I've been back home in New York for a week now and have been meaning to update this thing for quite a while. My last few weeks in London were stressful, to say the least (my last exam sucked, my computer crashed, packing was a rather intense undertaking, and a most inopportune toothache taught me that NHS is not all it's cracked up to be), but overall it was quite fun. After I finished my last exam (yay!) I spent some time enjoying London!
My computer died just before I headed home and took all my pictures with it, so I can't post evidence from my final adventures (but they are on facebook!). I checked off quite a few things on my bucket lit, including seeing one of my favorite shows again (and having the cast sign my program!), visiting Canterbury with a friend, shopping, having a picnic in Hyde Park with friends, visiting a few museums, horse riding in Hyde Park (on the Queen's Birthday, so we got to see them preparing for the gun salute, which I thought was cool, but kind of freaked my horse out), and checking out Kensington Palace (which I HIGHLY recommend, BTW). And I packed. And packed. And threw stuff out/donated stuff. And packed. (I accumulated a ton of stuff in ten months!). In case you were wondering, getting ten months worth of stuff from London back to New York is very, very expensive. It was not fun.
Being back home has been really nice. I missed my family so much, and it's great to be back with them. Seeing my New York friends was also fantastic (and seeing C&O's new baby was AMAZING!!). It has also been quite lovely to be in an air conditioned house, in my big comfy bed, have a dishwasher, and a garbage disposal. And having my car back has been absolutely wonderful!!!! I went to the grocery store and could buy whatever I wanted without having to worry about getting it home. It was heavenly.
Adjusting has proved challenging. I keep referring to things in the British terms and thinking in a European mindset (every time I walk into a store and see something is listed as being on the first floor I think that means I have to go upstairs, and when I always imagine prices to be too expensive, because I am so used to the pound).
My parents asked me if, knowing what I know now, I would go back, and I honestly don't know. My year abroad was certainly one of the most difficult experiences of my life, but also one of the best. I learned and grew so much, and gained confidence. I learned to stand up for myself, and to take care of myself. I made some truly wonderful friends (who I miss terribly) and got to see things and places I had only dreamed of visiting. So, in spite of how incredibly trying this year was for me, I am not sorry I went and I am so grateful for the experience. But, that doesn't mean I'm rushing off to do it all over again.
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