Karen White - Moon Living Abroad London

KAREN WHITE

Whether its due to our shared history and culture, or the fact that we speak the same language (well, almost), many Americans are drawn to London, be it to study, further their careers, or broaden their horizons. While a spell in London can certainly boost your professional standing, it can do much more than that. Living on the other side of the pond offers a view of the world through a new lens.

In many ways, I had it easy when I arrived here. I had previously lived in England, so I had already been through the culture shock. Nevertheless, the prospect of living in such a massive city was daunting. Theres no denying that it is a big city: The pollution, congestion, noise, and crowds make this perfectly clear. I was afraid that London would be a cold, isolating place, where I would be just one face amongst thousands, lost in the citys vastness.

I neednt have feared. London is not just a cityits a collection of villages and neighborhoods. My neighbors nod hello, and even the owners of local shops greet me when I pop in for some milk. Many newcomers are amazed by how accessible London feels. There are parks where kids can play, world-class museums can be explored for free, and traveling around by bus is a great, entertaining way to see the city... even if the Tube is faster. Those expecting a cold, unfriendly urban center with expensive (and bad) food will find instead a vibrant, engaging city, where kids can quickly make friends playing soccer in the park and the local bistro cooks up a mean moules marinires.

Lively and dynamic, London also values its long history and seeks to preserve itthe past is very much part of the citys present. Just take a look around: The streets are still filled with buildings that look just as they did hundreds of years ago. Sure, there are modern skyscrapers as well, but these tend to be in the financial districts. In Bloomsbury, where I first settled, youll find Georgian terraced houses with little garden squares in the middle.

Our daily life in London is pretty sweet. My husband has a pleasant walk across the park in the morning to the Tube station where he heads to his job in the City of London. Long workdays are made more palatable by after-work visits to the pub with friends and colleagues. Weekends are filled with visits to farmers markets, retail therapy in the West End, and sunny bike rides along the South Bank (or rainy-day visits to world-renowned museums).

Whatever your reasons might be for upping sticks and heading across the Atlantic, the best thing to do is just relax and enjoy the experience. Accept that it isnt just like home. Rejoice in the differences between our countries and let your days in London expand your horizons. You may even find, as I did, that you really dont want to leave.

Pretty sweet, indeed.

In London you can live in a normal residential street (with backyard and local park) yet be less than two miles from the heart of the city.

World-renowned museums (such as the British Museum and Tate Modern) are free.

The shopping is spectacularwhatever you are after you can find it here; you just need to know where to look.

The numerous green open spaces are a hallmark of the capital. You can walk the dog in the woodlands of Hampstead Heath, ride bikes past wild deer in Richmond Park, or feed the ducks in Hyde Parks Serpentine Lake.

The extensive system of public transportation (with its mix of the Underground, trains, buses, trams, boats, and even bicycle rentals) is a godsend.

Here history is on every corner, evident in the capitals streets and architecture, from 18th-century shepherds cottages to the grand Georgian villas and the occasional medieval churches.

Its magical to wander around Londonespecially the City of London and Clerkenwellon a Sunday, when all the streets are deserted and you can explore its back alleyways without fear of being run over.

Markets galore: Borough Market is a gourmets heaven; Portobello Market and Camden Passage are great for antiques; Brick Lane has tasty fast food; Cabbages and Frocks has lovely jewelry and clothing; and dont forget Camden Market, with its overwhelming choice of everything.

Nothing beats watching the street entertainers on the South Bank and strolling along the southern edge of the River Thames on the weekend.

There is always something well worth seeing, be it a play, a concert, a gallery, a movie, a museumthe list is endless.

With just an Oyster card, there is so much you can do thats free.

You find no man, at all intellectual, who is willing to leave London. No, Sir, when a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford.

Samuel Johnson, 1777

More than 200 years later Samuel Johnsons words still ring true, with London being one of the worlds greatest cities. Whatever you are intobe it Michelin-star restaurants, madcap musicals, or stately homesyou can find it in London.

If the crowds throughout the year are anything to go by, London certainly seems to be a very popular destination for tourists from all four corners of the globe. From the royal pageantry of Buckingham Palace to numerous museums and cultural activities, not to forget one of the worlds best-known shopping precincts (Oxford and Regent Streets), London attracts tourists on several different levels with something for everyone. Yet, visiting somewhere for a short vacation isnt the same as living there. Those contemplating a move to London need to realize that they are in it for the long haul and should be prepared for the noise and crowds, the expense, and the inevitable cultural differences that will emerge.