The End.

I am sitting here amongst the three large bags of things I brought to London. I have finished packing up my London life... and am trying not to think about the massive charges I will get for my overweight bags. But that's not really what's on my mind. I am thinking about all the million things I will miss here.  I have fallen head over heels in love with this place.  I love everything about it. Being here has changed me in so many ways. I have grown up so much in the past 4 four months, in ways that I didn't even know possible. I have met 42 amazing friends who are such wonderful people. I learn from them everyday. Coming here was a dream come true. I have always wanted to go, and here I am... 4 months later and I feel like I haven't woken up yet. This whole time has seemed like dream. England is magical.  Everyday I just fall in love even more.  

I love the random faces that I see on the tube. 

I love the beautiful parks that seem to be right out of a storybook. 

I love the london dogs, that are more like people.  

I love all the london animals, the sauntering squirrels, and the friendly pigeons.  

I love the architecture and being awestruck everyday by the amazing buildings, including the one I live in. 

I love the National Gallery, and the way that it taught me to fall in love with art. 

I love the greenest green I have ever seen... in all the plants and hills here. 

I love getting so excited to see an empty tube train and not having to fight to get a seat.

I love having dinner with 42 of my closest friends.  

I love the feeling of coming home after being away for a couple of days. 

I love the shows I get to go see.

I love my professors, who teach me so much and have helped to make this experience even more meaningful.

I love St. Pauls. 

I love  being so tired and sleeping so well every night.

I love 27 Palace Court. 

I love Shakespeare, and the RSC.

I love the tube and all the billions of places that it takes me.

I love my ward... and really loving and caring about people I hardly know. 

I love grilled toastie sandwiches at Bourough's market.

I love my roommates.

I love the opera, and the ballet.

I love talking about feelings.  

I love Tony the busdriver, even when he tells stories about war monuments while I am trying to nap. 

I love movie nights in the classroom. 

I love playing Spaz. 

I love being the only one in the room and finding a bit of peace and quiet.

I love having 12 awesome roommates, so that I can enjoy my peace and quiet.

I love walking in the city alone, and just being in the city alone.

I love the markets, especially Portobello.

I love searching for Peter Pan books, and getting to hold ones that are 800 pounds.

I love old books.

I love all the adorable London families. 

I love the little children's school uniforms, and matching hats, and backpacks and everything. 

I love Victoria station and traveling there every Sunday. 

I love talking to my mom on Sundays.

I love getting letters in London, and putting the letters I send in the pretty red mailboxes here.

I love the double decker buses. 

I love my camera. 

I love escalators. 

I love palaces and pretty places that we go visit. 

I love the Queen... even if I never got to see her, or meet her.  

I love pounds. 

I love Marks and Spencer, and Percy Pigs.

I love Monet, Van Gogh, Holbien, Turner, Renior, Constable, Degas, Cezanne, Rodin, Caravaggio, and all the other artists I have fallen in love with here. 

I love being so excited to wake up every morning and knowing that I will have an adventure every day. 

I love the person that I have come to be here. 

I love all the other millions of things I can't even remember right now.  

I just can't really bear to say goodbye. So I guess I'll just say see you later... 

I am in denial that I am leaving on tomorrow and I don't know if it will even hit me until I have woken up from my 48 hour post-London recuperation nap that I am planning to take.  I'll wake up with all the other things I love, my family, my home, Christmas, Kwazi, my bed, and 2 weeks of relaxation. And although I will miss my new home very much it is no replacement for my old home.  I am just so grateful to have had this amazing life-changing opportunity.  

I love you London... and I will miss you oh so very much.