Well, my five months in London are just about over. First off, when did that happen? Second, I’m not quite sure what to think about it. My new home won’t be my home anymore but just another spot I’ve lived. No more tube rides, walks around the city, or visits to the museum but back to filling an expensive gas tank, driving to Shelton, and working a good ol’ summer job.

It’s reassuring to know that I can make it on my own in a city. Granted, I may experience my lonely bouts, but I’ve grown to be even more independent and confident. I still have my shy moments but I’m not ashamed to ask for help (or directions) when I need it. As much as it can be hassle and expensive to get into central London, Harrow has become my haven. My little box room is my space. Away from the hustle and bustle of the city I had my spot to call home in the busy, international city of London.

The couple days before Beth arrived, in addition to the several days she has been here so far, I’ve been able to visit some spots I hadn’t ventured to as well as some favorites. Before she came, I finally went inside Westminster Abbey. Walking around the church is like going on a history scavenger hunt. It is incredible whose entombed bodies you pass while just walking through the nave, transept, and other art history terms for the church. The area where the knights and princes sit may have been my favorite, just because they sit below their code of arms and flag. How cool would it be to have a designated seat with your own flag hanging above?! Poets corner with Dickens, Lewis Carroll, Chaucer, and just about every author I studied senior year of high school in British Lit., Handel tomb which when I passed I heard the Hallelujah Chorus (literally because I overhear one of those personal handheld tour speakers), Queen Elizabeth I, Charles Darwin, and the tomb of the unknown soldier were just some of the spots I found while wandering around. Out back I stumbled upon the quad for the boys’ choir school—it kind of looked like part of Oxford in the middle of central London. Overall, the Abbey was interesting to visit and I’m happy I eventually walked around inside—even if it took me the entire semester to actually pay to go in it.

Since Beth’s arrival I’ve revisited some of my favorite London spots since I’m intent on giving her a full tour of the popular destinations along with some of the hidden treasures. Had the weather been nicer so far we would have succeeded with our quest to visit a park a day however the cloudy, grey skies have put a slight damper on that part of our plan. I guess I’ll start with her arrival. Her plane landed just after midnight as the tube closed. Easy enough, she would just take the bus. After quite the few difficulties and the loss of service on her phone, she got on a different bus, rode in a black cab, and experienced the night bus in efforts to arrive at the Harrow Campus. Ok, she found the campus but the real test was to find me. Her phone didn’t work, the pay phones didn’t work, the hospital wouldn’t let her use the phone, the police were of no help, a British man’s phone wouldn’t work, and she couldn’t “see me in any windows.” Needless to say, I was worried about her since it was nearing 4am at this time. After dozing, calling Mom, and her calling me back just before 5am my time…I saw the sun was starting to rise so I decided to go for a little stroll around campus and to check the bus stop. Walking across the empty parking lot, I was told that I looked like a mirage coming toward her. After we both believed our eyes that we were actually looking at each other, we began to quite literally run across the empty lot at 5am to embrace. Since then, she hasn’t left my side from fear of getting lost in London…again.

After some sleep and showering (a phenomenon that is a significantly shorter pastime in Spain due to the drought), the next days were filled with walking and tube riding around the city. The first stop was, of course, Borough Market. The Tate Modern had quite interesting “games” and “concerts,” Primark was as busy as ever, and Africa Day took over Trafalgar Square. I finally saw the procession, changing of the guards, and actually saw the band play a selection of Billy Joel and Elton John from up against the Buckingham Palace gate. We walked from my favorite view from Trafalgar down Whitehall to my other favorite spot by Big Ben. We went out to dinner at my favorite “American” place, tried once again to get onto Platform 9 & 3/4, and visited Portobello Road during the week when it is like a ghost town. I’ve shown her the highlights, or my favorite spots, in the National Gallery, the Natural History Museum, and the food hall of Harrods. And I’ve finally started to do some of my London tourist shopping that I have waited just about the entire semester to start for fear of never being able to stop.

Tomorrow morning I bid farewell to my suitcases as they are packed up for Dad to take back home. Along with that goes my computer, backpack of treasures (or presents!), and entire life for the past five months except for the carry on size suitcase I will travel with until June 17th. It’s incredible that there is room in those bags. However, the weight of some items makes up for the small pockets of open space. Let’s just say I refuse to go home without, quite literally, bringing a taste of England with me.

So, in exactly three weeks time I will be sitting at the diner replacing afternoon tea, cucumber sandwiches, and scones with milkshakes, grilled cheese, and nachos at the diner. I’m sure I’ll still be saying pound instead of dollar, I’ll miss riding the tube yet continue to work the word into daily conversation, and I’ll walk on the left hand side of the sidewalk but ride on the right hand side of escalators. I’ll say “sorry” with a different vowel pronunciation all while sharing endless stories and laughter with friends I haven’t seen since the first day of 2008. My five and a half months of living and traveling in Europe will become an endless supply of stories and memories.

Well, I guess I’ll end with a “Cheerio” and see you back on the other side of the pond.