A year ago, I wrote an article about saying goodbye to the graduating seniors who had made a positive impact on my life. With the arrival of spring and summer break about to begin, I find myself in a similar position. Except this time, I am not saying farewell to people, but rather a place. Due to the opportunity of studying abroad, London, England has been my home for the past three and a half months. During this time I have fallen in love with the city. I don’t want to leave. And so I find myself asking once more, how do I say goodbye?

My answer last year was writing letters, but I can’t write letters to inanimate buildings. Or can I? Upon reflection of the places I have visited and the memories I have made, I have realized that what gives cities life are its inhabitants and their experiences. London, I am leaving you in a few days, so now I offer my gratitude to the places that have made a foreign city feel like home.

Thank you, Underground for taking me wherever I needed to go. Special thanks to the Picadilly Line for slowly, but faithfully delivering me to school each morning. You will always be my little caterpillar.

Thank you, Sainsbury's and Tesco for your £3 meal deals. You really help college students on a budget.

Thank you, Caffe Nero for serving the students of GEO, and for your chocolate muffins. I’m going to miss those.

Thank you, Trafalgar Square for being my first favorite place in London. I will never get tired of your fountains, columns, or floating Yodas.

Thank you, pubs for providing me with the authentic British experience of fish and chips, for pints of Dark Fruit, and for your booths filled with laughter.

Thank you, numerous art museums for your paintings I now cannot look at without analyzing.

Thank you all museums for being free.

Thank you, royal parks for being beautiful places to sit and read novels for class (when it’s sunny).

London, there are so many more places I could express thankfulness to, so I’ll just sum up with this: thank you for being so full of history that I have been able to experience firsthand. From the Tower of London to Shakespeare’s Globe and everywhere in between, I have grown in knowledge and courage.

While my appreciation of London has grown each day, I have come to realize how little I have experienced my own home and college back in the States. Living life to the fullest in London has taught me that the same mentality can be applied to the places I have taken for granted in the past. So, I advise all to go out. Be a tourist in your own city. Go to the places that you’ve always wanted to check out, but never have the time to. Or go to your favorite spots and really pause to take it all in. When seen with fresh eyes, places new or old can take on a deeper appreciation.

I leave London with sadness, but also with determination to take in all that my summer at home has to offer.