Yes, I went to London for the mid-term break. And I know what you’re thinking “why on earth would you go somewhere you just lived for 4 months when you could go anywhere in Europe?” But let’s face it, the rest of Europe doesn’t have a really cute boy whom I happen to be very enamored with in it. And trust me, leave America for 5 months and you too will take a few days in the closest place you can call home. This was not a “let’s go exploring” vacation for me; this sort of was a “going home” vacation. Everything was familiar, they spoke my language, and Steve’s place is no hostel. It was good to see people, as well (even if John was being kind of a wanker). I arrived in London sunburned and with what may or may not have been sun poisoning (Dad! Don’t worry! I’m OK!) and Steve was amazing taking care of me. I really don’t know what I would have done in some foreign country. Things would not have been ok. He was excellent. A public thank you to Steve for being awesome.
But we didn’t do nothing. You have seen the pictures I think. Did a few things I had always wanted to do, like get some good fish and chips, go to Kew Gardens, and go the beach. But also some old favourites like the Gourmet Burger kitchen and obviously we went to Oddono’s (Twice…). Steve made his excellent curry for me, watched Family Guy (in English!!) and just hung out and it was great. It felt really good to be walking around South Ken again and knowing where everything was (still better than Steve). And I got the behind the scenes view of the Natural History Museum. Oooo. No, not that exciting. Sorry.
Brighton was good stuff. Sure, perhaps not the hot southern New Jersey weather, and perhaps the water was just over 50 degrees (I did not go in, my feet loudly protested). Steve, being a true Brit, did take a dive. He then promptly put on a sweater. But when the sun was out, it was quite nice. A very nice big big beach. Sure there were some chavs in training nearby, but that’s ok, it was still nice. The place has clearly cleaned itself up since Grandma was there many years ago. We went and got our fish and chips at a really good restaurant (definitely fresh… nice) and “American floss” aka Cotton Candy. No idea what got lost in translation there. It was sort of like Cape May. It was without the endless tourist shops and in general much smaller, sans Fudge Kitchen and Joe Bogel, thankfully. No familial encounters either. It was nice, and I was super careful in the son. I promise!
I went to LSE and got a graduate prospectus and talked to a woman who answered my questions. I looked through the booklet and I am hooked. I need to get my grades up, and then I am there. I really hope I get in, it’s an amazing school with amazing programs and it would be amazing to study in London again.
Being in London was nice. It just felt right. I actually didn’t want to leave. Partly because of Steve but in general I just love London, yes, much more than Berlin. This time leaving, I knew that soon after I would be leaving Europe and my next visit to London will be in who knows how long. Probably years and years from now.
Perhaps I felt so nostalgic because I wasn’t going home, but once again somewhere foreign. I’ve realized that I think no matter how long you’ve lived in a place or how well you speak the language, it can’t really be home unless you speak your native tongue. There’s just something about speaking what you grew up with and spent most of your life speaking. There’s a connection there I think you don’t get no matter how fluent you are. Perhaps one day I will live in a foreign country and become fluent in some language and feel differently. I’ll let you know then.
I want to make it clear that I don’t dislike Berlin. I just like London better. Berlin is, as mom pointed out before we parted ways, just shabbier. It’s getting there and probably improving all the time, but it still is covered in graffiti, sans skyscrapers and filled with non-traditionalists. It definitely has it’s own charm and I’m extremely glad I came here. But you know, then you see someone shooting up in the corner and you just think, is this really my kind of place? The program has been amazing, and I’ve learned a lot, and my German, which I have always wanted to learn, has improved beyond what I ever thought I would get in 6 weeks. I would not change my choice to come to Berlin by any means. It’s the capital of one of the world’s most important countries and is becoming increasingly important as the EU slowly takes over the world. I’m really glad I got to live here and learn more about it and its history. London, and some certain people there, just spoiled me.
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