With this being our last week in London, I easily find myself ready to up and leave this country. Not that I haven’t enjoyed my time here, it’s just that so long here can bring misery and sorrow to one’s heart when their loved one is so far away from them. So I am definitely ready to be back at home with my loved one. Whether or not I am ready to go, that won’t stop me from enjoying my last week here in London. This Monday, I started out with class then went with Natalie to the National Portrait Gallery. We also went to the national Portrait Museum for a little bit. Most of the paintings in there were amazing so it was too bad that they wouldn’t let us take photos while we were in there. After the museum we stopped by M&M world. There I picked up some M&Ms for my girlfriend because she is the proclaimed “sweet tooth monster.” Tuesday, I went by myself down to the London Bridge for the whole day. I originally went so that I could go see the Globe Theatre but it was a little out of my price range for this last week so I decided not to. So instead I went up on the Millennium Bridge and snapped photos. I proceeded to the Clink’s Prison Museum. I had never heard of this before but it was basically where the prisons back in the 1500s had got their ideas and how they use to handle prisoners. It was pretty interesting. After the museum, I took the tube to Oxford Circus and went to Primark and did a little shopping for myself. I bought 9 items of clothing and sunglasses for 33 pounds. I’d say I was pretty successful that day. For some reason afterwards I felt like walking back instead of taking the tube. It took me less than 2 hours to walk 6 miles back to campus. Overall, Tuesday was a good day for me. Just some me time and got to relax and do some clear thinking. Wednesday was more of just a relax day after doing our workout in class. Dr. Lewis, one thing I would suggest is that if you ever decide to do Study Abroad again, and the days that your students have off of your class, you should make it mandatory to attend a workout class with you once a week. I think students will really enjoy it because I know I did. After class we had a departure meeting, which I’m sure a lot of people were excited about. For the rest of the day I just hung out with the family in Ashley’s room until it was time for bed. I was beat. Thursday the class went to the Victoria and Albert Museum. We went to one specific area, the theatre part of the museum. Walked around there for about 45 minutes and seen a lot of interesting photographs of dancers and ballerinas. A couple of us found an area where you could try on costumes, so we dressed up and posed. It was fun. After the V&A, Natalie and I went down to Piccadilly Circus and had lunch at Pret a Manger. Then headed to North Greenwich and went to the O2 arena. On Friday we have our last class and it is also our exam. After our exam I probably will be getting ready for our toga party that we will be going to later that night. I’ve never been to a toga party before so why not start now here in London? And I want to send my last days here out with a bang! So I am extremely thrilled about it. Saturday I will probably go with Dr. Lewis to York. I have never been and never heard of the place but it is better than being at the dorm bored. Plus, it’s always cool to seem something new that you’ve never seen so why not? Sunday will be our last day here. Everyone will be going their separate ways the next day, so it will be a family day that day. I think Janaye has our day planned out but I’m not sure. I just go with the flow. But I will miss all of my friends here and will keep in touch with them. They were truly like family through this whole trip. Since the first day arriving here we have been there for each other and each one of them will be missed dearly.

With three weeks down and one week to go, I’m starting to see my London days’ fading away as home is right around the corner. I have made great friends and even better memories while enjoying my time in this country. This Monday I started out my day with class on stress management. It really reflected on me as I am trying to manage my love life while here in London. Later, I went to the British Museum which was pretty awesome. Being able to look back on London’s history and more was pretty awesome. We later then went down to Oxford Street and did a bit of shopping. On Tuesday I went with the class to the Arsenal museum. The Arsenal Museum, in my opinion, would be the second best museum that we have visited since our stay here. We later went down to Hyde Park and everyone got to do what they wanted to for an hour. Wednesday for me was pretty much a catch up day on home work so I stayed on campus. I went to lunch came back to my room did homework and went to dinner later that evening. I hung out with the family a little bit before calling it a night. Thursday I went down to the Imperial Museum with Janaye’s class and got to see the holocaust exhibit. I spent at least 45 minutes in there just trying to soak in every minute of it. After the Imperial Museum I left her class and went down to the O2 arena to see what they had to offer in there. They had a small area called ‘Fan Space’ for where there was a big couch and television for you to come in and just relax. It was a relief to just get off my feet and to just lie down and relax. They also had a bunch of nice restaurants inside including the Titanic exhibit. However, I didn’t go see it because the price was a little out of my range. Free is a little more in my area haha. On Friday, the family and I just went down to the Hard Rock Café which was amazing. I had never been to one before until then and it was pretty darn delicious. Then we went down to Soho to find a bar to have a couple drinks at but couldn’t find one so we went back to the Walkabout. I call it “Old Reliable” ha.  This weekend was also a relax time for myself. I have done everything that I have really wanted to do while I am In London so I just took the weekend off.

It turned out to be another eventful week here in London. With my second week behind me, all that I have to remember each day by are pictures that I have on my camera or pictures that my family has put up on Facebook. Unlike last week, this week we had something planned almost each day that we went out. Monday I started my day with a class field trip to The Children’s Museum, which really gave me an outlook on toys that were used in the past. We have progressed a long way from spinning tops. Later that day I went to Camden Market and then had dinner with the family and watched the movie Friday. It shocked me that I was the only one who has really seen it so it was a must that everyone watched it. On Tuesday I went to the Natural History Museum for most of the day which was really amazing. It was actually so big that I didn’t even get through the whole thing. Later that day, the family and I went to Sainsbury’s to get a few household items. The rest of that day was just a relax day and I ordered from Alpha’s Pizza which was awesome.

On Wednesday, Dr. Lewis gave us our quiz, which I aced, and taught the class how to line dance, square dance, and the naked mole rat. I wasn’t too sure if everyone in the class knew what they were getting themselves into by signing up to take a class with Dr. Lewis haha. Later on that night the Family and I ended up at the Lion bar for a couple drinks and then headed over to the Australian bar called Walkabout on Finchley and just enjoyed some music and of course a couple more drinks. On Thursday we went to Wimbledon Museum. I would have to say that that was the best museum that we have been to yet. When you see things on television you wonder what it looks like in person and that is what it was like for me. Being able to the Wimbledon tennis court in person and the club as a whole was awesome. Friday Natalie and I went to Camden Market again to pick up souvenirs for family member in the states and did a little shopping for myself. Then later that night we all went to the zoo at night which was pretty cool. I haven’t been to a zoo in about ten years so I was excited like a little kid. Saturday the whole family dressed up and went to a Polo match in Richmond. We were a little over dressed but it didn’t matter because we all were looking good that day. We had lunch as well while we there and I ate a rocky road sundae which was one of the best desserts I’ve had since I’ve been here. To complete my weekend, Saturday night was my first foam party down at the Walkabout and it was great. I attempted to keep the foam away from my mouth and getting inside but I was unsuccessful. So that became too much for me and I headed home. However, it was another successful week in London.  There are two weeks down and two weeks to go before we head back to the states. I hate to see it go but I miss my family, so the closer the better. Until then I’m going to enjoy my time here and soak it all in.

My first week in London will be one that I will never forget. I made it to one of the most beautiful countries there is for the first time, I’ve made a whole new group of friends and classmates from all across the United States, and I have bonded with a group of friends in the last week faster than I have ever with anyone. We six have become so close that we consider ourselves family away from our family. We can literally talk to each other about anything and everything. All this transpired even before the first day of classes.  

            My first day of classes felt like I was back at home and I was literally dreading that I had to be in a class room once again, but then I realized that I was in London and that I should enjoy my time while I’m here. So the first day of class wasn’t all that bad. As a class we all introduced ourselves one by one and also by talking to one another for two minutes. It gave us just enough time to get to know a brief background of each other. After we finished the meet and greet we watched a ballet video, which surprisingly was real interesting.  Tuesday we went to the Royal Opera House which was pretty amazing. We got to see every inch of the Opera house, even backstage where they showed how they create and build the stages. My favorite part of the tour would probably be seeing where they actually build the stages and the lift that they use to bring down most of the parts to the stage.         

            After the Royal Opera House tour we did the Harry Potter scavenger hunt around London. It was a breeze when we first started the tour until most of the class started to get restless and that is when the beast within everyone started to rear its ugly head. Overall, with the help of me and some classmates, it was a success closer to the end. Everyone noticed that they had to help out in order for our class time to be over. After the tour and not getting enough sleep in the last couple of days after getting to London, I was beat and needed some rest. Wednesday the class did a fitness run which really loosened my muscles up afterwards because I was literally cramping up during our run. I haven’t been drinking sufficient enough of water since I been here so it could be caused by that. Later that night the family and I went to a bar on Baker Street called The Globe. It was a good night until on our way back we got lost! It was a tragedy! But luckily we all had enough pounds to get back home.

            Thursday, Natalie and I went to Bath to see the last Roman bath ever. It was pretty amazing to see where they originally took their baths how much different their life was compared to what we have now. Later that night we went Fortune’s Green to The Lion’s bar and had couple of drinks before calling it a night. Friday and Saturday was the weekend and the family and I went to Camden market to do some shopping and the bar 3 and 1 right across the road from Camden Market. While Saturday night was a recuperation day and just stayed in for the day until late that night a couple of us went out to a gentlemen’s club for a little bit which was little odd hahaha.

Getting ready to leave for London is a lot more challenging then I thought it would be. With working two jobs it has made it hard to manage everything,but I have found away and I may have everything together now. Preparing to leave is a lot of running around to make sure everything is in order. I have probably been in Walmart at least 10 times this month, and the bank at least 5. My bags have been packed, unpacked and repacked again. I will probably go through them once more before I leave to make sure I have everything. I also have made sure all my bills have been paid up so that I wont have to worry about those while studying abroad.
    My family is out of town so I gave them their last kisses last week before they left and my girlfriend is missing me dearly already. I will miss her as well but I am ready to departure. I plan on having a great time while im there and cant wait to jump on the plane.