Ep.6: Global Citizenship on the London Tube

In this episode, I share a story from the London Tube that highlights small, everyday choices that show care and solidarity. A simple act, like offering a seat to someone in need, can reveal whether we’re contributing to a culture of compassion or a culture of indifference. Join me as I reflect on how global citizenship is lived in the ordinary moments of daily life.

Transcript: 

• I want to share a story from my stay here in London, where I’m spending the fall semester as part of my PhD journey at Royal Holloway University.
• One day, I was riding the Tube. The train was crowded, which isn’t unusual. At one stop, people began to get off, and just behind me, a woman in her late 40s or early 50s almost pushed me aside to rush toward a newly freed seat across the carriage.
• At the very same moment, an elderly woman stepped onto the train — clearly in need of a seat. But the younger woman, being much more mobile, got there first. The older woman sighed, quietly, almost as if she was used to this.
• And then came the part that truly shocked me. The woman with the seat looked at the elderly lady and said, “Go sit over there,” pointing to the spot she had left behind. So the older woman turned to walk in that direction, only to realize there wasn’t actually a seat available there. She stopped, turned back, clearly hoping the younger woman would notice and offer her own seat.
• But no. The woman simply opened her Kindle and began to read, as if nothing had happened.
• I must have looked visibly shocked, because another man nearby caught my eye and smiled slightly — not in a rude way, but in a way that said, “Yes, this is London. Welcome.”
• Fortunately, another man who had witnessed the scene stood up and offered his seat to the elderly woman — which, if you ask me, was the right thing to do. Meanwhile, the woman with the Kindle carried on, completely indifferent.
• Why am I sharing this story? Because it’s a perfect example of what it means not to be a global citizen.
• Being a global citizen is not about fancy labels or big declarations. It’s about our everyday choices. It’s about recognizing the dignity of others and acting in ways that show respect, care, and solidarity.
• In this situation, global citizenship would have looked like a simple act: noticing someone in greater need and giving up your seat. A small gesture, but one that carries a big message — “I see you, I value you, your wellbeing matters.”
• Global citizenship is not only about knowing different cultures, or traveling the world, or studying global issues. It’s about how we treat each other in ordinary moments. It’s about humility, empathy, and responsibility.
• And here’s the important thing: it doesn’t have to be dramatic. Being a global citizen often comes down to small actions — the ones that make the world a little better, step by step. Offering a seat. Listening with curiosity instead of judgment. Speaking up when someone is silenced. Sharing space, resources, or opportunities.
• These are everyday acts. But they add up.
• And when we choose not to act — when we stay silent, look away, or convince ourselves it’s “not our problem” — we also make a choice. We reinforce the idea that convenience is more important than compassion. That comfort matters more than justice. Global citizenship asks us to resist that pull. It challenges us to see that every moment is an opportunity to either contribute to a culture of care, or to a culture of indifference.
• So maybe the work begins right where we are — on the train, in the office, at the supermarket, in our daily encounters. Being a global citizen doesn’t require grand gestures; it requires small, steady commitments to live as if the wellbeing of others is tied to our own. Because it is. And if more of us practiced this, even in the simplest ways, step by step we’d find ourselves in a world that feels not only more connected, but also more humane.
• Thank you for joining me for this reflection. And thank you for listening, for sharing this podcast, and for those of you who take the time to write to me about how these episodes connect with your own experiences — I truly appreciate it.
• As you move through your week, I encourage you to notice the small opportunities to practice empathy and care. They may seem minor in the moment, but they shape the kind of world we are building together.
• Until next time, take good care — and keep choosing actions that make our shared world a little more humane.