Risking My Life for London

April 18-21, April 30- May 2
London, England

The overall theme of this semester abroad is rest when you get back to the US. I came back from Nice

Park Coming in Clutch

 Sunday night, had my last final Tuesday morning, spent Wednesday in Frankfurt, and flew out Thursday morning. Flights to and from Strasbourg and London are only on Thursdays and Sundays, so I had to leave on Thursday to meet MK and Avery on Saturday. When I arrived, I made the hour+ commute to the hostel only to find they couldn’t store my bags and I would have to come back in three hours for check-in. I walked to a nearby park and finished reading my very academic book (Percy Jackson). I then came back to check in and got fish and chips for dinner. I walked around some more and called it quits for the night… or so I tried. I think I could be a millionaire and still act like I’m on my last $20. I booked one of the cheapest hostels in London I could find. I come back and am told by workers that they are doing work in the room and to come back in 15 minutes. I give it 45 minutes before I come back, and they’re still not done. It was already dark, so I retreated to the hostel kitchen and found the rest of my roommates. The work that they’re doing involves spraying chemicals, as made evident by the worker

My Kind, One-Toothed Roommate
Offered me a Mask

wearing a mask, and the hallway reeking of fumes anytime the door opened. Eventually, the worker leaves, gas mask and all, and tells us we can go into the room now. One of the American girls asks if I want to grab a drink while the room airs out (we bonded earlier after both wanting to argue with the hostel and ask for a refund). We go to the closest bar, and the night gets more interesting. I’m greeted by a lady kissing my hand and asking us if we knew any music producers before bursting out in song. Then two 12-year-olds (or so they looked) came in. I guess it was allowed because the bar is also a clothing and music shop (with a DJ). Weird vibe. I return to my illegal, toxic-infused room for the night.

 

HUGE for the Program
(Tap on the Picture to See Up Close)

I managed to make it through the night without dying! I walked across Tower Bridge (which is what most people assume London Bridge is) and explored that part of London. I then went on a music tour through the Soho area. I saw lots of old recording studios, and backdrops of album covers, and was the youngest on the tour by about 20 years. That evening, I met up with Shadi. She is living in London and did an exchange semester at my friend Eva’s university a few years prior. I’ve only ever met her once, when she came to our house with Eva for Christmas Eve 2021. Shadi and I went on a boat ride, checked out the Lego store, ate in Chinatown, and walked around.

Shadi I know We've Only Met Twice,
But I Would Die for You

The next day, I said goodbye to my hostel and walked around with my giant duffel bag for three hours. I got breakfast at the Borough Market, then walked to St. James Station near Big Ben. Avery and I have

Dynamic Duo: Sleep Deprived MK  
Without Coffee and Hyper Me

been planning an England trip since middle school, so seeing her in London was HUGE! MK wasn’t included in our middle school plans, but middle school me hadn’t planned for Avery to become besties with her. I showed them no sympathy and immediately took them on a walking tour of the Westminster area (Buckingham Palace, Big Ben area). Afterwards, we went to the National Portrait Gallery and ate dinner in Chinatown. We might have done other stuff, but if so, I didn’t take pictures and can’t remember.

The next day, we went to Notting Hill and tried our best to show restraint. We only managed to buy scones, a ring (me), and matching jackets. The jackets ended up being the purchase of the century (I’ve worn mine every time there is a slight breeze). We walked around the nearby area through Kensington Gardens. We then explored some more before finishing the night at a fish and chips restaurant in Soho.

 

My Mom Told Me She Preferred Avery's
(Avery's will not be Featured for Reference)

We returned to London at the end of our trip on April 30th. We spent about two weeks going through England and Scotland in between. We flew in from Scotland that morning and hit the ground running. We toured Westminster Abbey, which did not win Avery over (she’s got a thing for Spanish churches). I got to experience London school kids singing “Kings & Queens” to an abbey worker, which was arguably the most entertaining and important event to happen in that abbey's history.

Sporting the Jacket Again

MK and Avery went back to the National Portrait Gallery while I wandered. We then got soft serve and revisited the London sights now that they weren’t sleep-deprived. The next morning, I was super excited about our activities. Up until now, I had done most of the London sites I did in my February visit. Today was going to be new stuff for me. We went to the Tower of London and got a tour from a beefeater. Right after I

exited the crown jewels, only seeing about half of the Tower, I got a call from the Airbnb person. Turns out I only got the room for one night instead of two, and we needed to be out of there two hours ago. Whoops. Mary Katherine thankfully came with me, and we rode the hour to get there, frantically packed our stuff, and tried to find another place, all while I held back my stress/tears/anger. We found a hostel, moved our stuff, and met Avery at Tower Bridge three hours later. To boost my spirits and feed my stomach, we went to Borough Market. If there’s one thing I can rely on, it's food. We got mushroom risotto,  doughnuts, and the famous chocolate-covered strawberries. The evening ended at Shakespeare’s Globe for a performance of “Much Ado About Nothing.” I have beef with Harry Potter now because what was my man doing with only two lines? He was AMAZING (as was everyone else). The acting of the actors had everyone dying. Honestly, the best Shakespeare performance I’ve seen. I said goodbye to Avery the next morning. It was a very sincere, “See ya later, have a good flight.” Mary Katherine and I then made our way to the airport and headed back to show her Strassy!

From AP Lit to Shakespeare's Garden

Good day mate!