When I first learned my parents were going to move to London and that they would leave the U.S. just after dropping me off for my first year away at college, I had mixed emotions. Sure, I thought it might be nice to visit them in London -- an amazing city, I heard from many people -- but, honestly, I worried about them being so far away from me. I didn't know what to expect from my first year at university, and having them living half a world away made me apprehensive. Although my first semester of school did seem a bit lonelier than the experience of some of my friends, as soon as I boarded the plane for that first winter break, I couldn't wait to see what London had in store.
Once I officially landed in the UK, I was undeniably American and made all of the stereotypical mistakes. First, I attempted to get into the wrong side of the car at the airport. I remember trying the door only to have the driver chuckle and guide me to the other side of the car. Next, I felt like I was four years old again -- fearful about crossing the streets because I wasn't sure which way to look for oncoming traffic. They were all driving on the wrong side of the road .... at least to me. After that, I had to spend some time concentrating on learning about pounds, pence and the Tube system. By the end of my first trip, I felt like the only thing I had in common with the British was that we spoke the same language. Well, I still had that annoying American accent of course...
After I had the opportunity to work in London for a summer and experience another full winter break there, I recently returned back for my last Christmas and nostalgia began to hit. In an effort to properly bid farewell to one of my now favorite cities, I became a tourist again. Alongside two of my closest friends, we crafted a plan to conquer all of the tourist attractions one final time. To put it simply, London is magical. I didn't need to revisit all of the iconic places to learn that, but I had a new appreciation for them now that I felt more like a native.
The first thing we did differently is that we didn't just go see the sites but we actually shelled out money to experience the attractions. For example, the London Eye is such an amazing sight, but once we bought our tickets for the viewing tour, I gained an entirely new perspective. The feeling of being able to see iconic Big Ben and the stately Houses of Parliament from hundreds of feet up in the air was indescribable, and it allowed me to better appreciate just how big London actually is. The same was true for our visit to St. Paul's Cathedral. Of course the inside of the church is undeniably beautiful, but climbing the stairs to view the dome and see over the rooftops of London is a must.
via National Geographic
Secondly, even as tourists, we attempted to do what Londoners do. From what I've learned, it involves a lot of drinking -- tea, that is. It is imperative to experience a high tea while visiting England. From the champagne to the tea tower of sandwiches and scones, you really can't go wrong. But let's not forget about the other kind of drinking. There's nothing like cuddling up in a warm, old pub with friends and enjoying a drink.
via lastminute.com
Finally, we just explored. There are all sorts of tours in London, and they are led by some fascinating and energetic tour guides. We had the opportunity to go on the Muggle tour and see where J.K. Rowling gained inspiration for her novels, and even where some of the scenes where filmed. Weaving in and out of the backstreets with our tour guide was an incredible adventure.
London is a wonderful city famous for its iconic skyline and amazing history. The city is buzzing with excitement, adventure, and an eclectic mix of people. Although it took me a while to feel at home there, now that my time living in London is coming to an end, I know it has -- and will always have -- a truly special place in my heart.
