Last Post from London

WE ARE FINISHED! Yesterday’s final studio presentation at Woods Bagot was a success and now all academic work is complete. I haven’t done much of anything this week besides prepare my design so having everything finally finished is a fantastic feeling. We even have our grades already. After our presentation, we paid one last visit to The Rocket, a pub on Euston Road we’ve frequented because they have a deal where you get a burger, chips, and a drink for £3.95. The hostel threw us a party in the downstairs bar last night, which consisted of two free drinks for each of us and tortilla chips. But apparently if they hang up posters in the hostel with American flags advertising that there will be a bunch of Americans (let alone Nebraskans) in one place, it keeps them away rather than encouraging them to come…

Did you know that a Dutch girl stole my umbrella in Westminster station on Tuesday? And it was raining outside! Grrrrr.

So now we are in the process of packing it all up – our room is so small than only two people can pack at once. I am glad that I did not overpack because everything is fitting pretty nicely in preparation for going home. However, packing for 23 days in a backpack is something I’ve never done before! I have mixed feelings about the end of the official London program – I am anxious to experience new cities and see some amazing sites on the Continent but London has been home for three months and I’ve seen and done some really cool things while here. (By the way, I was in the first group of people to ever visit the brand new Wimbledon Lawn & Tennis Museum on Wednesday!!) Besides the obvious things like the amazing architecture, vast history, and the great museums, I have heard some truly amazing music here, especially the London Philharmonic and London Symphony Orchestra, and that will stick with me for a long, long time. That was what personalized the trip for me and is something that no one else really got to experience. Also, all of the walking, stair climbing and living off of Tesco sandwiches and fruit has resulted in my clothes hanging on me and a belt becoming an essential wardrobe accessory. It’s great! I also really need a haircut...

So, on to Paris! We leave Waterloo station at 11:10 tomorrow morning to take the Eurostar (the high-speed train that crosses and goes underneath the English Channel) and arrive in Paris at Gare du Nord around 2:30 tomorrow afternoon. (It seems so weird that we’re actually leaving – I have been thinking about and preparing for this trip since September and it’s kind of surreal that it is now time.) I have to admit that I’m a little nervous about some of the logistical things in a country where I don’t speak the language but we have phrase books and maps and a guidebook (and each other) so hopefully things will be alright. It will definitely be an adventure! I will try to post on this next leg of the journey but since I’m not taking my laptop with me, I don’t know if I’ll be able to share photos until I get home.

Now I’d better go ride the tube one last time before I go… au revoir!