Coming to a close
While it is incredibly hard for me to believe, this semester abroad is almost coming to a close. In the beginning, I found myself thinking I had an abundance of time to wander about and become acquainted with London and Europe in general. Nearly four months later, I find myself struggling to fit everything in. I haven't gone to nearly as many shows as I once hoped I would. There are still several presentations at the theatre which I would like to go see. I am going to miss some of the food over here (I swear it's not all bad!), and I am going to miss Sainsbury's, my favourite local grocery store. While squeezing six girls in to a two-bedroom flat may not seem like something one would miss, I think I actually will. Of course I'm longing to have my own room, my own space once again, but I will miss the our Sunday dinners and late night conversations.
Most of the things I have experienced and the things I have seen have not quite sunk in yet. I know a year from now, I will look back on all I did here and be amazed. I've been more places than most everyone I know, and seen things I never thought I would see---Stonehenge, the beautiful Greek Islands, the Eiffel Tower, Edinburgh Castle, the Guinness Storehouse. Already I've been able to begin to look at cultural references in a new light---while watching Harry Potter the other day, I noticed so much more about the story because I understood more of the cultural references. I watched a commercial the other day for Guinness and saw the St. James' gate for the storehouse and knew exactly how to get there. I've met people from all around the world, and now have friends as far away as New Zealand and Australia.
While my world has expanded, it has also brought my focus back closer to home. While here in London, my sister moved her wedding up to the first weekend of December. I made sure I got there, even through the first big snow storm of the year. While I have always said my plans were to move away from home, one of my worries haunted my decision: what if something happened back home? My family means the world to me, as do my friends. If I were to miss some monumental event---a marriage, a birth, a death, anything---I think I would be racked with guilt. However, this little trial in a way gave me permission to move away. It reassured me that, even though I was thousands of miles away, I was still able to be there for my sister. As the song goes: "Ain't no mountain high enough." With enough determination and a bit of flexibility and creative thinking, anything is possible.
So...that's about it. I have a total of fourteen days left here in London. After this coming Friday, I no longer work in London. I plan to take advantage of the things I will miss the most---the views from Parliament Hill at night, the Diana fountain in Hyde Park, the pub 2 meals for 6 pounds deals, the plethora of theatre opportunities, times with the flatmates, among other things. While some times have been hard here, I know that for the rest of my life, I will look back on my time here in London with certain fondness, and a desire to one day return.
Until next time, London...
"... when a man is tired of London, he is tired of life;
for there is in London all that life can afford"
...Dr. Samuel Johnson (1709 - 1784)
-Erin Boeck
Most of the things I have experienced and the things I have seen have not quite sunk in yet. I know a year from now, I will look back on all I did here and be amazed. I've been more places than most everyone I know, and seen things I never thought I would see---Stonehenge, the beautiful Greek Islands, the Eiffel Tower, Edinburgh Castle, the Guinness Storehouse. Already I've been able to begin to look at cultural references in a new light---while watching Harry Potter the other day, I noticed so much more about the story because I understood more of the cultural references. I watched a commercial the other day for Guinness and saw the St. James' gate for the storehouse and knew exactly how to get there. I've met people from all around the world, and now have friends as far away as New Zealand and Australia.
While my world has expanded, it has also brought my focus back closer to home. While here in London, my sister moved her wedding up to the first weekend of December. I made sure I got there, even through the first big snow storm of the year. While I have always said my plans were to move away from home, one of my worries haunted my decision: what if something happened back home? My family means the world to me, as do my friends. If I were to miss some monumental event---a marriage, a birth, a death, anything---I think I would be racked with guilt. However, this little trial in a way gave me permission to move away. It reassured me that, even though I was thousands of miles away, I was still able to be there for my sister. As the song goes: "Ain't no mountain high enough." With enough determination and a bit of flexibility and creative thinking, anything is possible.
So...that's about it. I have a total of fourteen days left here in London. After this coming Friday, I no longer work in London. I plan to take advantage of the things I will miss the most---the views from Parliament Hill at night, the Diana fountain in Hyde Park, the pub 2 meals for 6 pounds deals, the plethora of theatre opportunities, times with the flatmates, among other things. While some times have been hard here, I know that for the rest of my life, I will look back on my time here in London with certain fondness, and a desire to one day return.
Until next time, London...
"... when a man is tired of London, he is tired of life;
for there is in London all that life can afford"
...Dr. Samuel Johnson (1709 - 1784)
-Erin Boeck
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