I Will Play My Game Beneath the Spin Light

Warning: Grammar is a little rusty so excuse my mistakes.

Where do I even begin? I’ve spent the last two weeks getting reacquainted with a city that I once called home. Walking off that plane left me with a feeling of excitement and a sense of relief to finally be back here. I was apprehensive that I’d find myself alone in this city, stumbling around trying to figure things out but thankfully I’ve been able to meet some awesome people, and I’ve found that not much as changed.

            The last two weeks have been filled with way more emotions then I believe I bargained for. I’m finding leaving home this time to be a lot more difficult than the first and I’ve experienced more spouts of homesickness then I’d probably like to admit. So to any family reading this, HI! I miss and love you! Not ready to come just yet though, how could you when you’re in such an amazing city?

            This weekend I fully embraced being a tourist. I tackled the London Eye and the London Dungeon (eek!) with some friends of mine. For anyone who has had the pleasure of exploring this great city you’ll know just how big and confusing it can actually be. Many times you find yourself lost, circling back to the same spot you just stood. Seeing it from the London Eye took all that confusion away, creating such an interesting experience. I found myself finally seeing the city for the first time. Sure I’ve walked around the streets many times, but seeing it from so high up gave you a new perspective. It’s easy to pass by a historical structure and not cherish its beauty because you find yourself to preoccupied trying to fight tourists crowding the street. From so high up I could fully cherish Big Ben. Some may say, oh its jus a clock tower, but when you’ve dreamed of coming to this city for so long it will always be special. Maybe I’m trying to go to deep in to a stupid London Eye ride, but if heights do not bother you what so ever and you find yourself on the South Bank make sure to take the time to finally see London from a different angle. 

            My friends and I also had the pleasure of being scared half to death at the London Dungeon. This is a great attraction for those not faint of heart, and is an interesting take on the haunts, plagues, and evil rulers throughout London’s history. The tour guides, dressed for the parts of history, walk you through different rooms where the historical characters will give a little background on that era. It has the right amount of scare mixed with the right amount of history. Although I had previously done this my last time here, I forgot just how jumpy it makes me. Would highly suggest this to anyone who doesn't mind a little jump. (Side note to those who find themselves awkward in any situation such as myself, make sure to never stand in the front of everyone. They will pick you for every scene they have and I’m pretty sure I had a mini heart attack each time. Not sure why the found me such an easy target but never again! )

            Sadly once this weekend came to an end, it was the start of my postgraduate career. Today marked the start of classes, a time I normally felt anxiety about, but this time I had already made some friends in my classes and found I was able to breeze my way through the seminars. Although I’ve only had two classes so far I finally feel like my life is going in the direction I’ve always hoped for. I’ll be focusing on how to progress to the next stages of adult life. So I’ll be sure to give an update once all my lectures have been accounted for. This post was sort of rushed, for no reason, and not thought out to well. I feel a lot has happened in the past two weeks that I should share, but I guess thats for another time. 

            To be honest I’m not even sure why I’ve begun this blog again. I am not the best writer, grammar not up to par. It’ll be the same stories as previous just given from the perspective of an older version of me, an adult whose better at being a student than they are at adulting. Some may not understand how I just get up and move across the pond; sometimes I’ve asked myself the same thing. When you feel a pull to be somewhere you just cant ignore that, sadly my pull was here. Now I’m anxious to see what’s in store. So bare with me as I fumble my way through grad school and learn what its like to finally accept that I am in fact an adult and its time to get it together.

These great men are never at home

It was about two Saturdays ago, that I took a trip to Oxford and was able to take a tour of all the universities that make up this historic place. A lot of things had taken place in the town but my most favorite moment of the tour was when I found myself in an alley that was believed to have inspired C.S Lewis’ “The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe”. It was a cute little alley, a lone lamppost at the end which is said to be the same lamp Lewis was depicting in his book. Along with the post we came upon a door that held a lions head along with a mini version of Mr. Tumnus, these pieces were also said to be inspiration for the characters of this book and you could clearly see the visions of these characters played out in your head.

            Along with C.S Lewis, Tolkien was also a predominate figure in Oxford, both of these authors would gather at a pub called “The Eagle and Child” and would brainstorm/discuss ideas for future creations. Some of the books you may know include: Lord of the Rings Trilogy (Tolkien) as well as Chronicles of Narnia (Lewis). Knowing that some of these great writers created right down the road from where I stood was quite an exciting thing to learn as well as think about, these little facts made the two hour trip  completely worth it.

Last Sunday I hopped on a train in to Central which put me right between Big Ben and the London eye, and I found myself not in awe of what was before me, but severely annoyed with all the tourists that lined that Westminster Bridge. Experiencing this crowd of people was eye opening because it gave me a chance to show that I was a local and could no longer compare myself to a tourist. That may sound a bit odd to some, but once I was put into that mindset it was quite liberating to know I was finally making a home here. Tricia and I even adapted the ways of the locals and slammed our way through the people gathered along the bridge. That may sound harsh but that’s just how things get done around here, they don’t move for you so don’t move for them.

When we were done fighting our way through the crowd, a couple of friends and I decided to try out one of London’s big attractions, The London Dungeon, and I must say I was completely impressed. In this attraction you move to different rooms that depicted certain gruesome aspects of English history. Some included King Henry VIII, the Black Plague, for some humor Sweeny Todd as well as a recreation of the Tin Bells where Jack the Ripper did some of his haunts. There was just the right amount of funny with a proper bit of horror that anyone could enjoy it. So if you ever find yourself in Central London be sure to take the time to check it out. We also got our first taste of a traditional Sunday roast which certainly won't be my last. It was quite yummy and held all the nutritional value I have been lacking since I've arrived here, I truly do believe I will eventually turn into a pizza I've consumed so much. If you ever find yourself here in England on a Sunday make sure to take part in this dish. 

Thursday brought some proper bit of excitement as I found myself making a trek to Heathrow to pick up one of my friends from home. Trish is here for a week and it’s great having her. She and I were once roommates so I must point out this will work well with the current living situation since my room is very small. It’s a pretty awesome experience to be given the chance to see a familiar face from home. It's great having the opportunity to show them everything you’ve learned as well as experienced while you've been abroad.  

Tomorrow we are setting out to Old Spitalfields market; I’ve heard great things about this place, as well as Tin Bells, which has been made famous due to Jack the Ripper. I visited this pub once before and the atmosphere is fantastic. I also found myself being called Doris repeatedly by a 50 something year old man that night, but that’s a story for another time.

Tuesday we will be venturing to Jane Austen’s house so I am completely excited to see where this legend composed some of the best books in history; you can’t tell me you’re not a sucker for Austen novels. Who knows, maybe I can find my Mr. Darcy!
I’m completely kidding, but I had to throw his name in there somewhere right?

Hope all is well wherever you call home.

Cheers