Recently the London Fall 2012 semester — actually every Pepperdine fall international program — came to a sad end. About a quarter of our London group will not be returning for the spring semester, which is definitely the saddest part of the conclusion of 2012.

But while it lasted, I know I can speak on behalf of the London program when I say we had the time of our lives. From our Greece EFT to people traveling to Paris, Italy, Amsterdam, Russia, Spain, Switzerland and various other destinations, our schedules were packed.

We experienced the US presidential elections alongside the Brits who asked us who we voted for — what seemed like — every five seconds. We were around for the tail end of the Summer Olympics and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. Some went out in November to take part in England’s Bonfire Night, and the rest of us heard the fireworks from afar.

Dozens of trips were made to the museums around the city for our classes. A couple of trips were made to the Taco Bell an hour train ride away. A few were fortunate enough to attend an Ed Sheeran concert, and some even managed to see the stars (including William and Kate) walk down the red carpet at the James Bond movie premier.

More people than I expected caught glimpses of the Queen—she waved at one group from her car.

To say the least, London treated us well.

The fall semester appropriately concluded at a banquet with a couple of musical performances. “A-Team” was rewritten, and some choreographed dancing and rapping went down in the London-twist rendition of Justin Bieber’s “Mistletoe.”

Until the Spring 2013 semester begins, I’ll leave some last words that perfectly sum up London 2012 as quoted from Cambria Square’s rewrite of Sheeran’s chart-topper:

“Know this, in my heart I’ll cherish, every moment of bliss, even the bad ones that we’ve left behind.”