I write now as one who has reluctantly returned to her abode in the USA. I was so sad to leave London with her wrought iron fences and overflowing flower boxes and orderly streets with zig-zagging white lines. I sincerely love the city and I am so grateful for the opportunity that I had to live and learn there. This summer has been one of the most influential and defining periods of my life (although granted my life is not particularly long so that's not really saying that much.) But seriously, I could see myself living long-term in London. I feel like I really connected with the city and the people there even if I was living in a semi-bubble in the BYU Center. So I will always remember London fondly, and hopefully some day in the not-to-distant future I will be able to brave the skies and the horrible flights and once more make my way across the sea. Till then, here are my last fond memories and loves of London:
* Lion King performed at Lyceum Theater. It was incredible! Rafiki and Zazoo were my favorites just because they were such good actors. Seriously, Zazoo was the best puppeteer I have ever seen. And the grown-up Nala was also really good. She had the most beautiful voice. And all the costumes were amazing. It was really just a fun production to see and it only cost like 12 pounds! Pure quality!
* Taking a break from studying for finals to run through the rain with E. Almost biffing it about 12 times but never actually falling and coming back soaked to the bone but exhilarated.
* Getting to tour Parliament and stand where William Wilberforce once stood! Yay! And laughing at how for all its opulence, the House of Lords smells like Ramen.
* Mama Mia!! Best. Musical. Ever! I am so in love! It was seriously so fun to see! Ah I just loved all the voices! There wasn't one of them that I didn't like. So much better than the movie! It was just one of those shows that makes you feel good.
* Going to the London Temple. Totally worth the time and money it took to get down there. I love going to the Temple and feeling the Spirit there and feeling closer to God. Being in the Temple refocuses my life on whats important and helps me to remember who I am and what I need to be doing in my life. Singing hymns of praise to God in the Temple was one of the most spiritually uplifting experiences of my life and I am so grateful that I was given that opportunity.
* Seeing the treasures of the British library! Every time I turned around I saw something else that made me go: "Wow!" They have so many cool things there, like original manuscripts of Alice in Wonderland, and novels by Jane Austen and Charlotte Bronte. And they had some original handwritten copies of poems by Wordsworth and Plath which was way cool because you could see how they were revised as they were written and what the author's handwriting looked like. And they had the Magna Carta (of course) and the log book of the HMS Victory and the journal of Captain Cook and some of Leonardo DeVinci's sketchbooks! They also had some really sweet musical stuff like original scores by Mozart and the first copy of Handel's Messiah. And my personal favorite: Beatle's lyrics in Lenon's own handwriting scribbled out on the back of a child's birthday card! Ah it was amazing!
* Finally buying some "tube" socks. Hehehe.
* And lastly, just all the great times I had laughing, joking around with, singing and bonding with all of my amazing peers at the BYU Center. They are such good examples to me of generosity, adventuresome spirit, dedication, kindness, curiosity, and charity. And they're fun. :) I'll so miss living with them and seeing them every day.
So that, my friends, is the end of my Loving London List! I am so sad to have to close this blog but I know that I need to move on to another chapter in my life. However I also know that wherever life takes me, I will always remember and be grateful for this incredible summer I have spent studying in London and all that I learned and loved there. Peace friends and family, I love you all!
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