As my two week countdown came and went, time has been on my mind more now than ever. I really can't believe that my time abroad has almost come to an end. I feel like I should still be a newbie here, but instead, I'm now a master at public transportation, have traveled around parts of Europe, taken trains all over the UK, and made wonderful friends here.
The other day Caitlin and I were reading the blog of a girl who studied abroad and she talked about reverse culture shock. It FREAKED ME OUT. Of course, I vividly remember my first day here, crying over every single little thing I could (including having no idea how to plug an ethernet cord up/not knowing how to use an international converter) and wishing I could just get on a plane and go right back home. But this girl talked about what happens when you get back from studying abroad, how your friends get sick of hearing about your new experiences, trouble readjusting, and so on. So, obviously I panicked and texted the people closest to me and begged them to let me tell them all my study abroad stories upon my return! I do believe studying abroad changes you, whether you like it or not. I have become so much more independent here, making decisions and traveling by myself, that it will be hard to readjust to a life where help is just a phone call away (dad). But, I think my newfound independence will stick and hopefully (fingers crossed) I won't have any reverse culture shock symptoms! :)
My emotions have been all over the place: excited to go home and see everyone I love, but so sad that I will have to leave London, a city I have grown to love. Nevertheless, time isn't going to wait for me to be ready to leave, so I'm making the best of the 12 (WHAT?!) days I have left!
This week, we went to an organic food festival near the London Eye and had amazing food, candy floss (cotton candy) and blueberry mojitos while enjoying the 72 degree weather. Our next day was spent shopping for the last time on Oxford Street, where I bought a few souvenirs for people back home (and some clothes for me :)) And yesterday, we took a day trip to Wales. Of course, the good weather had hit its limit and it rained the entire day, but we got to see Cardiff and Newport, which were both beautiful and full of green countrysides.
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| This guy obviously having a great time at the festival |
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| Cardiff's claim to fame |
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| Theatre in Cardiff (notice the purple brick) |
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| Cardiff theatre (did anybody know that Welsh language existed? Well, that's what you're looking at.. basically a bunch of consonants jumbled together) |
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| Waiting for our debut in Hairspray |
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| Hot mess express right there.. right after we ran in a downpour |
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| and these are the soaked toes of my boots after 3 hours of drying.. |
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