The end?

Well here we are. The last blog post.

I've been avoiding this.

I arrived in Seattle, safe and sound, late Saturday night. Marysville is as dreary as ever, but I've enjoyed reuniting with my family and friends. Missing London like mad.

A few thank you's are in order:

1. To my lovely homestay. I couldn't have asked for a better family to live with.

Esme & Belle, Suzan and Bubbles

2. Peter, Tom, Jessica, and Mike (and the UW English Department): for organizing and teaching this wonderful program.

Jessica and Peter in Regent's Park

3. The entire group. Missing you all very much. 

All of us at Hampton Court

4. My friends and family back home. Thank you for all the support and love. Hope to see you very soon. 

And if you've enjoyed following this blog, you may be interested in following my other blog, Metacognitive Potential. Silly title, I know. But the blog's two years old now and I can't bear to change it. I mostly write about books and other nerdy subjects. Whatever strikes my fancy. 

Although I've reached the conclusion of my study abroad trip, this is not the end. London and I are not finished. Someday I will be back, perhaps on a more permanent basis. Until then, my dear city. Until then.

Much love,

L

Goodbyes

a series of vignettes

Wednesday: In my excitement, I forget to say goodbye to 6 Great James Street. My final exam turned in, I rush out of the classroom and into the afternoon sunlight. Several of my classmates are lingering on the corner of Great James St. and Theobald's Road. Next to the Cafe Nero. 

On our way back to Holborn Station, we discuss Art & Architecture exam. Who sculpted the man and python statue? Lord Layton. About what time period was Stonehenge constructed? Around 2000 BC? We're unsure. How does this older photograph of Trafalgar Square differ from how it appears today? There are significantly less tourists in the older picture. Cheeky. We are lighthearted and amiable and done. Class finished.

We part ways at the station, exchanging see-you-tomorrows and good-luck-with-that-last-paper. Ticket through the barrier, a descending escalator toward the Piccadilly line. I am swept up in the rhythm of the underground. 

I forget to say goodbye.

Thursday: We begin to trickle out of the Fentiman Arms in groups of two or three. Tom, Jessica, and Mike have already said goodbye, leaving Peter Professor Peter, not to be confused with tall Peter to finish the end-of-term party with us.

Everyone hugs. This is the last day of the term and tomorrow we disperse. Some return to Seattle, some remain in England, and some continue travelling throughout Europe. I remember the anxiety I experienced at the beginning of the trip. Would I make friends? Would we get along? How would the group interact? My worries seem silly now; I am completely attached to these people.

Stephanie and I walk back to Oval Station. It's past eleven yes we'll still make the tube but the evening is warm and still. My tender parting with Peter professor is running through my head. I try to memorize the evening.

I've said more goodbyes than I can count.

Friday: As I near Piccadilly Circus, I realize that this will be the last time I see Central London. At least  for now. My pace slackens as I try to absorb the city, the tourists, the Londoners, the Nash buildings, the Jubilee preparations, the flags, the illuminated signs.

Too quickly, I reach the stairs leading down to the Underground. I pause and take one last glimpse of the city my home away from home. I take the stairs slowly, one step at a time. Reluctantly.

Goodbye London. Until next time.

~L

Three thoughts

• If my feeling attachment love affection for this city were audible, it would sound like "Nimrod" from Elgar's Enigma Variations.

• It's the first of June, and I've had a passage from Mrs. Dalloway stuck in my head all day. 

"Such fools we are, she though, crossing Victoria Street. For Heaven only knows why one loves it so, how one sees it so, making it up building it round one, tumbling it, creating it every moment afresh; but the veriest frumps, the most dejected of miseries sitting on doorsteps (drink their downfall) do the same; can't be dealt with, she felt positive, by Acts of Parliament for that very reason: they love life. In people's eyes, in the swing, tramp, and trudge; in the bellow and the uproar; the carriages, motor cars, omnibuses, vans, sandwich men shuffling and swinging; brass bands; barrel organs; in the triumph and the jingle and the strange high singing of some aeroplane overhead was what she loved; life; London; this moment of June." 

- Virginia Woolf, Mrs. Dalloway (page 2)

• I have never been this unmotivated to pack before. As evidenced by the fact that I am blogging, instead of packing and/or sleeping. 

The Great Packing Failure of June 2012

~L

Busy

Head deep in end of term busy-ness and slight panics about the fact that this is my last week of college and I'm leaving London soon and ahhh. Will update soon. Until then, please enjoy some lovely photographs.

Tower Bridge

View of the Thames from National Theatre at South Bank

More view of London

Also a gif set that makes me smile. Sherlock viewers will understand. The Queen is so adorable. (Source: Tumblr post )

Cheers,

L

Wholock at the BAFTAs

Matt Smith and Benedict Cumberbatch present Steven Moffat with the 2012 BAFTA Special Award. This is video is perfection.

Benedict Cumberbatch and Matt Smith
Photo Credit: BAFTA

"'Was that an impression?'

'No... yes it was'" - Matt Smith and Benedict Cumberbatch

The Sherlock gang:
Steven Moffat (co-creator), Lara Pulver (Irene Adler),
Mark Gatiss (co-creator, Mycroft Holmes)
& Andrew Scott (Jim Moriarty)

"The man is a word machine. He is Holmes, he has the heart of the Doctor, well one of them at least." - Benedict Cumberbatch

"That's Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Who, giving me an award... that is absolutely brilliant!" ~ Moffat

Benedict Cumberbatch, Steven Moffat, and Matt Smith

"And on Sherlock, I can't but mention my brilliant friend and most brilliant collaborator, and in the words of Doyle himself, never better applied, 'the best and wisest I have ever known,' Mark Gatiss" - Moffat 

"And in many ways, the least sung but most deserving hero of Sherlock: the woman, the producer. Sue Vertue, 'the best and wisest woman' I have ever married." - Moffat 

Congratulations Steven Moffat! And also to Andrew Scott for winning Best Supporting Actor as Jim Moriarty! Looking forward to series three, (hopefully) next year!

~L

Treacle Tart

"When everyone had eaten as much as they could, the remains of the food faded from the plates, leaving them sparkling clean as before. A moment later the desserts appeared. Blocks of ice cream in every flavour you could think of, apple pies, treacle tarts, chocolate eclairs and jam doughnuts, trifle, strawberries, jelly, rice pudding..." - Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

"'Treacle tart, Hermione!' said Ron, deliberately wafting its smell toward her. 'Spotted dick, look! Chocolate gateau!'

But Hermione gave him a look so reminiscent of Professor McGonagall that he gave up." - Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

"He felt it was a better use of his time to eat his way steadily through his steak and kidney pie, then a large plateful of his favourite treacle tart." - Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix 

Photo credit: Taste of Glasgow 

I've always read about treacle tart in the Harry Potter stories, and now I've finally tried it! Quite delicious, especially served warm with a scoop of ice cream.

~L

A melodramatic note

Dearest friends and family,

I arrive home in a week from today.

While I'm looking forward to seeing you all, the thought of leaving this beloved city is slightly unbearable. Saying goodbye to London may prove to be physically and emotionally painful.

That being said, please bear with me as I move back home and readjust to life in the PNW. The transition may require time, copious amounts of tea, and BBC marathons.

Love you all,
L