Cheers, London

It is my last night in London. Well, actually, I'll be leaving in only 3 short hours. I can't believe that I will be home tomorrow. Being here feels so right, so normal now. It's definitely a bittersweet goodbye; I am so excited to see everyone at home and start all the exciting things coming up, but I am really sad to leave London. As I said my final goodbyes to my coworkers and friends from the program, it made me realize how lucky I've been to meet so many great, supportive people and how different it will be not to see them everyday anymore. I don't know the next time I will be back or the next time I will see my "London family", and that makes me appreciate the memories we've made even more.

I spent my last day soaking in London culture. My day started with packing, then I went to the amazing Victoria & Albert museum (where I saw an amazing Grace Kelly exhibit), had lunch across the street from Harrods, and met up with Tilly for Evensong at Westminster Abbey. Unfortunately the famous boy's choir is on vacation, but a choir from Oxford University subbed in for today. Then Tilly and I were off to the Royal Albert Hall where we met up with her boyfriend Dom for the Proms, a classical music festival that runs all summer. So I spent my final evening with my old friends Beethoven and Strauss. I wanted my last day here to be comfortable and familiar, providing a good sense of closure and representing what my summer has been like for me. I've spent so many of my days here in theaters, museums, and galleries, enjoying the best of London's art, music, theatre, historical, and cultural sphere. We topped off the evening with a final dose of culture at a Turkish restaurant (don't worry - I had my last traditional British meal the other night of a steak and ale pie and it was amazing). I've been running around since, packing and printing boarding passes and taking out the trash and saying goodbyes.

I'll upload my last photos tomorrow when I get home, so this isn't goodbye for the blog yet. Doesn't it seem like yesterday when I posted that I arrived safely and in one piece? It sure feels like yesterday.

To everyone who has been keeping up with me - I can't thank you enough. I've been so touched that you've allowed me to share my experience with you.