On the flipside
“I want you to come to the UK,” he said. It took me less than a second to respond with a mighty YES. I love to explore this world. This trip would give me the opportunity to unhook myself from the way I see and experience the world each day here in the U.S., to meet with my client in person and also meet his team. What a gift!
So, I’m now on the flipside of my time in the UK. What an amazing experience. I love meeting people. I’m just fascinated by those that live in another country, another culture. I am so grateful to have had the opportunity throughout my life to travel to numerous countries on this planet. Every time I land in a new country, I learn about the people that live there, about myself. I pay attention. I focus on how the accents and words flow out of their mouths. I notice that the clothes they wear are different from mine. I see how they live and what they value. I hear them talk with each other using words and phrases that don’t exist where I live. I eat foods with them that taste different from anything I’ve ever had. I soak it all up and let it influence how I move forward on my path.
This trip was full of exploration across Wales and the UK. With that comes observations and learnings. Here are a few that made me pay attention:
FOOD
As always, I find it so interesting how foods can be so similar yet different from one country to the next. Sometimes it is as simple as a different way of preparing ketchup. Other times it can be way different like Marmite (if you know, you know). Noticing how something can be perceived so differently from person to person reminds me of how rigid we can be with our thought processes. Likes and dislikes are sometimes simply comfortable patterns. The question then becomes…what else am I just comfortable with? What else can I explore? What else in my life might be ready for change?
LANGUAGE
On this trip, there were times when I literally felt like I was listening to a foreign language be spoken. We moved from Birmingham to Wales to Tamworth then Manchester. I had to ask so many people to repeat themselves even though we were both speaking English. To make it even more challenging, dialects can change significantly as you move from one part of town to the next. I found myself really paying attention and watching their lips move. Understanding what someone is saying to you is incredibly important to how you form and nurture relationships. The more you understand, the more you absorb and can contribute. In case you plan to visit the UK anytime soon, here are a few common words to help you:
All right?..............You doing ok?
Rubbish………….Trash
Snog……………..A kiss in any form
Pissed……………Drunk
Trainers………….Sneakers
Cheeky…………..Light hearted but a bit on the rude or risqué side
I need a wee…….I need to go to the bathroom
Chips…………….French fries
Crisps……………Chips (potato, tortilla, etc.)
Zebra crossing………..Pedestrian crossing (the markings on the road)
Shopping trolley………..Grocery cart
Dress smart…….…..Well dressed
MELTING POT
The moment I stepped off the plane and started walking through the airport, I could sense a difference. So many people from all over the world were merging into one place. You’d think it would have just been that way because I was in the airport, but nope. Everywhere I visited in the UK was filled with people that looked different and sounded different from me. I was so inspired by the diversity of people everywhere we went. I wanted to soak it all up - their knowledge, their perspectives, their experiences. People were kind. People were helpful. And people were dealing with the same life obstacles as everyone else no matter where I went. I encourage you to go outside of your comfortable circle. Seek the diversity that may be around you. Let it inform you. Let it influence your next choice. Let it help you discover what you didn’t know existed.
NOW WHAT?
I realize traveling around the world may seem like a luxury that only other people can afford. Allowing yourself to intersect with those outside of your circle can be life changing. You can start small and simply visit places not so far from your home. Then move on to places outside of your country that still speak a language you are comfortable speaking/understanding. Intentionally seek what is different and try to be open to seeing how that new information or experience may just be what you needed for the next step along your journey. Use the experience as an opportunity to slow down and pay attention, to practice using all of your senses.