Introductory Speech

Homesick. For London

So I've been home for...two days now? The time change is throwing me off. First things first: my flight from Minnesota to Washington. Probably the least enjoyable 3 hours of my life. I was sandwiched between two larger than normal men who took up more room than a single seat allows. I had my backpack stuffed to capacity under the seat in front of me so my feet were left with nowhere to go. Since I was in the middle seat I had nowhere to lean on and drift off to sleep, so I put down my tray table to use as a pillow...not a good idea. The guy in front of me decided to recline and crush my head. Won't try that again...I was so exhausted from traveling, it had been about 24 hours since I had woken up in London so I was disappointed in the lack of sleep I got on that flight. Nevertheless, it wasn't the worst thing in the world and I'm not complaining! It was mostly entertaining (hindsight that is).

I have the best family in the world. Coming up the escalator I saw my family waiting, and when I got up to them was greeted with flowers and an awesome poster (of course Madison made me a poster; she always has something like that ready for me). It was a good welcome home. The lighting isn't the best in the picture...but it says "Congrats on making it back from London"... Thank you Madison.

Walking into my room was a strange feeling...the thought of sleeping alone in my own space was so strange after being in one room with 8 girls for the past four months. It was quiet...too quiet. I opened my closet and it felt like Christmas morning. I had all new clothes! Don't think I'll ever have to go shopping again. Which is good because I spent all my money in Europe.

Initially I was so happy and relieved to be home. I still am, don't get me wrong, but I'm homesick for London already! It's just hitting me that I can't walk down the street to Portobello Road or take the tube to the National Gallery or go see Big Ben whenever I have free time.

I miss it so much already, and everything reminds me of London. It holds such a special place in my heart, that place does. I can't wait to take my family there and show them all everything. I LOVE LONDON! I'll see you soon, my second home.

Oh Canada!

For some reason when I thought about how excited I was to be back in America the Canadian national anthem popped into my head. Don't ask...I don't even know.

Like I was saying...I'm back in the states! It's the weirdest thing. Hearing all the American accents and seeing baseball playing on the televisions in the restaurants is throwing me off. Today has actually been really fun-I feel independent and empowered! But really. I took a cab from the London Centre to Paddington Station, from there got on the Heathrow Express and then transferred to another train to get to the terminal, then I checked in and found my gate. Eight hours and four movies later I'm sitting in Minneapolis, Minnesota! At the beginning of the semester I don't think I ever could have done that by myself. The hardest part was lugging around my three suitcases...what was I thinking?

So now I'm waiting at the gate...only three more hours until I take off an another plane-this time it'll land in Seattle! The land of my ancestors...but not really because I don't have any family that lives there. I am so excited.

My Last Days in London. For Now at Least.

So my family didn't come over (sad face) but I did spend the same amount of time in London I would have if the volcano wouldn't have erupted. I had a good last few days...they were low key and relaxed.

Monday morning we got a group together to play soccer in Hyde Park. We used wellies for sidelines and water bottles for goals-it was a pretty legitimate game. I'm sure we entertained a lot of people walking through the park. It was such a fun morning, playing in the park with my friends. Kira taught us how to do handstands and Anna carried me on her back.

I made one final trip to the V&A museum...I already can't wait to go back. I love this place, and the main entry hall has the most amazing chandelier. There is just so much to see here. Since this museum is just across the park from where we live I've been here a lot but haven't even seen all the rooms...I wish I had. I guess it gives me an excuse to come back. I wanted to go to the Grace Kelly exhibit, but tickets were sold out. Oh well!

At least the other half of the plaster courts was open, I got to walk around this time instead of looking in from above. The highlight of this room is definitely the cast of David...it's so incredible how lifelike it is especially for the time in which is was made. How did these people do it? I have no idea. Now the next thing I have to do is go to Rome so I can see the real thing. When will that happen? Next spring, because I will go to Europe with my family and I will be their tour guide around London (and some of Paris if I remember things).

Sarah and I went to see Billy Elliot. The dancing was amazing. I couldn't believe how talented the main kid was. I had been wanting to see this and didn't think I'd be able to before I left... obviously I wasn't right about that.

Tuesday I got my hair cut, went for a run and bought a book! (For One More Day by Mitch Albom... my new favorite author, I love his style! Oh yes.) So I took this book and went to Kensington Gardens and found a patch of grass. It was the perfect day-the sun was shining and there was a mother teaching her son how to play baseball (Or was it cricket...? I don't know) and bulldog walked up to me and plopped down... so cute. It just made me so happy to be outside. For a second I felt like I was sitting by Capitol Lake. I walked home past the palace and the orangie...and saw that the flowers were blooming! It's one of the prettiest sights I've ever seen.

That night I went shopping with Mary...and good thing because I needed a suitcase. I didn't know I'd be needing it so soon though. I was expecting my flight for Wednesday afternoon to be cancelled (because my friend Rachel was supposed to flight out then too on a different airline and hers had been cancelled already) but it turns out mine was still "on time" and UK airspace was opening late Tuesday night! I had been prepared (and expecting) to stay in London until Monday because that would be when I could get a flight next...but no, I was leaving in the morning. That was a shock to the system and suddenly I felt terribly homesick for London already. Knowing I had to leave made my insides twist and turn. Luckily I had bought the extra suitcase...I would be needing it for my trip home! I ordered most of my books from Amazon and had them delivered to the centre so that took up room I didn't have. I couldn't leave my books at the centre, I have to start adding to my library for my future house!

Last Sunday...or is it...?

That's a good question. It's just the weirdest thing not knowing when I'm leaving. I don't want to complain about being here because 1) It's London 2) I have a place to stay 3) Everyone is safe and 4) I'm healthy and can still run. At least until my shin splints settle in because I've been running too far too fast. Oops...I was anxious.

Well this is pretty much a pointless entry because I didn't do too much today. It was pretty low key. I walked through the park to church and took a nap and went to the gym to clear my head.

I just want to say...I'm thankful for everything I have and that I'm happy that I've gotten to spend the semester here. I'm so lucky and I've met some people who have influenced me in ways they will never know.

Oh London.

I don't know what to think of today. It is beautiful outside and feels like summer (which I guess it officially is since finals are over) but when I think about the fact that I was supposed to see my family today and take them to the market and Hyde Park and Nando's I just want to cry. We had a meeting this morning in the classroom and our directors told us that we could stay for a few days in the centre... so we aren't getting kicked out even though technically we're supposed to be gone. I have a flight rebooked for Wednesday afternoon so hopefully the skies will be clear enough to fly through. If my family can't be here, at this point I'm just ready to be home.

But I'm here in London without them and figure I should make the most of this time. So this morning I went for a run around Hyde Park and to the Serpentine...the long lake. Then I went to Camden because it's a cool little market. I had fish and chips for the first time. Figured I should do that before I leave England.

Oh, and this is for my mom: I tried a deep fried candy bar. We saw these on Food Network and wondered if they were actually good-they are. You have to get past the fact that it increases the likelihood of having a heart attack by about 25. But when you don't think about that it's pretty good.

We went to Trafalgar Square for the tulip festival (aka beer festival)...which ended up being less cool than I imagined. Just lots of people and stands and a stage with no band. But there were pole vaulters! That was cool. And random.

Me, Sarah and Margaret in our ugly Primark sunglasses. Sunglasses in London?! What?! The world really is ending.

I went skinny dipping in that fountain the other night. Oh wait...that was just a dream.

There's the National Gallery. And a rubbish collector on the right.

From there we walked to Parliament Square and took pictures in the red phone booths. Yes I'm really using the phone...?

Ope, there's Big Ben too. Hello there.

Then we strolled along through St. James's park...it was really pretty with all the flowers in bloom.

More of St. James. There's Buckingham in the distance

I've lived here for three and a half months yet this was the first time I've been over to Buckingham...hmm. Check.

These are the tulips in front of the Palace...we were just so happy to see them we decided to have a sit.

We decided to walk home from there, which was a lot further away than we thought. I think it was about 16 miles. Maybe a little less. My faithful Birkenstocks even started to hurt my feet. It was nice though because it was so sunny. It was really weird, all the parks were packed with people and it didn't feel the same going through them as it did for the rest of the semester. I guess not a lot of tourists like to go to parks when it's freezing outside like we do.

And finally, a picture in front of Kensington Palace. I walk or run past this every day yet I've never documented it using a picture taking device. Me and my friend Victoria!

So I tried to distract myself today from thinking about what I would be doing today if there wasn't a natural disaster blocking the airspace.Volcano in Iceland...stop erupting!

Oh, and yesterday we went to Borough Market. My favorite place in London pretty much. And I finally tried an ... Ostrich Burger!!!

This was the culmination of my Borough Market experience. This was the moment I had been waiting for. It was a good one. I'll miss this market, I love it so. But wait...Pike Place is only an hour away from my house. And there's a farmer's market downtown. I won't be completely deprived of a market. Thank goodness...that was a close one.

Good Friday. Not.

I hate volcanoes. I just want my family to be here so we can see Europe and so I can show them everything in London that I love. Something that makes me frustrated more than anything is when your plans change suddenly and everything you were looking forward to just...explodes. Iceland is officially my least favorite country.