LONDON — At first glance, London wasn’t different from most cities at all. When I stepped onto British soil and heard crisp voices saying “This way, love,” I wondered, “Why am I here?” After all, London is metropolitan, but so are Singapore and New York. London is modern, hip and a capital of the fashion world; then again, so are Paris, Sydney and a myriad other major cities. As I wandered the streets, I wondered why I didn’t choose Florence, Paris or Shanghai to study abroad during my freshman year.

I initially thought it was because of the allure of English history. London is an old city, steeped in its illustrious past and many myths and legends. What else is similar to the Tower of London where Anne Boleyn spent her last days? Can you find a place akin to the Mayflower Pub, where pieces of the actual Mayflower ship are now embedded in the building itself?  London has all of these things and more.

But then I began to listen to the people who make up this city. With over 300 languages spoken in London every day,  it became common to hear French, Spanish, Japanese or Chinese when I walked down the road — London’s identity began to surface.

Now, as I discover more about this city, I find it goes deeper than language and accents. There are people here who have come a long ways to stay and build their homes. There are even those who come bearing the stories of their oppressed ancestors, well aware of the many sacrifices suffered for their privilege to stay here. They come armed with the knowledge that they must find their own identity among their fellow British, French and Chinese Londoners. They are constantly asking themselves, “Who am I?” This has never been an easy question to answer, and to have to find an identity in one’s own history while integrating into this new, unfamiliar culture is incredibly difficult. But it is a question all Londoners must answer — a question I too must answer — and our answers will ultimately help determine London’s identity.

To me, this is why London is a unique city. It is ever-changing and fluid like the tide of the ocean. It truly is a city unlike any other. It is old and new; traditional and modern. It is a city caught between the times — a city proud of its history and eager for the future.

As I continue to explore this city, London’s complex answer to the question “Who am I?” will begin to emerge.

A version of this article appeared in the Wednesday Sept. 26 print edition. Samantha Chong is a foreign correspondent. Email her at [email protected].