Because tonight and tomorrow are going to be full of, "Oh, we forgot to make sure we did THIS while in London!" kind of moments, I'm going to say a few words commemorating the end of my study abroad program (which is official on Saturday morning).
To be cliche, it has been a dream come true. I have completely fallen in love with this city. I love everything about it. The pubs, the Indian food, the fish and chips, the public transportation, the parks, the shopping, the architecture, the history, the literature, the professors, the people, the cafes (shout out to Caffe Nero, they sponsored by caffeine addiction while staying here), even the cars driving on the left side of the street. I don't know how I'm going to fall asleep without the sounds of King's Road floating through my window at night.
Technically I'll be back to London in a week and a half to visit with my parents, but this Saturday marks the end of my living here, as a student. And the last time I'm going to see some of the people in my program for a long time!
The only thing I'm not going to miss: how astronomically EXPENSIVE everything is. Seriously. Even McDonald's is pushing it with their prices. London is a cruel lover who stole my heart and then my wallet.
So just to outline it for everyone at home, here are the places I will be visiting in the 16 days after the program and before my return to the States:
Canterbury (to see the Cathedral and St. Augustine's Abbey)
Oxford (duh)
York (to see the York Minster)
Edinburgh & Glasgow (where I will meet up with my friend Greer and her family for a few days and take a tour of the Highlands)
Windermere (to tour the lake district)
Haworth (to see the Bronte Parsonage)
Liverpool (where I will meet my parents and do some Beatles tours)
Dublin ('nuff said)
Back to London for a few days to show my parents around (and take a day trip to Winchester Cathedral so I can visit Jane Austen's final resting place)
The next two weeks will be packed, but I'm very excited to see more of the United Kingdom and do a little independent traveling! I always learn so much about myself when I do things on my own, so I don't feel very nervous about the times that I'll be alone. I've got a few Jane Austen books to keep me company, too. :)
I'll get back to you on how the famous Afternoon Tea experience goes tomorrow! Until then...stay classy, friends.
Oh, I forgot to mention, today was also a LOVELY day, 72 and sunny, so we went on a picnic in Hyde Park. Such a wonderful way to relax at the end of these hectic 7 weeks, and with such great people from our program!
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