Friends Visit and Pride! A June Update

Hello there! Happy summer!

Well, according to the calendar it's summer. England hasn't received the memo though. Most days it doesn't get past 72 degrees here (Fahrenheit. Still not so good at Celsius. I'm sorry), and it's been very rainy. The only good thing about the rain now though is there have been quite a few thunderstorms which makes me very happy, but also a little homesick. However, all the rain means it's super humid and green here, both of which this Colorado girl isn't very used to, but is enjoying (even if it does make my hair harder to style).

Flowers on campus

Speaking of England, or rather the whole of the UK... Brexit happened. I'm not going to talk about it much, I'm just going to say how shocked I am that it still happened and that I am extremely sad and worried for the future of the UK. I've lived here for nine months, and this country has without a doubt become my home. I love it here and I love the people, and I just hope I'm wrong and that the UK leaving the EU will be okay. Granted, I don't see how that's possible, but still. Welcome to the non-EU passport line, England! We have plenty of time to get acquainted.

On another note (also surrounding Europe), the Euros tournament is currently happening and I have had such a blast having three football matches a day. I've decided to support Ireland and Italy, as well as England because who doesn't love English football.

Also, guess who came to visit me recently!

My best friend from high school Libby, her husband Alex, and his brother all stopped by London as their first stop on a giant Eurotrip and we got to spend a whole day together! We did all the best tourist things, including going up in Tower Bridge, bike riding through Hyde Park, Harrods, and Nandos. It was so great to see Libby again since it's been over a year since I last saw her, and it was so fun to show them around my favourite city.

Also more recently, my friend Braden came to visit! Braden and I had a little more time together, and in the two days he was here we again did all the tourist things, including riding the London Eye for the first time! We also were lucky enough to have him visiting while London Pride was happening, and we were lucky enough to attend one of the biggest Prides in the world. It was so good to see him again and to show him "my" city, since he stayed with my on campus and got to see where the locals of London live, as well as seeing the tourist spots.

 

Pride is something that is very important to me. Especially since the tragedy with the Orlando shooting still fresh in our memories, Pride is a great time for everyone, regardless of race, gender, nationality, or any other classification to come together and celebrate who we are as humans. Thinking about Pride now still gives me chills because of how amazing of an experience it was. There were so many people there, all of whom were being open, supportive, loving, friendly, and every other positive verb you could think of. The parade was so much fun, with enormous companies there like Barclays, Starbucks, Nandos, Ebay, Buzzfeed, and more, all there to show their support. 

I had such a great time that afternoon, and am so proud of this city for throwing such a massive, beautiful pride. I went to Pride to support my friends who are LGBTQI+. I've been there with them and seen the struggles they've gone through because they just happened to love in a way that might not be considered conventional. I also went there to show my support for the Orlando victims, and I was touched by how much support London also showed them. For there being a stigma about the Brits and Americans not liking each other, when it comes down to it we support each other when it really matters, and I loved seeing that and being able to be a part of it.

That's about all for now! For the next few weeks I will mostly be busy working on the research for my dissertation and watching football and trying to be out in the sun whenever it comes out. There will be another post in a few weeks in which I document my next trip which is to... drumroll please... MENORCA SPAIN! I am beyond excited and cannot wait to take an actual beach holiday in which I turn off my phone and get to lay on a beautiful beach looking out to the Mediterranean. I know, my life here in Europe is tough.

Thanks as always for reading and supporting me. Wherever you may be in the world, I hope you are happy, healthy, and safe. Lots and lots of love xx