By Tara Lawrence
Staff Writer
The sun is shining, the birds are chirping and the flowers are blooming … is this really London? Yes it is, and it is so gorgeous here now that we are getting ready to leave. How odd will it be to leave our Victorian Mansion in South Kensington? Apparently, very weird according to one student: “It will be sad to leave this house and the friends that I have made over the semester. Not living with 40 other people actually makes me realize how fun it really was. Though I will be traveling around Europe for a couple weeks, I am looking forward to returning back to the states.”
We all enjoyed our Easter Sunday, especially our Easter Egg (Bag) hunt set up by our Ministry Team, where we ran around the park in the back yard searching high and low for the “magic beans” (pinto beans) that entitled you to a 10-pound movie voucher, along with other bags filled with candy. The amazing (free) barbecue followed afterward, compliments of our faculty family, Julie and David Smith.
Now sliding into the home stretch, we are realizing just how great our city is and how much we need to see and do before we leave. We will certainly miss the freedoms that London had to offer us. Although finals are coming up, we know what is most important: making memories that will last forever. One Saturday plan this weekend is to ride the tube to Cockfosters on the Picadilly Line, stopping off at each tube stop and “exploring” what the area has to offer.
As Final Banquet plans go, we intend to have the dinner at the Basil Street Hotel near Harrod’s. Not only will this semester’s banquet be a goodbye for all the students, but also for our entire administration staff. We are sad that Doc Wood, Dr. Hart and Bill will all be leaving for bigger and better pursuits in life, only because the groups after us will never get to experience London the way it should be experienced, with the best administration known to International Programs. Though, we may be a bit biased.
As we feverishly write our 10-page papers for History of India class, we laugh and reminisce about the semester, now behind us. Also, in good ‘ole London tradition, we watched movies the other night from 4 p.m. until about 4 a.m., including the entire third season of “Sex and the City.” You’ve got to love American television on DVD.
On our white board someone had written: “Real World London Series Finale April 10th.”
We always referred to ourselves as the “Real World: London” minus the cameras, free jobs, and, well, you get the picture. But try putting 40 people in a house in London, more freedom than ever before … and you would certainly have a great show to watch.
So please, if you want to see the true series finale … join us at LAX around 6 p.m. on April 10 and you may get a glimpse of the tears, smiles, and tiredness that will accompany us on our last day in London and first day back in the States. This show, you won’t want to miss. Tune in. Cheers, mate.
April 04, 2002