My last week in London was bittersweet; I was excited to return home and start summer break but felt sad to leave a city that has been my home for the last four months. It was especially hard to say goodbye to The Independent and the editors that I have grown close with. Fortunately, the foreign deputy editor wants me to pitch story ideas from Florida, so there are still opportunities to snag more international bylines before graduation.
During my last few days abroad, I tried to fit in as much activities as I could. On my last weekend, I took a trip to Brighton―a seaside resort that many Londoners venture to for the beaches and amusement rides on the pier. I also went to Abbey Road Studios and snagged a Beatle-inspired picture with my roommate on the iconic crosswalk. Afterwards, we had lunch at Leadenhall Market―an elegant covered market with Victorian architecture located in the historic center of London.
During the week, I saw the opening night performance of Merchant of Venice at The Globe. My roommate’s theatre professor gave us two groundling tickets, and we stood inches away from the actors―who ocassionally grabbed audience members to join in certain scenes. I am always amazed at how relatable Shakespeare’s plays are to modern audiences. Merchant of Venice is a comedy play, and though performed hundreds of years after its premiere, the humor was still spot on. The dramatic moments also continue to move audiences with the play’s themes of religious prejudice and showing mercy to one’s enemies. Though a replica of the original, The Globe with its open roof and candle-lit stage made me feel lost in another time and appreciative of the playwright’s influences on modern culture.
On my last night in London, I had a formal goodbye dinner with my roommates Alex and Katie. We ate at OXO Tower― a skyline brasserie overlooking the Thames River and Southbank. Afterwards, we stopped at the Udderbelly Festival―a springtime comedy and circus carnival. To end our evening, we took a stroll along the Thames to get our last glimpses of the London Eye, Westminister, and Big Ben.
