Flashback

Hey guys! It's been another long week in London! It continues to amaze me how fast the days go but also how much I manage to fit in the span ofone week. On Monday I had class as usual. My classes are going smoothly and they are the perfect courses to take for study abroad.My contemporary art class is more creative and I'm having loads of fun making my visual journal. I'm really appreciative of my professor for creating this assignment--I'm already excited to show it to my friends and family to express what my time here in England has been like.

On the other spectrum, I have my comparative history course on Britain and the United States in the 1960s. This class was made for me. I'm in love with that moment in time in history and the class delves into the issues and outcomes of different movements in the 60s in both countries. It's an added bonus that the professor is hilarious--and she's really good at going with the flow--even in the face of disaster (see Notting Hill field trip). This class is a little bit more work--but even that doesn't outweigh the good parts of class.

On Tuesday, I had my field trip for my art class. We ventured to the Saatchi gallery--only to find out it was closed to the public! After the little let down, we hopped on the tube to the Tate Modern. Now, I've never been a lover of museums--but the Tate Modern is something to see. Five floors of art, organized by theme. This organization allows for Twentieth century artists to be side by side their predecessors. I walked past hundreds of pieces of art.

Photographs, paintings, sculptures, videos--it was an art overload. However, I believe I have a new found love for art museums. There's something innately beautiful about having that much art housed together in one place.

Wednesday marked another day of classes. It also marked the first time I got stuck in a random rain storm in London. We were literally about to turn the corner of the block our building and BAM!--rain poured on us. As inconvenient as this was (seeing as I had forgot my umbrella) I really couldn't be too upset about being caught in the rain in London--it almost seems like part of the experience.

Thursday! The rain hadn't let up and it was still raining our the day that we had a walking tour of Notting Hill (home to one of the 1960s race riot in England). However, my professor was adamant and we walked for roughly an hour and a half in the rain. Whenever I think of Notting Hill, I automatically think of Hugh Grant--which in turn makes me think of prostitutes--but I suppose that's another story. Notting Hill now is quite posh. I don't believe you or I could afford to live there--however in the 1960s it was home to many immigrants who had moved from New Commonwealth--which created racial tension within the neighborhood. Along the tour we saw landmarks of the riots but also many rock n roll landmarks.

Now comes one of my largest regrets of the trip--also maybe just one of my largest regrets ever. I didn't go to the Harry Potter premiere. I know....stop with the berating. I've beaten myself up over this the whole weekend. We didn't get wristbands to go --so it was a leap of faith if we went and see if we could get in. Even still, I wish I would have went. I watched the premiere on my laptop and almost teared up--because all of this was happening less than 15 minutes away from me. Ashley! To you I'm sorry...I'll make it up to you by bringing you back something super British and Londony. Phew. I'm glad I admitted that. Now, I'm just a bit sad I won't be seeing it at midnight with my sisters. This has been a running tradition--even last year when my oldest sister surprised us by driving all the way from Augusta--when she had to work the next day--so she could watch it at midnight with us. I won't be seeing it at midnight this year--but, I'm looking forward to coming home and seeing it with my sisters...seeing and ending it the right way.

Let's just get this out of the way. I've been partying a bit. It's been so much fun. However, sleeping until 2pm makes me feel like a bit of a failure. Thursday night--we went to our bar next to our dorms called Potion...they make the best mixed drinks and I can't wait to see if America has some of them--if not--I might cry. Later that night, we came back and talked with our hall-mates. They're six interns from France, Denmark, Portugal, and England. They are all super nice. We had a bit of a kitchen party--then Laura and I went to this club near Tottenham Court Road called The Roxy. For some reason, they played a lot of 80s music--I felt like I was channeling my mother as I danced to the Jackson Five and "I Will Survive".

Friday--sleep until 3pm. Don't judge--I'm in London. We decided to go out another night--sans Caroline, who is visiting family in Plymouth. However, we were drinking wine in the hall kitchen when Tina (one of the interns from Denmark) came in to make her dinner. We talked for at least 2 hours about healthcare, education systems, politics, student loans, guys, animation, employment--everything! It was odd explaining aspects of American culture. I felt like this chosen representative from the US--stumbling to explain our political system and our screwed up healthcare system (seriously, after talking to Tina--our healthcare system is STUPID). Dave (also from Denmark) came in after about 2 hours and we played a few drinking games--including a Danish game called Pyramid (never again.) Then, we decided to go out to The Roxy again. Long night played short--lost Dave. Tina, Laura, and I danced forever. Went home. Dave found.

Saturday was a relaxing day after two days of partying. I read Harry Potter (almost as a form of an apology) and watched em..um..Twilight (I don't know what's wrong with me!) I got an awesome sandwich from Pret Amanger and slept all day. Sunday (today) hasn't been that much different. I've been eating Cadbury chocolate bars all day. So good. And working on homework. Later on tonight, I'll probably go do some laundry--if I can scrounge together some coins.

It's weird to believe that I'm here. Doing this. I've always been the baby of my family and to think that I'm halfway across the world--living and thriving. It's an odd feeling knowing for the first time that you will be okay without your family. I love my family and miss them sorely but I've found that I'm not afraid of the unknown anymore. I've learned to embrace new experiences and walk away from them with memories I can share and knowledge I have gained.

-aubrie xx

From London, With Love