My favorite experiences I have had in England have to be The Warner Bros. Studio Tour, The Making of Harry Potter, walking on Abbey Road, staring at everything in Harrods, watching Kendrick Lamar in concert, and site seeing the city.
But my favorite moments have to be the times I shared with the people in my program. At the beginning of January, they were complete strangers but now I have grown so close to them its hard to believe that there was a time where we weren’t friends. They all live in my building and we have become— sorry for the cliche, but it’s true — one big family. We walk into each other’s flats unannounced because its normal to be around each other so often. We cook for each other, take care of one another, and best of all respect and love everything that each person has to offer. My closest friends (besides my Rollins roommates, of course) live up north and it is going to be so difficult to say goodbye to them. Most of them live in Pittsburg and Minnesota, places that I never thought I would visit until now. A few live in Massachusetts and New York, and along with the other northerners, laugh at me whenever I get excited about snow or wear an obscene amount of layers. I’m going to miss the amazing bonds I have created with the people in my building. I was so worried about living with other people and I am so glad this was my first experience. I always hear that the bonds you create while you are traveling with people are special, but I didn’t realize how special until it happened with these amazing people. They were beside me in some of the best and worst times of my life and it’s undeniable that in even in such a short amount of time they became some of my best friends— they became my family.
I am forever thankful for this experience. It’s heartbreaking to know I only have three weeks of this semester abroad. I have learned the value of independence and learned so much about myself than I would have at home. I have been exposed to different parts of life that I didn’t even know existed. I fell in love with London and I know I am coming back, probably not living here permanently, but definitely visiting.