Safe travels and one million memories

Dear Family and Friends,
I have been trying to write this email since I boarded my transatlantic flight from London to Chicago, but it never appears as though I can bring myself to end this trip. What a wonderful experience this has been, and I'm so glad that I've been able to share it with you. If anyone had any doubts, London was amazing, and I enjoyed every second of my time there. Even though it rained, and ESPECIALLY though it rained. Looking back, it's really hard to believe that everything I did, I accomplished in 4 months. I'd like to think that this experience taught me something about myself and my relationships with others, and I'd like to say that I've grown as a person. But, I can't really be the judge of that, so you'll have to let me know!
After school was done and before returning home, Katherine and I took a nice little vacation to Greece just to relax. In Athens we climbed the Acropolis, saw a lot of ruins, we were followed for 2 hours by a stray dog...and we ate a lot of spinach pie. In Santorini we rented a SmartCar, climbed a volcano, ate a lot of Greek salad, saw an octopus, and walked barefoot along a black sand beach. Both were beautiful cities and amazing experiences, but by the end of our trip, I wanted someone to drag my suitcase along for me....and fast! I think I even mentioned that I hoped the airline lost my suitcase and shipped it all the way back to Chicago.
http://picasaweb.google.com/arolain21/AthensGreece
http://picasaweb.google.com/arolain21/SantoriniGreece
One of my biggest accomplishments was traveling in 3 different countries in 48 hours! Auntie Colleen was not as amused as me when it came to this fact and I dare say she grew tired of "Yesterday, in Athens...." and "This morning, in London..." :-) All in all, I visited 9 countries and 15 cities. I am so lucky that this is my life, and that it now has many traveled miles of memories to show for it. Consequently, after being back in the US for a little more than a month, I almost feel like this semester never even happened. I've approached the subject with my fellow study-abroad friends and they have all agreed. That life was surreal, and magical, and unbelievable does not concern me. What I can say is that this semester abroad wasn't like real life, and if it was, it surely wasn't my own. The ability to say "I think I'll go to Paris this weekend" leaves not much more to be desired. The past 4 months have been perfection, and more. I am so lucky that this is my life, but really I am so lucky that it WAS my life. If there was any truer testament, it would be walking to the "US Border" in the airport where the border controler say "Welcome Back" as she stamped my passport.
Coming back to reality is liberating, and I carry with me an entire new perspective of the world, of others, and most importantly of myself. The first night back in the United States I cried myself to sleep. I wasn't ready to let go of the fantasy of the whole experience. I was living someone else's life and I wasn't ready to settle for the day to day lulls of my real life at home. But, I walked away from this experience with 40 new friends, many of which I am sure will become best friends. I had two completely amazing roommates and lived in one of the most beautiful flats in all of London. As a future teacher, doctor, and lawyer, my roommates and I could not be more different. But we were never afraid to say "clean up your mess", "do your dishes", or "shut up so I can sleep", but also quick to point out our "roomie love" to each other, and to everyone else. Maybe people got a little annoyed at how many roomie pictures we had taken together, but we think they were just jealous. I am sure that they will remain an important part of my life, and I am looking forward to watching them excel in their respective careers and lives. I have already seen some of the people I went to London with, and I can't tell you how good it was to see them.
http://picasaweb.google.com/arolain21/LondonEnglandTheV
http://picasaweb.google.com/arolain21/LondonEnglandTheLast
To end, I'd just like to say that out of everywhere I went, London moved me most of all. There is something about that city that has drawn me in and won't let me go. When I first arrived in London and opened my History of London textbook, I found a quote on London by Samuel Johnson. It was in response to James Boswell's fear that he may tire of London once he decided to live there. Johnson responds, "Why, Sir, you find no man, at all intellectual, who is willing to leave London. No, Sir, when a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford." It is extremely hard to be tired of a city that can offer everything to someone, and something to everyone. And though I lived there for 4 months, I believe I have only scratched the surface of all London has to offer me. I look forward to going back, to seeing my boyfriend Big Ben, and to listen to the tube lady say, "This is Westminster. Exit here for Westminster Abbey and Houses of Parliament. Change here for the Jubilee line. Alight here for DLR railway and riverboat services from Westminster Pier. Please mind the gap between the train and the platform." What a fortunate experience in one of the world's most amazing cities. I'd like to hope that when I return to London it will feel just as natural as when I returned to Wisconsin. Fortunately for me, London was my home, and I shall always consider it to be.
Thank you all for taking this journey with me. I've tried the best I could to describe these 4 months to you, though I feel my words and pictures hardly do it justice. The only word that can sum up this experience in its totality is surreal. As far as returning home, I am spending the summer working in Madison. The remainder of my time is going diligently into studying for the LSAT. I hope that everyone has a wonderful summer and safe travels wherever you may go! Once again, thank you so much for letting me share all of this with you.

Cheers (British accent required),

Annette