I am in my second week of studying abroad in London. Before I came here, I firmly told myself that I would not be a tourist. I would 'become one' with the locals, despite only being here for three months. Little did I know that being a student in a country you’ve never been to before pushes you to do things that you told yourself you wouldn’t do…like gawking at the London Eye and excitedly taking pictures in front of Big Ben (FUN FACT: Big Ben is actually the bell inside the tower, the tower itself is called the Elizabeth Tower). Despite living here for a few months, I don’t think I will be able to avoid this simple fact: I am a tourist.
I am not here to live here for a few years. I’m here to explore the city and its country, and in the meantime crackdown on a few courses. Again, it is only my second week here, but I have already come to accept the fact that I am a tourist and thus will be doing touristy things during my time here. Many people may berate me for this, but there are a few arguments I’d like to make against those who believe doing everything that tourists do is an embarrassment and a shame to the local countrymen.
1. The people of the country you're visiting are tourists too.
Just the other day, I was touring around Buckingham Palace. Yes, there were people there from other countries speaking languages other than English, but there were also British/English people there as well. People from other parts of the country travelled to London to see the same things that I travelled from the United States to see. To make a relatable comparison, it’s like someone from the East Coast taking a trip to visit the West Coast. You’re still within your own country, but you’re also touring it as well. Just as people from New York cannot say they are like people from California, people here from Wales cannot say they are like people from London.
2. Not visiting tourist spots doesn't make you a local.
Don’t miss the tourist spots just to act cool and to make it seem like you don’t care about that kind of stuff. Everyone is bound to visit the big spots at some point in their lives. Get that stuff done, then immerse yourself in the local culture. It would be weird to say that you lived in Paris for three months but never once visited the Eiffel Tower, wouldn’t it? Also, don’t be afraid to mess up on cultural norms. Sure, study up on them, but if you slip up, it’s not a big deal. The people in the country you’re visiting would probably make mistakes as well when visiting your home country.
3. Most locals are accepting of tourists for multiple reasons.
Every city has its tourists. Yes, they/we can be annoying, looking lost all the time and constantly bumping into people for going in the wrong direction, but locals are used to it. Moving into a well-known city is a package deal that includes clueless tourists and foreign visitors stopping you to ask for directions. Tourism also brings in huge revenue for the country you’re visiting. Many countries live off their tourists! Not only that, but you have to remember that just because we come from different places, that doesn’t mean we are completely different from one another. You can be a tourist and still casually talk about soccer/football in a pub with someone from the area. What connects us isn’t necessarily where we come from and what our cultural norms are, but our similar interests in and disinterests.
To sum things up, it is important to remember that as a tourist, it's okay to adopt the tourist agenda and explore the new place you’re in with as much excitement as a local would in your own country. Sure you might get embarrassed a couple of times for making a mistake, but nobody is perfect and anyone who is in a new place will make those mistakes as well. Embrace your home country, many people will actually find it fascinating to learn about where you’re from and how the culture there is different from their own. People have been tourists for centuries, and they’re not going to stop any time soon. So accept the fact that you’re going to be the stereotypical tourist, even if for just a few days. Don’t be afraid to do everything you wanted to do; go all out and don’t be afraid to take a picture in front of the Leaning of Pisa that makes it look like you’re holding it up.
