We have officially landed in London and arrived at our hotel in the city! After a couple of uneventful plane rides, our group of excited - albeit a little sleepy - college students ventured into the underground to take our first tube ride.

Along with various other travelers, our large group boarded the tube to take the Piccadilly line into the city. Our fearless leaders Dr. Bobby Vrtis and Dr. Nancy Barry gave us all a crash course in navigating our way on the tube in case we found ourselves separated from the rest of the group.

Although the underground was similar to subway stations in Chicago or New York, the sights and phrases we heard were quintessentially British. The ride was full of iconic sights and phrases we had heard in movies but had never encountered in real life. We drove past a football field where teams were playing, chimneys reminiscent of “Mary Poppins,” historic churches and cathedrals stuck between city buildings, double decker buses, and red telephone booths. And of course, we heard “mind the gap” every time the tube doors opened.

As I was writing this post, Dr. Bobby pointed out to me that “mind the gap” could have a double meaning for us here in London. There’s a difference in the way that we speak both with an accent, and with the some of the words we use. There’s a cultural gap when you travel even within the US, and now we’re across the pond so there are bound to be many differences to discover as we go. Navigating all of these discrepancies can be difficult and scary, but also exciting and rewarding. What’s important as we go along is always to “mind the gap.” Be aware of our prejudices ahead of time, and be mindful as we explore and learn new things. And also, mind the gap between the train and the platform.