I can't believe it's here! Right now it is 6:33 AM and most of you will be in bed considering it is midnight at home. We arrived back in London from Spain last night (I will be posting pictures and more information on this trip later) and spent our last night in London. We went shopping, of course, to spend our excess pounds, and ate dinner at Cafe Forum. It was kind of hard to walk down the street for the last time and to ride the tube for the last time, top up my Oyster card for the last time, as well as requesting "eat in" rather than takeaway, and of course, spending my last pounds. The hardest part of all was saying goodbye to the man who has become one of my best friends this semester.
I called Roger when we arrived in London and left him a message thanking him for everything he has done for me this semester in showing me around the city and told him that I would like the chance to say goodbye if he had the time. Within a few hours, we were back at the house, and when I came downstairs with my suitcases, he was standing in the foyer. He asked the four girls who were there at the house to sit down with us in the parlor room and talk about our trip to Spain. He laughed at the "megacrisis" we were all having in packing and asked us our feelings on going back. After only a short while, we all had to leave, and he did too. He shook our hands and wished us well, and I could have sworn his eyes were watery. Actually, I know they were.
Once he left, we went back out into town for the last time as I showed Ashley some shops and Harrod's. We checked into our hotel (the Cromwell Crown) and went in for the night. It was eventful. We shared a tiny bed and had some difficulties with our door-- I broke the doorknob off! In any event, it was a nice evening and a good final night in London. I woke up this morning at 4:15 and could not get back to sleep. I don't know if it was the bed, or the sheer anxiety of knowing I will be at home today, but for some reason I couldn't make myself go back to sleep. I got up at watched the sunrise from outside the window, packed my bags, and eventually headed back to the Daniel House where I checked out of my room and came down the 99 stairs for the last time.
Well, our coach is picking us up in ten minutes to take us to Victoria Station where we will take a train to the Gatwick airport and then on home to Atlanta where my family will be waiting for me. As I was cleaning out my room I could not believe how fast the time has flown. I just got here, and now I am going home. This has been an incredible experience and definitely one that has taught me so much. I will never forget my time here!
I can't wait to see you all again!
Much Love, Hannah
