Well I have officially left London. I’m writing this post from a terminal in the Toronto airport where I already am missing my home in Islington. It just doesn’t feel right to not be the person with an accent.
My last few weeks in London were incredible and bittersweet. It started to hit me that I’d be leaving this beautiful city after my school orchestra concert. My friend Cailey and I were wandering the streets at night finding our way back to our flat and then to one of our favorite pubs, cello in tow and in concert dress, when we made the realisation that this is what we’d miss.We had both resolved to come back and visit the UK in the future but it was the act of living in London and being a Londoner that will be hard to come by again. When you live here and aren’t rushed to see all the sites, you get to see the heart of the city. The random city streets, local pubs and restaurants, knowing the tube and local bus routes like that back of your hand, and looking the right way when crossing the streets. This is what you don’t get when you go on holiday.
I’m really glad I started coming to grips with things a few weeks before I left. That way, I began accepting the change I was about to go through and said my goodbyes to the incredible city. The ‘lasts’ began to build up: last late night train ride, last late night library session, last time atop a double decker with my cello, last time grocery shopping, last afternoon tea, last pub. It’s all a bit overwhelming to think about now.
Studying abroad has been a truly incredible experience for me. When you go to DU, study abroad is something most people always just assume they’ll do but it’s so surreal for it to be over now. I remember the night I chose the City University programme: I had been channeling all of my efforts into setting up a program in South America and when it became apparent that that would not be feasible, I was a bit down. I put off making a decision about another programme until the last minute. I had only just decided on London when I had to narrow it down between two programmes, one whose application was due that night and one whose application was due in a few weeks. I called my good friend Calvin, and he came over to help me talk through my decision (big thanks to Calvin for that, by the way). I finally settled on City U and stayed up all night writing essays for my app. I spent the next day running around, getting signatures and handing in forms halfheartedly. Looking back, I am so thankful to sophomore Gill for going through that. Sometimes I look at blogs of my friends and fellow classmates who studied in amazing places and think of how different my experience would have been if I had chosen a programme in Africa or Italy. I know they would have been amazing and challenging in their own ways, but I am completely happy and fulfilled with my choice of City. This has been a perfect 3 months in all its excitement, opportunities, challenges, and imperfections.
I spent my last week in London soaking it all in. Ice skating at the Tower of London, meandering through The Stables at Camden Market, eating all my favorite foods, getting a few last pints of my favorite beers, and just strolling around the beautiful streets of Islington. One of the experiences in this past week that really hit me was when I finally rode the London Eye. It’s something I had wanted to do ever since I came to London but I’m glad I saved it until the end. Andie and I went at night and saw London all lit up and sprawling in every direction as far as the eye can see. I felt really connected to London in that moment. I was able to see all the sites I’d seen and say one last goodbye to London.
I am going to miss hearing all the different languages every day and seeing all the amazing coats and shoes on people as they rush by. I’ll miss double deckers driving on the left-hand side and the tube recording saying ‘mind the gap’ every 5 seconds. I’ll miss clotted cream and pubs. But not together. And I’ll miss seeing Georgian houses lining the streets. But, after taking some advice from the Beatles, instead of saying goodbye, I’ll say hello. Hello to memories which will always hold a place in my heart and hello to the UK again sometime soon.
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