Goodbye London

I know it's the middle of February, but I have to start this post by saying Happy New Year! And so far 2017 has been a crazy one.

First and foremost, I graduated from uni! And it was a wonderful and emotional day. Luckily my best friends and flatmates were there graduating alongside me, as well as some of the most wonderful people I met in London. Friends flew in from all over to walk across that stage, and it was so fun cheering on my friends as their names were called. We all worked so tirelessly for our degrees and it was the perfect ending to my time in London.

My Chadwick Girls, Imani, Devin, and Becca

Several days after graduation, I packed up all my belongings in that magical city and flew back to Colorado. My visa in England was expiring and I was unsuccessful at finding a job that would sponsor me in the UK. I landed in Denver on the 27th of January exhausted and emotionally drained, collapsing into the open arms of my waiting family. As much as I knew I was going to miss London, I was so happy to be back with my sister and parents.

Luckily, my transition back to the states has been fairly painless. I've reconnected with friends here and have kept in touch well with those back in London. Trips are already planned to return in September when my sister starts grad school there, and I cannot wait to see all my friends again. But until then, I'm settling back into Colorado life. So far, I've enjoyed driving my new little red car, trying to re-adjust to the altitude and dry air, and not freaking out every time I see the beautiful mountains. Even though I've spent my entire life in Colorado (except for my 18 months in London of course), coming back the mountains still leave me awestruck. I truly am so lucky to call such a beautiful place home.

Breckenridge, CO

Castle Pines, CO

Larimer Square, Denver, CO

Now back to London for a few. My last month in England was an emotional rollercoaster, with some intense lows and brilliant highs. Luckily, there were more good times than bad, and I am so grateful to everyone who made my last few weeks in London so memorable. I went to Winter Wonderland, and got to see London from above in the Sky Garden. I saw The 1975 for the third time in England with my best friend Devin, and I got to see my hometown basketball team, the Nuggets, play at the O2 with my friend James. I got to sing karaoke until the early hours of the night with my Apollo coworkers, and got to watch football and have a pint in the pub with my friend Cameron. I got to eat at Wagamama and Nandos and spend hours just chatting and sipping toffee nut lattes in cosy chairs in Starbucks. I got to say goodbye to some of my favourite people at a going away Devin and I threw, and made countless promises that it's not actually goodbye, just see you later. They're promises I fully intended to uphold.

   

Although this chapter of my life has ended, I know it's actually just the beginning of a greater, more exciting chapter of my life. I know I'll make it back to London, and although I'm not sure of all the details, I know my love affair with that city has not come to an end. To all my friends, coworkers at the Apollo and Paperchase, course mates, flatmates, and everyone else I've met in London, thank you. Thank you for making such a large city feel so intimate. Thank you for making me feel loved and accepted. Thank you for becoming my family across the ocean, and for being some of the most interesting, incredible people I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. I don't regret a single moment of my time in London, because I believe everything happens for a reason and everyone I met there came into my life for a reason.

Although I will miss London and my life there every day, I am enjoying my life back in the states, and for now, I am once again happy with where my life is at. And as for the future and where I may end up next? Your guess is as good as mine.

As always, thanks for reading and I hope wherever you may be in the world, you're happy.

Until the next adventure,

Linds x