Ever since high school, I’ve been obsessed with
New York and living there. I’ve always longed for the city and the excitement
that it brought. Every time year I visited, I grew more obsessed. The fashion,
the diversity, the bright lights, the loudness, and the busy-ness of New York
all fascinated me. Most of my small town friends were horrified by the
dirtiness of the subway and intimidated by all the people, and the largeness of
it all, but I was mesmerized. I was over excited to ride the subway like a New
Yorker and walk around Manhattan from morning to midnight. Being in a large
city and knowing there was the possibility of being anyone and doing anything
was the best feeling in the world. It was the city of dreams to me, the city
that never sleeps, and all I wanted in life was to graduate, and move there as
soon as possible.
Growing up, my family and I traveled
a lot. Since before the age of five, my parents took my brothers and I to
Chile, New York, Miami, circuses, theatre plays, and the list goes on.
Naturally, like any travel lover, my goal was to backpack through Europe at
some point in my life. I’d gone to Europe my senior year of high school and had
been obsessed with the idea of returning to Europe ever since. I’d always
wanted to study abroad, but never imagined I would actually have the
opportunity to do it. I also figured that living in London would prepare me for
living in New York because though I fantasized about the city constantly, I’d
never actually lived in it.
I came to London knowing I would
have an amazing experience, but never knowing how deeply in love I’d fall with
the city. I came to London not really knowing what to expect, but determined to
learn and master it all. I decided before I even came to London that I would
arrive with an open mind, eager to learn, to adapt quickly, to try new things,
and to not feel nervous when I stepped outside of my comfort zone because
stepping outside of your comfort zone is how you grow as a person.
In North Carolina, in order to get anywhere interesting
you have to drive for at least 20 or 30 minutes. I loved that being in the
center of the city, everything was close by and I could walk everywhere. Walking
everywhere provided fresh air, lovely sights of the city, and good exercise. I
was in love with London from the moment I got here. I thought nothing could
ever compare to the love I felt for New York, but London proved me wrong. In
class it seemed that most of the students needed time to adjust from a small
town to a city, but I felt that I was exactly where I was supposed to be and I
just wanted to roll with the flow of the way things worked here. I’d already
come with the mind-set that I would adapt quickly and that’s what I did. I’d
grown with a heart that had always craved the city.
My favorite part was learning to navigate
London all by myself. A year ago, I would have never imagined navigating a city
by myself. I’ve definitely grown as a person and in my independence since
coming here. London has taught me appreciation for other cultures, to have an
open mind, and to always mind the gap. Discovering new places, shopping, and
simply wandering around by myself made me feel incredibly independent. It gave
me time to enjoy my own company, my thoughts, and made me feel accomplished
that I was surviving this city with no one’s help but my own. It made me feel
free. I learned a lot about London’s history, religions, different cultures, to
stand on the right while on the escalator on the tube (haha), and a great deal
more. I enjoyed my classes and they opened my eyes to seeing things in a
different perspective.
I read a quote the other day that said “a mind that is
stretched by a new experience can never go back to its old dimensions,” and it
applies perfectly to this amazing semester. I’ve made some pretty great friends
and had crazy adventures with them. I’ve had good experiences and I’ve had bad
experiences, and the bad times are just funny stories to tell everyone back
home, like having to spend the night in a train station for example, ha ha. I
got to stand on the edge of the Cliff of Moher in Ireland, visit the Moulin Rouge in Paris, and take a canal ride through the river in Amsterdam.
I got to see more than just the city when our program went to Bath and Lacock
Abbey and visited the historical Stonehenge. Through our assignments, I got to
see different parts of London, museums, and visit places that ended up becoming
regular hang out areas with my friends, such as Camden Market. I’ve come to
love this city that I now think of as my home away from home. I know once the
excitement dies down of seeing my loved ones, I will once again grow restless
with small North Carolina and miss London. I’m already missing it and I haven’t
even left yet. I’m so blessed I got the opportunity to live here for this
semester and it’s one I will never forget. Although New York has always been my
obsession, I’ve grown a new obsession for London, and I’m hoping I can come
back to London in the future, possibly even live here again. It has been a
wonderful experience and one I will never forget.
