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)

July 29

This is what Lloyd's looks like from the outside
It's the one with all the blue things on top of it

I had to be up at 7 because we had to leave for class at 7:45, eugh. We visited with XL Catlin today, and at least they gave us snack, but we were there until 12:45. How can people talk for so long? I understand that for them, this is new, but we've basically heard the same presentations for the past 2 weeks. It wasn't boring, and I still enjoyed it, but it was just too long, especially for starting class 2 hours earlier and getting out at the same time.


It was Brittney's birthday, but she didn't feel like doing anything. We were all planning on staying with her, but she didn't really want that either, so we all started last minute planning for tonight. JT, Reid, myself, Dom, Nicole, and Brooke went out to a club, but it wasn't that great. It was our last weekend here though, so I was going somewhere, and we ended up at Tiger Tiger. I just love going places with Reid, because he's so over protective of all of us, and he's just really fun to go out with. I'm really going to miss my London fam, it just won't be the same in Tally.

July 28

Thursday we went to JLT, where I was the previous Friday. They spoiled us with journals, not just a notepad, but an actual journal, wallets, and pens, all with the JLT logo of course. This visit wasn't as overwhelming as some of the others, nor did it drag on forever.

Around eight that night Aleesia, JT, Nicole and I met up with JT's friend, Victoria, at The Shard. We got drinks on the 32nd floor, which had a great view of the city. The drink was over 14 pounds, but that was cheaper than the 24 pound ticket to go to the top. It was well worth it. We were enjoying some of our last legal drinks, until next year...for me anyways. They're babies. Ha.

July 27

JT and I walked to Harrods, three miles there...and back, on Wednesday. (I'm going to miss being able to walk everywhere.) The store was so overwhelming, so expensive and so big it needed a map. It was confusing and we had to walk through 3 different rooms to get to the toy store, it was not worth it. I honestly cannot even describe it. The only way I can even attempt to explain it, is that it's not real unless you've been inside. It's literally, like, nothing I had ever seen before. It's a big deal, and I can understand why, but, wow, I would never be able to actually buy anything there. We walked into the children's clothes area for kicks...a plain, white, button town long sleeved shirt for a 3 year old boy was 125 GBP, which is roughly 165 USD. Nobody should buy that, that's ridiculous.

July 26

Tuesdays visit was to Willis Towers Watson and Lloyd's of London. At Willis we met with 3 guys, in this huge office, to talk about the company. They were all really sweet and they kept it interesting. John took us across the street for a tour of Lloyd's of London, where his daughter works as an underwriter. The Lloyd's building is really interesting. The outside was designed to look external, it is not your average building, and most people don't like the outside look of it. The inside is just as amazing, though. The desks are set up, like a library style, I guess. There are 4 floors of desks, upon desks. Each underwriter has their own area and the brokers come to them, files in hand (yes, the paper kind) to negotiate. If they need more floors for the Lloyd's market, the inside is designed for the glass panels, on the 5th floor, and above, to be able to be removed and another escalator added. It was just, wow.




We went back to Willis for lunch, which was super weird. They had salmon, this bread filled with minced meat and a piece of a hard boiled egg, cold potatoes covered in sour cream, a pastry that looked like it contained cranberries, but it was really just beets, and a really delicious strawberry and cream dessert. It felt way too fancy, I would have rather just had a sandwich, like the kind we have at afternoon tea.

It was our last pizza night, and nobody was there, so my apartment stole 5 pizzas this time around. I went on a night run, through the populated part of the city, the Southbank to be specific, because that's my favorite walking/running spot in London. It's this really nice paved area across from Westminster, probably constructed for photo ops, but it's really nice. When I returned everyone was discussing where to go out, for our last "real" Tuesday night in London. We ended up at O'Neils, and by we, I mean most of the FYA's, and a few other FSU students, but we had a good time.