Don't Ever Change

4/15/14
Today was perfect. The weather was beautiful and sunny, the feel of the city was lively and the company was even better. To start off the day I slept in, talked to my parents for a little while and then went out in the fray of the city with some of my favorite people. Bekah, Lanna, Steph and I headed out to try and find a place to do high tea but after a little bit of searching and realizing that it would cost about half of our weekly allowance, we opted out and just spent a little time enjoying each others company. We fondly refer to ourselves as "the sisterhood of the denim shirts" now, because 3 out of the 4 of us were wearing them today. You can't coordinate awesome. After some laughs and hugs we divided up for lunch and to see what else the city would show us. Stephanie and I ended up at Wagamama for lunch, basically just fancy ramen! It was so good and we both used chopsticks the whole time. Skills.

Once we had had our fill of deliciousness, we decided to stop by Covent Garden one last time. Covent Garden is one of my favorite places in the city and even though it is always busy and crowded I feel right at home. Its sort of starting to hit me that I have to leave London and I don't like it one bit. I've come to love it here and no matter how often I visit or come back it will never be my home, not like this anyways. I'm trying not to sob every time I walk up the stairs to my flat or sit at the kitchen table because I can't help but think that its one of the last times. I don't have any profound statements about my life or about being a world traveller but I can tell you that this semester has changed me, for the better. I quoted this on twitter the other day and think its appropriate here:

"You get a strange feeling when you're about to leave a place.

You'll not only miss the people you love but you'll miss the person 

you are now at this time and this place, because you'll never be this way ever again."

These are from a few days ago at our cronut outing!

It's hard for me to express to you all how much I love these girls and how special they are to me. Coming here I literally had one friend and only really knew her from the one class we had had together, leaving here I've made memories and friends that will last a lifetime. To each and every person on this trip: I love you guys and can't imagine spending my last semester of undergrad with anyone better.

Time for some pictures of my last few days:

This is my bestie Zac, he's a pretty cool cat. 

Regent's Park last Saturday with Stephanie.

I found flowers!

Stephanie is just the sweetest

Napping in the grass at Hyde Park :)

From the Spiderman premiere! I met Emma Stone!!!

It's time for me to go soak in all the last little bits. I don't want to leave here. Yes, I want to see you all, be at home in Abilene, and love on my puppy but oh London, my London don't ever change. 

3 more days.

Missing you all, 

Lydia

London Farewells

4/6/14
No need to state the obvious, I'm a bad blogger. It hasn't been a whole month yet if that counts for anything... not really I suppose. Anyways, it's almost time for me to head back to Texas and it is so bittersweet. The past month or so has been really busy, primarily with school work but not to worry, I've made a little bit of time to see more of London. Before Spring Break my bestie Rebecca was here and I loved spending time with her and showing her around my favorite parts of London, leaving was so sad but I'm excited to get to see her soon! Our Spring Break was spent in parts of England, Scotland and Wales where we visited all sorts of places. We went to Whitby and the North Sea, saw Loch Ness, relaxed in Glen Coe and hiked a little bit, and many other places...of which the names escape me, but nonetheless, it was a wonderful 10 days! We were all pretty tired of being on a coach bus...and of each other once we got home but I think that its safe to say that it has been my most memorable college SB. My favorite part was on one of the last nights a bunch of us were hanging out in the hotel lobby in Caernarvon (did I spell that right? Its Welsh.) playing pool and piano, drinking coffee, and having good conversation with good company. It's the simple things that I'll miss with some of the greatest people that I have ever had the privilege of knowing. Once we got home we were immediately back into the fray of everyday life in London. One of our first classes was through Westminster Abbey, I was practically dancing at how excited I was! I had a quick conversation with Queen Elizabeth and some of my other favorite English people. Some people get excited about sports or celebrities, I get excited about seeing dead English monarchs! To each their own?
I made a to-do list a week or so ago...and cried. It was that long and I was that worried about it. BUT with the grace and peace that comes from God I've survived this crazy hectic week (I had 3 huge papers due + other assignments) and I intend to survive the next 2 just fine. I would greatly appreciate it  though if you all would pray for me as I finish my last semester of undergrad! Pray that I would finish well and that whatever God has for me after HSU would be clear to me...and soon!
I've grown to love London, learn London, and make it part of my heart. This place, that I got to call home for this very short 13 weeks has been life changing. In the midst of making new friends, preparing for graduation, adapting to living in a foreign country, and getting school work done I learned more about myself than I ever have before. Farewell, my sweet London, I'll be back someday.
Missing you all & see you very soon,
Lydia
(11 days to go!)