23.04.2018 -
Well I'm officially gone from London. I caught an afternoon flight a good couple of hours ago, and I'm currently waiting for my connection to take off in Iceland. (Kate had her baby while I was waiting on the tarmac! So technically while I was still there…)
I can confidently say I made the most of my last few days.
Yesterday (Sunday, though it seems like so much longer ago than that...) started out very hectic and tiring. At least I got to wake up at a sane time, and use up some of my food in a big breakfast (which is more than some of my flatmates were able to do with their early starting time). I helped the few people left clean up a bit (it was kind of left in a mess).
Eventually, though, I started schlepping my stuff to the hotel where I was staying for the night. I actually got really lucky - I had originally, accidentally, booked the room for next weekend!! Thankfully they had one room left for last night free and I was able to cancel and re-book. It took a good hour total, and a lot of lifting, but I was finally able to get my bags there (the room was tiny. Everything just fit).
I grabbed my day bag and dropped my keys off in the return box on my final visit to the flat. For my final day, I headed over Regents Park - a gorgeous area I'd wanted to explore for a while. It was picturesque, and enormous. Tons of couples and families out enjoying the day, and almost all of the flowers and trees were in springtime bloom. Reminded me a good bit of Seurat's “A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte”. On my way down I picked up a bunch of postcards for friends back home and filled them out while sitting in the grass - was so nice to relax after that crazy morning. I'll be mailing them when I get back to the States.
I also (finally) got to rent a bike! I rode around through the park for a bit, and explored a little on foot before sitting by the water and people watching. Something I’m going to miss the most about London is how multicultural it is. While we’re slowly progressing in America, it’s still something you notice (and maybe think is nice, like me) when you see families and couples of multiple cultural backgrounds. In London, though, with so many nationalities, it's just the norm. And I love it.
Afterwards I went to Camden Market for some final shopping :-). I got some presents for family, and some cute little things for myself.
I had enough time to organize my baggage (now there's a statement) back at the hotel and rest for a little before meeting up with a friend for dinner and drinks. Late that night Olivia and Liv came over for a few hours before their early, early flight. Was fun to spend my last few hours in London with them.
This morning I was able to get up and out with plenty of time (I was anxious to get going and make my flight). The cab I had scheduled ahead of time got me to the airport in great time. I remember when I was coming into London from Gatwick, how tired and a little carsick I was. How difficult it was to stay awake, even though I wanted to take in the new scenery and everything. Now it felt so natural, and just a normal occurrence. Will be odd switching back to the other side of the road, looking the opposite way first when I cross the street.
Bag checks and security were fine, and I even had time to shop for some gifts in duty free. I flew to Ireland and I'm now waiting to take off. Gonna be a long six hour flight.
It’s crazy to think I'm headed home... it felt so simple going, and the same for returning. Much more natural then I would have thought it could be. There was never one big ‘eureka’ moment where it suddenly dawned that I had made it. Just one small step after another. I'm so glad I was able to do as much as I did, and even more so that there's more to look forward to.
I wonder if I'll have culture shock? I definitely still " stand on the right, walk on the left." I’ll really miss the red buses and how easy it is (with public transport) to get places! London really sprawls - you have Central London (Westminster & City of London) but then all the boroughs too!
It will be weird to readjust quiet suburbia (I wonder where I'll end up for the summer? I have a few cities I've been looking for internships in). I definitely want to explore Philly more during my senior year at Temple - it was so much fun seeing different parts of London, England, the UK, and Europe - I want to do the same with Pennsylvania and America, too! Another something to look forward to.
It’s been an amazing few months. It really makes me feel I have the ability and can-do to go on adventures like this one. I’m sure this is only the beginning.
Looking forward to reading back on my memories.
Cheers, London. Thank you so much.
Best,
-Ruth xoxo
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