My first week on this Bookpacking adventure has been filled with rich explorations and excursions into various territories in London. This is my first study abroad experience and so I did not know what to expect. Being able to get a tour of different parts of London has exposed me to areas and regions that I otherwise would not have discovered by myself. I have been finding it quite cool to be able to explore various parts of the city. I was talking to a friend about my experience in London and they asked me a question I found quite striking. “Does the city feel old-timey?” Now I have spent a good portion of my time strolling around the city and marveling at the different buildings. For sure, I noticed that they have a different look and feel than most cities in America. In particular, it is quite fascinating how well they have been able to preserve historic buildings. In America, historic buildings are much fewer and are almost bubbled away from the rest of the city. They stand out as these landmarks to tour and visit. However, in London, the mix of the old and new is so interconnected. It is not uncommon to see more historic buildings juxtaposed with the uber-modern buildings of the city. And so, when faced with the question of does the city feel old-timey, I must pause and reflect. In a sense, yes. Especially, from my perspective as an American, the city does have an old-timey feel. And yet, the juxtaposition of all of these modern buildings stops the city from feeling antiquated. It is a rather interesting mix this city has. While I love being in this new city, I am starting to feel some of the perplexing emotions that come with traveling. On one end, I’m in London! I should absolutely love it. Yet, I learned that the word “should” is the enemy of the present and often compounds onto whatever suffering or difficulties you may be feeling at the moment. While it is such a gift to be able to explore the city of London. There is also a feeling of being upended that comes with the territory of traveling. While, I don’t feel like my world has been shaken in any way that is significant, there is still the acknowledgement that I am somewhere different. And with this acknowledgement comes a slight feeling of unsettlement. As I come to travel more, I recognize this feeling more. It last briefly and slowly falls to the wayside as you become acclimated to your new environment. Nonetheless, by virtue of being in a different area, there is a subtle feeling of unsettlement that makes me long for the familiar. I long for my family and the comforts of my home, and yet I don’t want to act on this feeling and leave the environment that is causing me this discomfort. Perhaps this is the plight of any traveler. Lastly, being in the UK in general is an interesting experience for me as Ghanian-Gambian. I am from two West African countries, both of which have a long history of colonial rule by the British. As someone who has recently visited Ghana this summer, I reflect on my past travel experience and apply it in tandem to my current travel experience. Ghana is truly a beautiful country with so much vibrancy and life inside of it. And yet, while I was there I couldn’t help but reflect on the poverty I was seeing on a daily basis. It made me reflect on ideals I’ve always held and I came to the realization that poverty is not the natural state of man. It a deliberately manufactured product of the elite onto the rest of society. Coming to Britain, I see the kind of luxuries that this country has as a result of the oppression and exploitation of my people. And so, it is an interesting dichotomy that both angering and resentful. Moreover, as I reflect on Charles Dickens and a Tale of Two Cities, I find that the suffering that is of the time period is not far removed from the kind of suffering that the majority of the world, outside of imperial countries, still deal with. Many of the seemingly American concepts such as the American Dream have roots in Charles Dicken’s writing. This idea of self-help which places the onus of poverty on the individual rather than the societal system is one that is still prevalent, but I find to be deeply and inherently flawed. The only reason that Britain is seen today as a top world power is because of their violent exploitation of Africa and Asia. Overall, I found my experience in London to be a truly fascinating adventure. The ability to explore and marvel at the different areas and parts of the city has been a treat. And yet, as I embark on sightseeing, I cannot help but be reflective of my own life experiences, principles, and concepts I discuss in class. At times, grappling with all of these reflections can be rather burdensome. However, this is only when I cannot arrive at a resolution to my own questions that I see just. However, I have been learning how be okay and even revel in a state of irresolution. In doing this has provided me with much comfort.