I'm sure your thoughts are not with me, but with the country to where you're goin'.

I haven't been blogging lately because I am finding it increasingly difficult to express how I am feeling. For those of you who know me, you'll know that I'm not a particularly emotional person, and I have even been told--mostly sarcastically--by friends that I "have no heart." But one of many things I have learned whilst being here is that it's okay to be connected with your emotions; in fact, it's natural. My friend Amanda studied in Florence this semester, and when she left, she had a quote on her blog that resonated with me: Dear Firenze, Look after my heart. I have left it with you. It is incredible how a place can become a part of you. But it's not really the place that makes the experience. Certainly, it's a piece of it; I couldn't have "studied abroad" by going to a different state in America. But what has made this time unforgettable, unique, rewarding, and life changing are the people I have encountered along the way.

To the ones I met on the trains or in the hostels or on the streets: thank you for inadvertently being a part of my journey and for allowing me to be a part of yours. I'd like to think that although we may never see each other again, we will remember the moments that we shared. I am especially grateful for Ana, the sweet girl from Portugal who befriended Jenny and me on the train to Florence, and for the teacher couple we met on the train to Venice who encouraged me to pursue teaching in another country. Also for Breanna, who we met in Venice, is from Canada, but working in London: it was so great to spend a day with you in Venice and to see you again in London!

To the ones I saw regularly at our regular spots: you became a part of my routine, my habits, my comfort zones. K3 bus drivers, K3 bus riders, Coronation bartenders, Jo and her employees at Foodie, and so many others: thank you for helping London become a home.

To the local ones I met at Kingston Uni: Professors, teachers, module tutors, English students, the international office staff, TJ...thank you for making this a positive educational experience. I thoroughly enjoyed my classes, received help and advice when I asked for it from teachers or students, and was consistently impressed with the friendliness and liveliness of the international office. Without you all, this time would have been a total waste--at least in terms of college credit. So, thanks.

To the EuroLearn staff and my fellow EuroLearn travelers: It was a privilege to meet you all at the Bridging Cultures Program. Meeting students who were experiencing similar transitional issues and hilarious encounters was a comfort that I didn't even realize I needed. I hope that you all had incredible experiences wherever you were in the UK and that you are not going to leave this behind you when you go back home. Special thanks to Rachael, Mona, and Robin who have worked tirelessly to ensure that my (our) time here was the best it could possibly be. You all are super heroes!

To Ben and the students at St. Mary's Church: I wish I could have gotten to know you all better, but I am eternally grateful for the welcome and kindness that you showed my friends and me for Passion weekend. Thank you for including us in your social time and, to Becki and Jess, for opening your home to us. I truly saw Christ through you all that weekend, and this makes me so honored to be a part of a church that is a part of St. Mary's--a church that is obviously encouraging its people to live as Jesus lived: with untamed love and compassion.

To Jonny & Bianca and the Young Adults at Hillsong London Surrey: What can I possibly say that would express how grateful I am for all of you? You took me under your wing, welcomed me into your family, and became the spiritual support that I desperately needed during my time here. I will never forget the Weekend Away--not only because the Lord worked on my heart in mighty ways, but because I met all of you and established life-long friendships. Your constant encouragement and kindness will stay with me long after this trip is over. And I promise I will come back and visit.

To the friends from home that I saw abroad: How exciting and memorable that we were able to meet up in another country! You probably don't know it, but connecting with you--with friends from home--helped me get through the times when I missed home the most. It was always refreshing to be with someone who understood exactly what I was going through, who spoke the same language (American English is different from British English, I will have you know), and who missed the same things. Jenny, thank you for traveling with me and for letting me sleep on your floor! Amanda, thank you for giving me the grand tour of Florence. Fiona, thank you for the amazing and special time at your wedding and for the chance to see Snarky, Courtney, Rachel, and Tricia. Brice, thanks for traipsing around London with me in your spare time. Dan and Eric, so glad we finally connected and I hope your times have been incredible. Elizabeth, I am so glad you made the harrowing journey by bus and ferry from Paris to come to Passion; it would not have been the saem without you. Elyssa, hahaha; there are no words, but seeing you in London was one of the highlights of my time here, if not of my life. And anyone else that I am forgetting, thank you!

To the ones back home: Thank you for your constant support, your messages, your phone calls, your cards, your letters, your Facebook notes, your emails, your texts, your prayers. Your friendship. It means so much that I have such amazing people to miss while I am away. I cannot wait to see you all again, soon.

To Debs (and Drew, Charlotte and Immie): Without you, I would have been homeless! But, in all seriousness, your house was a home, Debs, and I cannot thank you enough for that. I knew that you were always here if I needed you, and you were the best host mom a student could ask for. Sometimes I am not sure how you put up with us, two crazy American students living in your quiet house...but I am thankful that you did. I only hope that one day I can return the favor; you know that you and your family have a free place to stay in the states next time you come to visit!  

To Akua and Jemelyn: You really have no idea how thankful I am for the pair of you. Besides the fact that, as Joey's friends, you were a slice of home, you let me into your lives and allowed me to experience snippets of the life of a London student. We had some crazy times, some special times, some pitiful times--Skyping until 4 am, I would say--but I loved every minute I spent with both of you, and I am grateful that Joey took the time to introduce us. I cannot imagine my time here without you, and I look forward to seeing you again...someday. Hehe.

And finally...

To my fellow study abroad friends, without whom this trip would have been just a trip: I don't even know of a song that can express how I feel about you all, and that's saying something, because music can say almost anything. Our time together in London/Kingston/Surbiton has been one of the greatest experiences of my life. I love how different we all are and how many different places and backgrounds we come from, and yet we are so stuck together by our commonalities, by our similar struggles, by our shared hilarious moments, by one incredible experience. Each of you has, for different reasons and in different ways, left an indelible impression on my life; you have been a positive part of one of my most significant growing periods, and I can only hope that I have been a part of yours. The times that we have shared together, although coming to a close, cannot be closed, shut out, and forgotten. We must keep these memories at the forefront of our minds so that we can continue to grow and learn from them.  Friends, this is only the beginning. You have learned, grown, developed, matured, and transformed. The true test is what you will do with these discoveries when you get back home--back to a place where you are comfortable, where you are familiar, where you might have to force yourself to be challenged. I encourage each of you--and myself--to move forward. Sure, look back on this time with a smile, but don't think of it as something that has happened and is now over. Think of it, instead, as the beginning of a journey, of your adulthood, of your life. Apply what you've learned here to your life back home. Never forget the times that we have shared, and use them to continue your development into the person you are meant to be. It is impossible for the words "thank you" to do justice to how grateful I am for each of you, but thank you for who you are and for who you have been to me over these past four months. I look so forward to continuing these relationships and to reuniting within time and seeing how much of our time in London has stayed with us. I love you all so very much! And I am especially grateful, at this time, for Skype, Facebook, cell phones, etc. so that we can keep in excellent touch.

Love,
lvp