Looking Back: Month Two

I am ready to go home.

In the past month I have spent more time traveling than not. This has caused a bit of a disconnect between London and I. In the first month we were like young lovers--everything was new and exciting, even the uncomfortable events (pouring rain, tube strikes) seemed romantic and part of the city's charms. Now London feels uncomfortable, like a sweater that's a little too short in the arms. I have to keep adjusting and can never quite relax.

This disconnect is compounded by the fantastic visit and depressing departure of Boyfriend. Being reunited with my love for one week was amazing and reminded me of everything I have waiting for me 3,600 miles and two months away. Where as before London was only mine, I now find myself haunted by ghosts of Boyfriend. Whenever I got to my coffee shop, the Sandwich Shop, or lie in bed at night I can't help but think--we were here, we loved here. It took all my willpower not to drop my one remaining course and internship and fly back home with him.

But I stayed.

I stayed because I am not convinced that London and I are over. I think we have more to offer each other. I spend every October weekend elsewhere (Cardiff, Amsterdam, Norway, Carlisle); I am determined to spend November locally. There are more adventures to be had here. I can feel it.

Favorite adventure: Drøbak, Norway
Favorite place in London: This is difficult because, honestly, for most of October if I was in London I was either in class or in my dorm. Travel really takes it out of you. I guess I would say Java Bean. I spent many afternoons there drinking hot chocolate or lattes.
Favorite food: Salmon and cream cheese sandwiches from the Priory Kitchen in Carlisle.
Favorite moment: Standing with Boyfriend in front of Hadrian's Wall, taking goofy photos together, and realizing that this man I love had traveled an ocean to be with me and that with him I was happier than I have ever been. Run-on sentence much?
Favorite thing I've learned: I learned/found confidence in my ability to be dropped in a city and survive.
Favorite purchase: My panda hat!! (12.90 pounds)
Favorite thing in the upcoming month: Internship--medieval museum, a crypt, hell yeah!
Favorite photo: taken October 28 on the path heading to a section of Hadrian's Wall


P.S. I realize this post is 17 days late. I've been fighting off some gloom and doom and haven't been feeling particularly verbose. I believe that had I tried to write this post earlier I would not have been able to express exactly how I felt at the end of October. Please accept my tardiness, it's part of my charm.

summer project:

For years I never drank coffee. My go to drink was a double chocolate chip frap. My senior year I never went to bed before midnight and soon learned that coffee was helpful in getting me through the day. I still couldn't stand the taste so I braved the confused and pitying looks of the baristas and ordered peppermint hot chocolate with a shot of espresso.
My freshman year in college I decided enough was enough and that it was time to grow up and develop a coffee-addiction like everyone else. I started to order the white chocolate mocha (or something along those lines). Then I read an article that named my white chocolate mocha (or whatever) the most unhealthy, fattening drink Starbuck's created. I almost cried.
I pulled away from coffee for awhile to save money. But I've come back to it in the recent months; not normally to help keep me awake (instead I try and get a full nights sleep and drink lots of water). I like going to get coffee with friends. I like ordering a grande cafe mocha (I'm learning to like the taste) and sitting for an hour or so and talking. But I'm tired of Starbucks. All the shops look the same, which would be comforting if I traveled but is rather boring as my life is fairly predictable. I started a summer project with three part plan.
1. Find local coffee shops.
2. Drink their coffee with a friend while enjoying the unique atmosphere.
3. Feel good about supporting a local business, drinking good coffee, and spending time with aforementioned friend.
I think it's a good plan. My first local coffee shop is Stacy's. I went there twice last week and had the same lovely (non-english speaking) barista. I sat on a very comfy couch for hours at a time and was amused that on Mondays they host 'Four minute dating'. I'm a fan of their cafe mocha. And their comfy couch.