Living in a different city, being exposed to new people, different cultures and a foreign work and study environment, has had a huge impact on my life. Even though I grew up in Berlin, a big vibrant city, London is of a completely different caliber. With a population of around 9 million, London is made up of a hugely diverse group of people; varying from businesspeople in elegant suits to hardcore punks in platform combat boots. In London, you are not only exposed to British culture but here you can find people from many different countries with over 300 different languages spoken. With such a diverse population comes a wide array of different restaurants and food stalls. From classical English breakfast, German Döner, to Indian Dal, London offers food for every taste. I think the variety of different high-quality foods is the main reason why I have converted to a foodie since coming here. Even though London is quite expensive, you can get relatively cheap food from different cultures if you stick to outdoor markets or food halls. And the best thing is it is not only cheaper and more authentic but the atmosphere in these food halls or at these markets is priceless, especially when the sun is out. But if you tend to be a little bit claustrophobic (like me haha) then I would recommend going during “off-peak” times.
Besides becoming a foodie, I have also developed a huge passion for tea. I know that this is such a cliché, but English Breakfast tea is delicious, and there are many tea shops all over London with a broad range of exotic types of tea. Taking some time off in the afternoon to share a pot of tea with your friend and talk about your day, has probably become one of my favorite things to do. And since discovering a little tea shop right around the corner, I may have spent way too much money on tea, but it was worth every pound! Even through discovering my passion for tea, nothing can replace my love for coffee. Thankfully, there are some excellent local coffee rosters here in London, and many cute cafes that both feed my tea and coffee addictions and are also perfect for getting some work done.
But enough about food and drinks (although I could probably talk on and on about both), let´s talk about getting around London. Coming from Berlin where I cycle practically everywhere, I was quite disappointed when I discovered that cycling in London is an extreme sport, and unless you are an adrenaline junkie or have an urgent death wish, you do not ride a bike in London. Instead of cycling, walking or public transit are the primary modes that people use to get around here. Most of the underground “tubes” and Buses run every 5 minutes, making this an easy and efficient way to get around. However, they are always super crowded during peak times and with my claustrophobia, a packed tube is just a recipe for disaster. Which is why I decided that walking was more my speed, especially now that it is warmer outside. Walking allows you to see the beauty in this busy city and makes you way more motivated to start your day. During my walks, I have noticed that many people in London enjoy running. When you walk in a park or along the Themes you can always see groups of people running together. I have personally seen many running groups throughout Hyde Park on a Sunday morning. Watching all these people has motivated me to start running myself! I have always wanted to get into running but I have never found the right time to start and now I finally have the motivation to do so. Maybe I will even join a running club, who knows. I will keep you updated!
April 2023 | Lioba Berndt
