My First Day in London as an African: Three Reasons I Was Grateful

The moment I stepped out of Heathrow Airport, the cold London air hit my face like a slap. It was my first time leaving Africa, my first time on a plane, my first time seeing a city where everything moved so fast. I was equal parts excited and terrified. But as the day unfolded, amidst the nerves and the newness, I found reasons to be deeply grateful. Here’s why.

1. The Kindness of Strangers Back home, people always warned me: "Londoners are cold. They don’t talk to strangers." So I braced myself for indifference. But on my very first day, London surprised me its not what i was prepared for that i met.

At the train station, I stood frozen in front of the ticket machine, confused by the options. A middle aged woman with a thick scarf noticed my hesitation. "First time?" she asked with a smile. She not only helped me buy the right ticket but also gave me tips on which stops to watch for. On the Tube, a young man saw me struggling with my oversized suitcase and carried it down the stairs for me without me even asking.

Then there was the Nigerian shop owner in Packham who, upon hearing my accent, grinned and said, "Welcome, my brother!" before giving me a free loaf of bread. These small acts of kindness made me feel seen in a city where I expected to feel invisible. I was grateful not just for the help, but for the reminder that humanity crosses borders.

1. The Beauty of a Different World Everything fascinated me. The red buses, the way people casually walked past centuries old buildings like it was nothing, the mix of languages and cultures on every street. I must have looked like a child, staring at everything with wide eyes.

I remember standing near Big Ben, shivering in my thin jacket (I severely underestimated British weather), but unable to look away. Back home, I’d only seen these places in movies. Now, here I was, breathing the same air as history. I took a million blurry photos just to prove to myself it was real.

Even the little things felt magical the way rain could fall and stop abruptly, the squirrels in Hyde Park that weren’t afraid of people, the fact that tap water was safe to drink (a luxury I didn’t take for granted). That first day, London felt like a storybook, and I was grateful to be in it, even if just as a small character.

1. The Humbling Realization of Growth As night fell and I sat in my tiny rented room, exhausted but buzzing with adrenaline, it hit me: I did it. I had navigated a foreign city alone. I had exchanged currency, used public transport, and even ordered food without embarrassing myself (though I did mispronounce "water" twice).

Back home, people had doubted me. "Why London? It’s too expensive, too cold, too far." But here I was, proving to myself more than anyone that I could step into the unknown and survive. Maybe even thrive.

I was grateful for the fear I’d felt earlier because it made my small victories sweeter. Grateful for the homesickness that reminded me where I came from. Grateful for the uncertainty because it meant I was growing.

A Day I’ll Never Forget My first day in London wasn’t perfect. I got lost twice, overpaid for a SIM card, and cried a little when I couldn’t figure out the shower. But it was also a day of unexpected warmth, wonder, and quiet triumph.

Years later, I still look back on that day with gratitude. It taught me that the world is kinder, more helper and friendly than we’re told, that beauty exists in unfamiliar places, and that we’re all capable of more than we think one cold, confusing, exhilarating step at a time.