Before I left for London, I was filled with conflicting emotions—I was both excited and anxious. I made a mental list of all the good and bad things that could happen. Tears welled up in my eyes when I hugged my mother and sister goodbye. “Have fun!” my mother said encouragingly and I tried to hold onto her words.
I remember when I was younger, I was obsessed with Bratz, the Cheetah Girls and Lizzie McGuire. In their respective movies, the Bratz went to London, the Cheetah Girls went to Spain and Lizzie went to Italy. They all had the most amazing adventures while in different countries and now I was in their shoes. As I sat on the plane I finally felt calm and happy. I felt like London was where I was supposed to be.
I have been in London for three weeks now, and I am trying my best to enjoy all that London has to offer. On a typical day, I look up to grey skies and grand buildings, some of which look like castles. When I am walking around London I feel like I have walked into a magical story book, or like I am living in a dream. The architecture is so exquisite I sometimes just gaze at the buildings in awe, feeling as though I have been transported back in time. I can practically inhale the history.
When I first arrived, it was right after the holidays. The streets were festive, brimming with holiday cheer. There were lights everywhere, welcoming me to this new experience. If you could’ve seen the city from a bird’s eye view, it would’ve looked as if someone sprinkled glitter on top of it, it was so beautiful.
While there are many things to love about London, there are times when I miss home and I feel isolated and scared. I was talking to one of my flatmates the other day and she said, “I just miss my mom.” It was such a vulnerable, honest comment, and it really resonated with me. Being abroad almost feels like freshman year of college all over again. I have to make new friends, navigate a different educational system, and adjust to being very far away from my family.
In my mind I have a scale that weighs the positive and the challenging aspects of being in London. I am happy to say that while I have been here, the scale has felt pretty balanced. I have visited the London Eye, the Buckingham Palace, and watched the play Matilda. I have also been on three walking tours: Harry Potter, Westminster Abbey and Street Art. I have gotten to know London on a deeper level because of these experiences and with time, I feel like the scale is tipping more toward the positive side.
London both amazes me and challenges me. Overall, I can feel myself growing into a more independent and self-reliant person while I am here. Even though I am experiencing some growing pains, I am also experiencing growing joys and for that I am grateful.
