i leave for london on thursday.
this is probably one of the most bittersweet scenarios of my young life, because i have the opportunity
to live my dream and travel the world on my dad's dime and to experience a different culture for four months, but i will be away from this handsome devil, the man i love most in the world.
however, despite the heartaches and homesickness i am sure to experience, i am thankful for this journey i am about to embark on.
because this is in fact my journey.
and i feel lucky to have it, even though it makes me just a little bit sad.
i really love this man.
with all of my heart.
and i will miss him dearly every day we're apart.
but this is my journey.
1 comment:
Hi Emma! My parents mentioned you were stressing about phones and suggested I send you some info, plus I've decided to add a bunch of other unsolicited advice. :) I completely understand if you don't publish this comment because it's loooong.
If you haven't already, check if your cell phone has the right bandwidth to work in Europe. You could probably just google your model number (you'll probably have to remove the battery to see it) plus "work in Europe", or you can call your service. If you want to use your existing phone then you'll need to have your service walk you through unlocking it.
Once in London, you can buy a new SIM card and pay-as-you-go cards. It means you'll have a London number (you'll probably want locals to be able to call you without paying international rates).
If your phone doesn't have the right bandwidth, you can buy a phone in London. More info: http://www.ukstudentlife.com/Life/Telephone/Mobile.htm
I'm sure you've probably gotten variations of these pointers from other sources already, but I thought I'd get my two cents in anyway:
Food: The UK has a bad rap for local cuisine but you can always count on fish & chips or bangers & mash... however the well-established Indian and Middle Eastern communities have some fantastic food-- so long as you like those styles. I also had my only haggis ever at Boisdale near Victoria Station and loved it. (That was years in the making: on my first Europe trip I went all the way to Inverness, Scotland, the capital of the highlands, and couldn't find it!) I'm sure there are plenty of excellent places for high tea and you'll probably discover your own gems, but I had some exquisit scones with clotted cream at Wolsleys (be sure to have fun dressing up, the place is fancy).
Shopping: I doubt I need to tell you any of this, and I may even sound like an amateur, but you MUST make your way to Topshop at least once or twice. Also check out the weekly street market on Portobello Road. Harrods is a bit of a fun spectacle and the basement food department is an attraction on its own. Overall, young London girls are adventurous with their wardrobes and there's a big club scene.
Tourist attractions: since you'll have months to find plenty of amazing sites, I'll just say DO NOT miss Westminster Abbey, and if you're curious about British politics then you can visit parliament and see the House of Commons in action. I haven't been to the Imperial War Museum, but it's definitely on my list, and I've heard that the Holocaust exhibit there is something you'll never ever forget.
You will have the time of your life, I'm so excited for you! If you're getting nervous don't worry about it-- my first time leaving the country on my own I had a mini panic attack once I was over the Atlantic-- but I had such a great time once I was there, and only one of my calls home was teary and homesick (if you do that, at least take precaution with the time difference). There's something about being on your own that forces you to be more adventurous and meet more people. Be sure to keep a journal and take lots and lots of pictures!
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