We can learn more about our emotions through meditation, including how to simply acknowledge them and let them go.

This detachment has significant practical benefits. For example, people have reported increased productivity in the workspace and a decrease in general anxiety and even ADHD symptoms. Further, meditation can be a wonderful tool for combating addiction by raising awareness of your triggers, detaching from those urges, and ultimately enhancing your self-control through refocusing your attention on a different, healthy grounding stimulus. This process breeds discipline, which cultivates self-trust.

A big reason why meditation has astounding stress-reducing benefits is the wealth of advantages that extend to the physical plane. This one blew my mind: Harvard researchers conducted a study where they analyzed brains for an eight-week period, during which their subjects were meditating regularly. To measure progress, the researchers conducted frequent MRI brain scans. The results showed meditation actually slows the cells on a genetic level, therefore slowing our biological clocks. Further, meditation significantly reduces inflammation in the brain, which is critical for minimizing damage to other bodily systems. 

Finally, one of the most important aspects of meditation is that it connects you with your higher self. The idea of the “higher self” refers to an everlasting, omnipotent, conscious, and intelligent being that is one’s true self. By getting in touch with your higher self, you can access better awareness for your gut feelings, detach from your anxieties, and develop on a pathway aligned with your highest good, or your self-actualized self. There are also techniques that allow you to rewire your subconscious to get rid of your limiting beliefs, such as repeating positive affirmations. Together, these benefits allow you to shine brightly and align yourself with the path that is intended for your highest good. 

If you are interested in meditating, it is simple to implement into daily life. I normally spend ten minutes a day using a YouTube guided meditation. Even five minutes would be a great place to start for most people. Morning is the preferred time to meditate because your mind is clear and peaceful at that time. You can set your intentions for the day and start your day with gratitude. Meditating later in the day is also beneficial, particularly before a stressful situation. The most important thing is to find an approach that works best for you.