London Called, I Answered

The amount of fatigue I feel is almost embarrassing, but it cannot smother the utter delight I've also felt today. Another hour without sleep means nothing compared to the fact that right now,

I am living my dream.

It is the most wonderful thing--every second I have to stop and think, "Wait, I'm in living in London. All these sights, sounds, smells, and experiences are real, and they are mine!" Can I tell you about the incredible day I've had? 

My oceanic flight seemed to last eons, but when we finally landed and the flight attendant said, "Welcome to London" I cried shamelessly. Another student on my study abroad program met up with me later on, and we embarked on the enjoyably arduous journey of getting to the London Centre. All along the way, little things like accents, different spellings, the old, dusty green of the foliage, and the humorously courteous Tube announcements kept me grinning like a fool. Guys, even the flipping Tube lines are beautiful. Everywhere we went, people were kind and helpful. Lisa and I were both carrying the entirely of our lives for the next four months (aka, really heavy suitcases), and both times we had to tackle stairs, these really kind men carried my bags! The gentlemen of England really do exist, ladies. Another great example of that was when Lisa and I were on the wrong street (Ossington instead of Palace Court), and this nice man pointed us in the right direction with a smile and a "Have a great day!" Absolutely wonderful.

Then there was the matter of our home:

27 Palace Court. Holy cow.

While I haven't gotten any pictures of the ground floor yet, I do have some of my room. There are four student bedrooms in the Centre, each on different floors--one for the boys, two for the girls, and a private one for one of the girls. It's a really fun mixture of old and new since the Center's exterior remains the same, but its interior has gone through some major renovation. 

My nook

This is one room, folks.

This room is incredibly cool. We each get our own closets (complete with hangers!), reading lamps, built-in shelves, and storage bins. And get this: we have our own gigantic bathroom with  heated towel racks. What is this life? 

But that wasn't even the best part of the room. For me, at least, the best part is the view. 

You might not be able to fully appreciate the archaic beauty of these buildings because of the picture's size, but let me assure you, they're magnificent. They, along with the cute little street lined with luxury cars and the gorgeous grey sky, create a scene I could stare at for eternity. I can see it now, though this time streetlamps cast an orange glow over the darkened, quieter street. Plus, you know you're in Europe when the windows are huge, old, and without screens. It feels like you're actually letting the outside in a bit. 

After unpacking and settling in, I started talking with some of the other girls in my room. The other end of the room has a balcony that leads to the fire escape (we didn't know that's what it was at the time). We decided to explore and go to the very top. As we climbed higher and higher, we could see the mossy, chimney-adorned rooftops of the other buildings nearby. Soon enough, we were on our own rooftop! Carefully but deftly, we ran across the shingles to see the street below--and don't worry, the roof was structured so that we were safely behind some decorative architecture. From that vantage point, though, I could see everything. It was breathtaking and magical and a little bit scary. I remember thinking of Sherlock up there, marveling at how he had the tremendous courage to leap from a height so great. At the same time, I felt invincible up there, which is likely what Sherlock felt, too. The girls and I had some fun conversations up there. It's one of my new favorite memories. 

Nearly right after the rooftop excursion, Lisa and I set off to tackle our first London Walks assignment of getting to know the neighborhood. Man, I must have looked like such a dweeb, what with my ecstatic exclamations and near-constant picture taking. Ah well. Anyway, the two of us simply strolled through London and identified the shops and sights the book told us to. If that isn't an amazing experience, I don't know what is. The smells constantly changed from sweet patisserie aromas to the not entirely unpleasant scent of smoke to pine needles and savory spices. People walked everywhere, chatting on phones or to each other in their beautiful accents. Double-decker buses trundled by. All was moving and alive. 

The first telephone box I'd ever seen in person! It's kinda like a first kiss. ;) 

Lisa! This shortcut was gorgeous.

For that hour or so, the city was mine. As we traversed from one side of town to another, Ed Sheeran's song "Sing" played in my head, and it was the perfect soundtrack. London is such a hip place. I had an immensely fun time with Lisa while we discussed how crazy it is to be here, in England, and what shops we wanted to duck into on a different day. We got somewhat lost a few times, but we made it back to the Centre without too much delay. 

Don't blink!

Ha! The English equivalent of the dollar store. 

We helped with dinner--astoundingly good pea soup, fresh salad, and artisan breads--and afterwards I remember wiping down the tables as I looked out the window. I saw a group of guys and girls my age walking by, laughing together and looking really cool. For a moment, we made eye contact. Weirdly, in that millisecond, I felt even more a part of London, like I'd been acknowledged as another being belonging in this great city. 

And you know what? 

I do belong here.