so lucky

I can't believe I actually did it. All of last semester, and Last summer, I was telling people I was going to London. Just telling them. But I don't know how much I actually believed it. Then I applied for a passport. Cool, whatever. I have a passport. Then my parents bought plane tickets. wierd. then I went to some orientations. Kept telling people I wouldn't be here for the Spring.

Then January came around, and I got worried about it actually happening. Before then, I really didn't think it was actually going to happen, for whatever reason or another. It really freaked me out. I thought I was going to miss everything and everyone so unbearably. I thought I would miss out on everthing at PLU, all the theatre experiences, the Clay Crows, and feel so left out of the group--whatever group that might be. And it's true because people kept talking about stuff in the spring and I just thought, "um, Hello, I'm not going to be there." People can change so much over a semester, and I didn't want to be lost when i came back. I was also worried that people wouldn't care that I was gone. That they would forget about me I guess. I like being wanted and invited and missed. I was afraif that wasn't going to happen.

And, when I would look ahead, There was this big black void from February until May. I had no idea what was going to happen. I can usually picture the future in some form or another, but I had absolutely no clue. And I didn't want to put any expectations on it.

At the end of January, I packed up, moved out, went home, then re-packed. I hopped onto a Plane with 6 other girls at 1 in the morning and Flew over to London, England.

I'm in London. I've been in London for the past three months and wouldn't change it for anything. No theatre at PLU, no CLAY CROWS Shows. NO nerf gun wars, no concerts, no birthday parties. Nothing. Yeah, I'll have missed out on stuff and probably feel a little wierded out by it when people reference things that I have no idea about. But I can do that too. Think of everything I've done since I've been here;

~I Saw the Original London Cast of Spring Awakening during their off-west end run.

~I went to Edinburgh. Took a tour of the Castle, and Haunted Vaults.

~I got to go to Loch Ness and SEE the Loch Ness monster.

~I took a 8 hour bus ride back from Glasgow, and got no sleep and went to class straightaway.

~I've bought 1000 scarves for cheap. (okay not really, but a lot). and TWO POUND SHOES???/

~Went to Germany. BY Myself. Saw Franzi- who I havent seen in 4 years.

~One of my best friends came over to visit me!!!!

~I got to tour Paris WITH MY FAMILY.

~ Up the eiffel tower, Mona Lisa, Versailles, Michaelangelo's sculpture, Moulin Rouge. Yummy Yummy Bread.

~My parents took us to see "The Lion King"

~I can get around central london BY MYSELF and feel totally comfortable and safe doing it.

~I've been to church service INSIDE westminster Abbey.

~Buckingham Palace, and Possibly seen the queen in one of her motor parades and entourage.

~I've also been to Church INSIDE St. Paul's Cathedral. 2nd Largest Church dome anywhere.

~I saw a play IN FRENCH at the Comedie Frances. Oldest National theatre. and it was "the ILLUSION" What is this?

~I've seen, essentailly, 2 shows a week for the past 12 weeks. Derek Jacobi, Juliete stephenson, and This weekend--- this AFTERNOON I'm seeing JUDI DENCH and tomorrow SIR IAN MCKELLAN and PATRICk STEWART.

~Seen Spring awakening another 4 times. CAn't get much better than that

~Went out to a pub and talked to actors for 3 hours.

~IRELAND. GORGEOUS

~Saw Jason Mraz Live in concert.

~SAW HARRY POTTER BEING FILMED!!!!!!!!!!!

~seen the Magna Carte.

~what did I do the Other day that was important to me that I see before I leave. Umm..... I forget.

~ OXFORD and Cambridge Universities. stood where they;ve filmed Harry Potter!!!

~Enjoyed my fair share Of Pints and different Pubs.

~Been TO STratford, Stonehenge, and Bath.

~ I can Ride the Tube Just fine.

~Notre Dame with the Family

~Had to run to see a show on time. It was a wierd show, but cutting it close is good for adrenaline.

~seen a Show-- romeo and juliet, actually-- at SHAKESPEARE's GLOBE!

~had the awkward experience of people making out next to me on the tube. And drunk guys blessing other people on the program

~in Scotland, sat in the Elephant Cafe, where JK Rowling sat while writing Harry Potter.

~Barely Missed seeing Zac Efron and PInk around London.

~Kings cross

~WIndsor Castle



Wow. Just Wow. And that's probably not half of it.

I don't know if Ive changed at all. I've gained weight, but I mean like... myself. I think I'm more willing to accept the fact that I am percieved as an independent person. Also, the regrets thing. I try to live without regrets. what's why ive spent the money to do some of these things. I dont want to regret not doing them. What else was I supposed to do?

And now, I jsut..... it's so close to being over.

It's not the leaving I hate. It's the fact that I don't know when I'm coming back. I can't just hop on the tube, or fly away somewhere for a weekend. No more London Papers, No more Harry Potter Filming.

ANd I get to go to Rome and Vienna Next week. By myself. What? I dont think I would have even considered that last year. In fact, I wasn't even considering London until Last spring. It was on a whim I even applied. And I'm so thankful that I decided to do it. Now I know that I want to travel and see other places and be with other people, and I can survive being on my own.

I'm incredibly grateful that I've been able to accomplish so much. And have had my friends to help me along the way. Even though I'm like, 5000 miles away from them and my family.

And, I get to go to Ireland next January. With a bunch of my best friends. How lucky am I? So freaking lucky.