I spend my days in the parks. And if it is raining, I go to the museum. And sometimes, depending on the day, I go to a market. I love the simplicity of that—the total ease and accessibility of both activities in London. However, I can’t wait to just drive. I know that after a week and when my gas tank nears empty I will be wishing I had the tube to hop on to arrive at my destination. I know I’ll miss that. It’s a lot of can’t waits and missings coming up. That, I am certain of. Wandering around making all my little stops makes me get nostalgic for the city that I have spent almost five months in. Little memories flood in once I step on a familiar street corner or wait on the right hand side of an escalator.

Besides for spending my time reading outside, well the first week on May when it was in the 70s every day (!), I’ve visited the Victoria and Albert Museum since some rain showers have returned. Affectionately called the V&A, one of their special exhibits was on artists’ books and journals! Of course, after my bookmaking class last spring, I absolutely loved the exhibit, especially the earthworks piece since I also wrote a research paper on the artist last semester. I still have a couple more museums to check out. I can’t believe after an entire semester I still have yet to visit all of the free ones. That, right there, shows the sheer size and quantity of London museums.

Last Thursday, my program director, Dan from Arcadia, took us out to an end of the semester afternoon tea. Next to the Kensington Palaces, we dinned in The Orangery in Hyde Park. Even though only a few people from the program showed up, the ones who did were the ones I enjoy. Thus, it was an enjoyable afternoon. We began with cucumber sandwiches, my first of the semester, followed by scones, and ending with our sweet cake dessert. Many cups of tea and many shared stories later we parted to our different parts of the city.

Over the weekend, I stopped at Borough Market (of course!) and I made my first trip to the National Portrait Gallery. I even went to the bridge by Waterloo, the Cans Festival Tunnel, where a special graffiti and street art exhibit featuring Banksy and others is winding down. Chelsea and I also went to Camden Lock. It’s funny, we didn’t have any intention of going there… it just kind of happened. Full circle since that was the first place we went together back in January. It’s funny how things work out like that without intentionally doing so.

Since Sunday was Stonehill’s graduation and I was an ocean away, I made sure to keep busy most of the day so not to think about it. It is mind boggling to think that now, I’m a senior. As of that Saturday it was exactly a month unlike I arrive back on US soil. Additionally, it was exactly one year until I graduate college (assuming it is the same weekend as this year). Wow. How did this all happen so quickly?! One month, one year… two drastic changes that are all to quickly approaching. Thus, I made sure I wasn’t in my room for the majority of the day. After going to Mass in the morning, I began my walk. The sun finally came out and it warmed up a bit since it has gotten chilly again. Without any thought of it, I passed six tube stops on the same street! Starting at Tottenham Court Road, I walked the entire length of Oxford Street until it turned into Bayswater Road by Hyde Park. I knew that section had an art market on Sundays so I just kept walking until I got there. I did take pit stops, in this store and that one. I sat in Hyde Park to eat my lunch. I strolled through the lively and loud Speaker’s Corner just after lunch time when everyone seems to be the most fired up. Taking advantage of the somewhat nice weather (nothing in comparison with the beginning of the month) I visited Big Ben before heading back to Harrow.

This week, saving some tube money, I’ve spent the majority of my time within walking distance of my room. Most notably Sainsbury’s and the laundry room. Funny, well not funny but interesting story. So, walking to Sainsbury’s I have to walk through the tube stop to get to the road on the other side. I notice that they gates are closed and no one is allowed to get on the tube. I keep walking to get out of everyone’s way just noting it as an inconvenience for those who need to get somewhere. On the way back I pause to check the announcement board. Now, I’ve heard of this happening all semester but hadn’t experienced it first hand. No sugarcoating, they just write the plain out truth. “There is no Metropolitan Line service between Preston Road and Northwick Park due to a person on the tracks.” It’s really a horrible thing but it becomes so trivialized that is actually becomes a bit funny. Now, I can say I’ve witnessed what so many people describe and tell stories about. Still, quite odd.

Last night, I went to see Billy Elliot—the Musical at the Victoria Palace Theatre. The show was fantastic! The kids in it were absolutely great dancers. I wanted to see this show because one, I had recently watched the movie, two because it is one of the most popular shows playing in the West End, and three because it is set in England. It is always better when you see the show in the country it was written about. All the shows I’ve seen this semester, Spamalot, The History Boys, and now Billy Elliot are, I imagine, better here than at home because of the English history, wit, slang, and of course, accent that are authentically used. The end of the show was quite sentimental; it even got a few tears. Overall, it was a great show and I’m happy I went, even if I didn’t have anyone to question “what was your favorite part” on the tube ride home.

It’s surprising how many firsts I’ve been experiencing this past week. First trip here, first outing there yet I’ve been living in this city for almost five whole months. There is still a list of things I haven’t done, places I haven’t gone… it is kind of daunting actually. Let’s just hope Beth wants to do a lot of going here and there since it will be my last week in London. I DO NOT like the sound of that.