Leaving London

I wrote this on the plane ride back...

Today I left a city that I have come to call my home these last three months.  I am very sad to be leaving so soon.  I didn’t get to bed until late last night, between saying goodbye to friends, packing, and making sure I had everything ready.  I think I slept maybe 3-4 hours total, but I didn’t expect to sleep much anyway.  I managed to get up and get all my stuff down two flights of stairs by myself, and was very thankful that my cab was able to come to the front door of my building.  I left St. Mary’s in the dark and we headed to the airport.  London decided to give me a proper send off weather: drizzling rain.  I arrived at the airport with plenty of time to spare.  I had some breakfast at Pret A Manger (I’m really going to miss that place!) before heading through security.  Then I had to sit in the terminal for an hour waiting for my gate to be posted.  I grabbed some Starbucks and looked around at some of the shops, trying to find something to spend my last few pounds on.  But all I could afford were postcards!  I boarded the plane and was all ready to leave when the captain came on and announced that they were having some problems with the engine. So we had to pull back in to the gate to get it checked out.  So we were delayed in landing by over an hour, and we just had to sit on the plane and wait (as if I won’t be on here long enough!).  But I am glad that I don’t have to catch a connecting flight when I get to Chicago.

On my last few days, I took trips to some of my favorite places.  Tuesday after my exam, I went in to Twickenham to have coffee at the new coffee shop Harris and Hoole.  It was quite charming.  Then I took a stroll over to Eel Pie Island to try and find the trampoline (I didn’t find it, but I did get some great pictures!).  On Wednesday, I did most of my packing and then went to Richmond to have tea at the Tea Box.  Then on Thursday, a few of my friends joined me and we went to Primark in Kingston and went in to central London for a bit, to see Big Ben and the London Eye one last time.  I spent the rest of the night hanging out with my friends and saying goodbye.

This semester has been one of the best of my life.  I have learned so much about myself and about the world.  I met some many great people here and made so many new friends.  London is such an incredible city.  I can barely comprehend how much history it contains, and there are endless things to do.  I love the feel of the city.  Even though it is massive, it still has a small town feel.

I can’t even put in to words what I’m feeling right now.  I feel like I’m caught between worlds.  Part of me is happy to go home, but I am also really upset about leaving.  Going back home is going to be so weird now.