last post

Home

Coming home was a sad and happy ending. I didn’t want to leave London because it was such a great city and I wish I could have stayed longer. However, I was ready for my own bed and to come back to America where the proportions for food are large and the water is free. I never thought to be grateful for large proportions and free water but now I think I am even more grateful than I was before.

The ride home was harder than the ride there for some reason. It might have been because it was a longer flight home but I still am not 100% sure. The short flight home was actually really nice compared to the short ride there. Everything was smooth and really nice.

Another thing that I was really grateful for was coming home and being able to go right to bed. I was exhausted and couldn’t imagine getting a night flight home and then having to go to school the next day. I was extremely jet-legged… like extremely. I was finally not jet-legged when I went to class on Friday. I was struggling and having a hard time adjusting. I completely forgot to check my email and I had 77 emails when I got home. That was extremely overwhelming haha! I am super glad to be home and happy that I am no longer jet-legged!

So long, Farewell.

After arriving home from London the way I felt can be simply put in one word: Tired. The flight home all though not terrible since I slept most of the time was a lot to bare after such a packed trip.

A week later after returning and being able to reflect upon my experiences in the great UK, I have realized much about myself and my likes/dislikes. I thought London was a lovely place, also very easy to maneuver, but I kept feeling like I was just in any other city. I felt like the mixture between the old and the new architecture is what ruined the feel of London for me. I enjoyed my time much more when I was away from the hustle and bustle of the city. From Stourhead, Greenwich, Salisbury and the country side I felt like I was truly having an abroad experience when I was in those locations.

What I did love about the trip was any and all free time that we had. I think I learn better and experience more when I am allowed to explore on my own without constraints of other’s time. There were many times I saw something that was intriguing to me, but it was bypassed due to the demand of the group. I also thoroughly enjoyed meeting people on my trip. I did meet a handful of wonderful people that were open to new experiences and friendships and I am so thankful for them.

Overall I would love to return to London one day but with my family or close friends instead. I would have preferred to stay in a more quiet part of town that felt more like the quaint London I had envisioned. I would love to take my family to all the places that made my time abroad wonderful and leave out the pieces that did not. I also would suggest to anyone traveling there to spend more time country side.

London did not capture my heart the way I thought it would, but I got bit by the travel bug again and am already saving for my next experience.

-Adriane