Because I haven't been updating this as regularly as I should've, this post is going to revolve around my favorite memories from the time that I've spent abroad. How crazy is it that I'm sitting in the airport on my way home writing this? It seems like yesterday that I was sitting in Applebee's with MaKenna and our moms, saying that this semester would fly by and we'd be back home before we knew it. Well I guess they were right.
My list of memories begins with my wonderful roommate. Madi has been such a great girl to room with this semester. I'm sad we won't be together next semester, but the time we have spent together has been so memorable and fun and I'm really really grateful for that. I think that roommates share a special bond from living together, because more than once Madi and I would finish each others sentences, crack up at jokes that only the two of us understood and give each other advice about our various problems. She helped me through my rough patch at the beginning of the semester, as did the rest of the people in this program.
This picture reminds me of that more than anything. Right before this, I had just broken down in a pool of tears. We were going to go out on the town, but I was feeling kind of down and decided not to go. I went to my flat and started crying and everyone came in and was so supportive and helpful- mind you, I'd known them for about four days at this point. It was funny because after they'd finally convinced me to go out they all kind of joined together to help me get ready. I just sat on my bed while someone prepped my face and my hair and picked out my jewelry and my outfit and it turned out to be one of my favorite memories here! We had a great time that night and I can not thank those ladies enough for helping me.
My next collection of memories is going to be drawn from my time running around London. Running was such a great way for me to get out of my head and go spend some time by myself. I haven't been running a *ton* but I've still been exercising when I can, which has brought My London Mile Count to over 100 miles! Granted this was achieved through various forms of activity including running on the treadmill, hiking and rowing at the gym. But I'm pretty proud of that number.
These pictures were taken at the top of Primrose Hill near Regents Park where I ran a lot. There aren't a lot of places in London where you can get a view like this that isn't at the top of a building. I loved to come here and look out across the city. By the end of the semester, we could all identify all of the iconic buildings in the city. The views like this really made me appreciate where I was and how incredible this city really is.
This is my last morning in London when Freya and I went to Primrose Hill for sunrise.
Of course I cannot let my time in France go unmentioned. This was perhaps my favorite thing that I did abroad and I would go back there in a HEARTBEAT! It was so beautiful and I made such an incredible friend that I will never forget :) Nicole and I created some wonderful memories together that these pictures do not come close to capturing. Hiking in two different countries and one incredible mountain range is definitely an exceptional time in my life!
My parents visited at the beginning of November and it was so much fun to have them there to see me! It was really great acting as the tour guide and being able to show them around!
The first day they arrived we went to the Borough Market and trolled around and bought a lot of goodies. This particular market has really authentic good food from all around London. It was just nice to be with them and be able to tell them about everything that was happening. I really appreciated their advice with all of my problems. They're both such level headed people and seem to ALWAYS know what to do. If I could be half of the person that either of them are then I'd be happy. I would never have made it through this semester without either of them. They made me so much more confident in myself and have instilled excellent values in me my entire life. So I really need to give a huge shout out to them for being incredible people after whom I can model myself. I love you guys :)
Coming home is bittersweet. As I looked around my empty room this morning, I was sad to be leaving a place that I had grown to love so much, but also happy to be going home to a place that I love even more to see the people that I love. I don't know if I'm a different person than I used to be, but I definitely feel more confident in who I am. London helped me discover what is important in my life. Meeting these people and having these incredible experiences with them was a great way to spend my first semester of college and I do not regret anything. I don't know when I'll have the opportunity to live in a city like London again, if ever. If this was my one chance, I think I used it pretty well :) So here's to Madi, Quin, Freya, Annie, Molli, Emily and Kaden. Here's to Bedford Place and Gower Street. Here's to Big Ben and the London Eye. Here's to London.
My list of memories begins with my wonderful roommate. Madi has been such a great girl to room with this semester. I'm sad we won't be together next semester, but the time we have spent together has been so memorable and fun and I'm really really grateful for that. I think that roommates share a special bond from living together, because more than once Madi and I would finish each others sentences, crack up at jokes that only the two of us understood and give each other advice about our various problems. She helped me through my rough patch at the beginning of the semester, as did the rest of the people in this program.
My next collection of memories is going to be drawn from my time running around London. Running was such a great way for me to get out of my head and go spend some time by myself. I haven't been running a *ton* but I've still been exercising when I can, which has brought My London Mile Count to over 100 miles! Granted this was achieved through various forms of activity including running on the treadmill, hiking and rowing at the gym. But I'm pretty proud of that number.
These pictures were taken at the top of Primrose Hill near Regents Park where I ran a lot. There aren't a lot of places in London where you can get a view like this that isn't at the top of a building. I loved to come here and look out across the city. By the end of the semester, we could all identify all of the iconic buildings in the city. The views like this really made me appreciate where I was and how incredible this city really is.
Of course I cannot let my time in France go unmentioned. This was perhaps my favorite thing that I did abroad and I would go back there in a HEARTBEAT! It was so beautiful and I made such an incredible friend that I will never forget :) Nicole and I created some wonderful memories together that these pictures do not come close to capturing. Hiking in two different countries and one incredible mountain range is definitely an exceptional time in my life!
My parents visited at the beginning of November and it was so much fun to have them there to see me! It was really great acting as the tour guide and being able to show them around!
Coming home is bittersweet. As I looked around my empty room this morning, I was sad to be leaving a place that I had grown to love so much, but also happy to be going home to a place that I love even more to see the people that I love. I don't know if I'm a different person than I used to be, but I definitely feel more confident in who I am. London helped me discover what is important in my life. Meeting these people and having these incredible experiences with them was a great way to spend my first semester of college and I do not regret anything. I don't know when I'll have the opportunity to live in a city like London again, if ever. If this was my one chance, I think I used it pretty well :) So here's to Madi, Quin, Freya, Annie, Molli, Emily and Kaden. Here's to Bedford Place and Gower Street. Here's to Big Ben and the London Eye. Here's to London.
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