Home?

I have now been "home" for a week, and like many of my friends, I am now contemplating where home really is, or what home is, even. My Mom would tell anyone that asks, "home is where I am." A friend of mine has a similar mindset, "wherever I'm sleeping that night, that's home." Although I agree with both statements, I can't help but feel "home" is something much more than it once was to me. 

I can truly say that I found a home in Valencia. I was pushed into a different city, with a different language, a different culture, and I knew absolutely no one. I felt extremely grateful come Thanksgiving 2015, because I had found myself another family. I found a family, and in turn, I found a home. 

I cannot easily put into words why I feel Valencia is my first, "home away from home." It is probably easy to understand. I was a freshman, going to college, therefore I made it my "home away from home." I did, but it stole my heart in the process. It's not just home, but a place I fell in love with. I have no idea if I would ever spend the money to get on a plane for 12 hours, to go somewhere I've already been, but if I did, it would be Valencia. I didn't know Spanish, and I didn't pick up on it easily, but I made it through. My friends that I met the first day, became my family for the rest of the year. We're even rooming together in Tallahassee. 

Reading through several "Things I wish I new before studying abroad," before I left all mentioned that the friends you study abroad with, are friends for life. I doubted that this could be true, but it is. We study together, we get through stressful planning and traveling together, we know who needs to be reminded 20x to print her ticket off, and we know who needs to be awoken at 6am, because the alarm won't work. We're probably too close for our own good, but with that, it makes us stronger and closer mentally. 

Friends make my home. Yes, family is everything, but when my family wasn't around, my friends were. We spent birthdays and holidays together. My friends are the family I chose.

August 3

The morning of the 3rd we took a shuttle from the stud centre to the airport at 6am. We got to Heathrow in under an hour, which is unheard of for London traffic. I got my bags checked in, and just waited. The flight wasn't bad, but it wasn't my Lufthansa flight home, either. It got me to where I needed to be, without feeling like I was going to drop out of the sky, so it was a success. My leg was shaking as we closed in for landing, something I think my seat neighbor was getting annoyed with, but I was too excited to stop it.

Once we landed, I went through customs and got my bags within 30 minutes. My parents underestimated my timing, and they were a little late, but they didn't forget me. I was greeted with goldfish crackers and puppy chow, which we finished before getting home. Our first on the way home was for salads at Shorty's, because I hadn't had a decent salad in, what felt like, a year. Then we drove over to Target and started shopping for "real" college. We spent a lot of money and then finally made it back to the East side, O-Town, but that's where we stopped. I had to be introduced to the new house and be walked through all of the plans, give my opinions, etc. I finally made it back to our house, about 5 hours after I landed.

August 2

From left: Reid, Brittney, Brooke, moi, Alayna, Griffin

We began the morning with our last "farewell tea." It was raining on the way over, of course, and on the way back. We had our final glasses of champagne, scones, and little sandwiches. We took an FYA photo, and individual apartment pictures, and we just had a really good time.  We went back to rest a little, finish packing, and clean our apartments. JT and I also went to exchange money, and it was so weird to see the US dollar again. 

For dinner, JT, myself, Aleesia, Emily and Christian went to a classic English pub in Soho. We got burgers, fish & chips, and beer. Our last dinner in London was a classic English dinner, and it was amazing. JT was handing out money, because she still had a ton...so I didn't complain. I bought Ben and Jerry's, and I only hate half of it, but it was also on sale, with JT's money. Then, around 9:30 JT and I went out on one more walk through the city.








We walked down to the river, across the bridge, by the Eye, to Southbank, which I love, and we just sat across from Big Ben for a while. We walked along Southbank, then back up to Trafalgar, where we climbed the lion one more time. We got back to the apartment around midnight, fist bumped and "see ya in 2 weeks."

We passed most of my apartment, going to watch Big Ben go off at midnight, on our way back, but Alayna got home a little bit after I did. She came up to my room and we were talking about Tally and life, and how we have to keep in contact, even though she sucks at stuff like that, but it was nice. I found a great, great friend in Alayna, and if nothing else, she made London great for me.

August 1

Exams were this morning, and mine probably took a little over a half an hour. The questions were super confusing, and because they were from our previous professor, the new one couldn't help much, he had to look some of the answers up himself! Afterwards he took us to Starbucks and bought us coffees, and the breakfast for the guys. He we telling us his story about college and the transition to the real world. He asked about the futures for the Texas A&M guys, and we ended the conversations with football. It was a nice end to the class.

I came back and finished packing, then went to the Spitafields Market with Aleesia and JT. It was weird being there on a weekday, because it was pretty empty. Aleesia's mom wanted something from there, but we couldn't find it, so we left shortly after we got there. For dinner we got falafel boxes, but they weren't, what I would consider "real" falafels. They were more like parmesan cheese balls, which was kind of off putting.

I decided to go on one last run, through the rain, around the city. It was a decent 3.5 mile run, especially because it was misting the entire time, so no one was out on the streets. Then I came back and had 10 minutes to shower and get ready to leave again. Getting ready has become very difficult with only have 2 outfits to choose from, because neither seemed to work for this occasion, but I made it last. Brooke, Dom, Aleesia, JT and I walked to this bar called A Spice of Life, to watch Christian Camacho play. He did 2 numbers, both of which I had heard before, but they meant a little more tonight. The one I know best is his song about Los Angeles, and going home, but he wrote it in Spain, so he talks about that too. It was nice. It was his last open mic performance here, and we were happy to come and support him.

July 31

I woke up early and decided to go to church one last time. There was actually an American priest visiting, and I could understand his entire sermon! I was really excited. I wonder if our "accent" is sometimes too thick, or if American's talk too fast for the Brits and make it difficult to understand us. I definitely have that problem with some of them.

I came back and made myself some banana chocolate chip pancakes, because it was Sunday brunch. Then for the rest of the day I switched between studying, Netflix, and packing. I finished my homework and then Alayna and I made an impromptu trip to Top Shop. Jorge got a necklace engraved with WC1B 3LH, which is our very specific zip code in London. This started a trend and JT, Aleesia, Alayna, and I all got necklaces relating back to our first European home. Aleesia's says "VLC.LON," JT's says, "VLC 46003," mine has the coordinates on the front and back, and Alayna got the coordinates for Florence. They're a little bulky for me, but I love the thought behind it, I do miss Valencia.

At 10:30 we left for the water, to watch Big Ben go off at midnight into August. This is something we said we'd do, and we actually made it happen each month! Brittany, Alayna, and Emily joined us this time around, and even though we exams in the morning, no one cared. We walked to my favorite spot in London on the Southbank and we waited. We avoided sentimental talks, because that means the end is near. I also felt like I wasn't in London last night. It honestly hasn't sunken in that I am in London, or that I'm leaving. Just like how Spain didn't feel real, maybe it's just too much to take in. I'm 19 and I've completed 3 semesters of college while traveling to 15 different countries...I am living my dream and it is a spectacular feeling. Emily and I agreed that sitting across from Westminster felt like we were staring through the virtual reality goggles, or looking at a postcard, but we weren't, we were there. We are here. It's crazy.

July 30

We saw Finding Dory today. There were about 8 of us that went, because it just came out in the UK and we've been waiting all summer for it. It was great to go back to our childhood together, because we all have different memories from seeing Finding Nemo and it was just really cool.

I went on a walk through the city, after the movie, but the trek was much more difficult that I had anticipated. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child had its official premiere so there were tons of people, and road blocks everywhere. We live less than 10 minutes from the Palace Theatre, and that's the quickest route to the water...but I took the long way around to avoid the crowds, or so I thought. I walked along the Southbank again, because I really am going to miss that area. On my walk back, there was a bike race going on and I had to walk an extra mile before being able to get to the other side of the street. I didn't mind at all though, because it was a gorgeous day and I was in London.

Aleesia, JT, and I played peanuts before going out tonight and it made me realize how old I actually am. We were attempting to teach Emily how to play, and Aleesia commented on how I always win (& how JT only wins if Aleesia and I are drinking). I said, sarcastically, "yeah, but I probably have 10 years on them," and once I said that, I did the math and I realized I probably did. I can't remember when I learned to play peanuts, but it has probably been around 10 years now, and that just blew my mind. Wow.

We went out to a bar, and had a great time with "girls night." We didn't invite other people, except Alayna, because it always gets too complicated. We looked cute and danced until 2, then we had to get McDonald's for Aleesia before heading back to the apartment. We stayed up talking to Alayna and Sean for a while before going to bed.

British English versus American English

For my own entertainment purposes, I began writing down words I have come across that are...a little strange, in my opinion. Some are just small differences, but others I had to google.

Pigeon hole (cubby hole/office mail box)
Hob (stove)
Jim jams (pajamas)
Queue (waiting in line)
Alight (exit)
Car Park (parking lot)
Tube (metro)
Footway (sidewalk)
Jelly babies (jelly beans)
Ice lolly (Popsicle)
Midday (noon)
Gherkin (a pickle)
Spuds (potatoes)
Twixt (between)
Candy floss (cotton candy)
Rocket (arugula)
Goujons (chicken nuggets)
Digestives (really delicious cookies that they dip in tea/coffee, that don't actually assist with anything related to digestion)
Sweets (candy)
Cycles (bikes)

Also, pronunciation--

Aluminum (Al-u-mini-um)
Quay (key)
Southwark (Suth-urk)
Leicester Square (Lester Square)
Thames (Tems)