Week 12 Impressions by Maddie Eggleston

As our study abroad program is coming to a close I find myself continually in awe. Awe at how slowly the program seemed to begin and yet how quickly it came to an end, awe at the number of ways I proved to myself that I was an adult, and most of all, awe at the fact that despite for the first few months I desperately missed my home in Colorado I feel sad to be leaving this city. For three months we all called London our home. And even though I will not miss my squeaky bunk bed or the kitchen that fits one and a half people, I am going to miss feeling like a Londoner for a short period of time.

While here I have learned so many things about myself that I never would have known had I not gone on the abroad program. Adults always tell you that college is the best years of your life and its where you’ll find out who you are and where you’ll learn to be an adult. But I don’t exactly feel this way. It wasn’t until I came to London that I started feeling like an adult and it wasn’t until London that I started having what everybody calls “a college experience”. London has shown me so many things not only about myself but also about life in general. I learned not to wear a cat costume in public, because people can and will yell vulgar obscenities at you, I learned to always trust the people who work at the tube station, I learned that catching the last tube home is the BEST, I learned where to find the cheapest drinks, and I learned that Londoners don’t really hate Americans as much as everybody says.

More importantly I was able to prove to myself (and my mother) that I am in fact more capable than I used to believe. My sense of direction may not be the greatest, but for each time I got lost I also found my way. Sunday I am leaving for Croatia by myself, and although I am nervous, I am much more confident. I have no real worries about being in a city by myself where English is not the most common language. I no longer have issues eating by myself at a restaurant or traveling by myself, and this is the gift that living in London has given me. I always knew I was independent, but London has really shown me this is true.

This past weekend was probably one of the best weekends in London. Shaun and I went out one night to Brick Lane. During our visit with Stephanie Polsky to Brick Lane we saw a completely different side of Brick Lane. At night, the street transforms into a different personality. The street was crowded with so many young people drinking on the street together. The bar we went to was a café during the day, but at night there were swarms of people sitting on benches outside drinking, people inside talking on couches, and also a space for dancing in the back. After this night out, I realized that London is not always as it seems, and there are so many other personalities the city that I wish I had seen.

People from home are constantly asking me if I am ‘ready’ to leave London. And even though I am going to miss living in the UK, the truth is that I am ready to leave. London has taught me what it can and it’s time for the next adventure. I am going to miss so many things about this city though. I will miss going to out to G-A-Y and drinking pitchers of sugary drinks, buying Burger King on the way home from a night out, getting woken up Wednesday mornings by the horses walking on the street outside our window, cooking in our tiny tiny kitchen, Sandwich World, cider, getting free food from our class internships, and most of all, falling in love with another city. Until next time, London…which will be in May.