Relaxing morning. Breakfast in the hotel. (I got the same as always: croissant, 2 mini blue berry muffins, a box of frosted flakes for later, and went through two cups of tea.) Today was pretty much a free day; technically though, a ‘history lesson day’. Basically we were just going to spend some time after breakfast in a continuation lecture on the history of Photography. So we spent an hour learning about the early documentation in Photography from 1839-1890. Sometimes the history lessons really suck because I took a course last semester entitled ‘History of Photography’, so I generally have already gone over everything that is told to us. I guess reminders and hearing things over and over are what make them stick though, yeah? After our little history lesson, we were free to enjoy the day and do whatever we want. A lot of people wanted to go shopping. That was their focus of the day, and visiting westminster abbey. I had no interest in shopping, mostly because I knew that if I went I’d spend money on things I could just as easily buy for cheaper in the states, so I didn’t go. Plus I didn’t really care to pay money to go to the Westminster abbey.. I still don’t really know what it is other than it’s supposedly pretty. Woopee. So I literally spend all afternoon alone in the hotel room, and let me tell you, it was absolutely splendid. I needed some good solid individual time away from everyone. Fortunately, we had bought 24 hour internet on a computer the previous night, so I was able to completely catch up on the blog, (sorry for posting so much at once… I don’t really know how else to do it), check email, facebook, facebook chat, and was free for a good four hours to skype, but too bad no one else was available. Hah. Also in my time, I finished a book, had loads of tea, pistachios, frosted flakes, and chocolate. It was delightful. Oh- one thing I love about the UK is Mr. Bean. I watched a good hour of Mr. Bean on tv when I was alone and I laughed and laughed. That guy is hilarious. Once everyone got back from shopping and such, (apparently it turned out that they had to pay 12 pounds or so to even enter the abbey so they just stood at its boundaries and took photos), we all set out for dinner, and I tagged along seeing as my lunch consisted of not lunch-type foods (which is actually a typical meal at college for me). Three other and I ate at a place called the Gourmet Burger Kitchen that’s just a block away from our hotel, and it was one of the best burgers I’ve ever had. I’m usually not one to order burgers in places or really want to go to a burger place, but this was delicious. AND, for the first time since I’ve been in Europe, the thought ‘Zach would really like this.’ Crossed my mind for the first time. That’s a pretty big deal. Hahah. After dinner everyone wanted to head back to the hotel and hangout- which I was totally game for. They decided to get a little mini party thing going, and I played some odd card game with them for awhile whilst enjoying some earl grey tea, but after a bit things started to get loud, and a little too obnoxious for my taste; thus, I left to enjoy some time alone in a quiet room journaling before bed.
Overall, it was a nice, relaxing day for me, which is something I really needed and never really noticed how crucial it is that I get some individual time to myself. I like my space. I cannot reiterate that enough. Though I don’t spend much of my free time venturing out onto the streets of London alone, I’m still finding myself to be incredibly independent from the entire group. Being around them, (and nothing against them really), tends to start to stress me out or weird me out or something and I often find myself trying to put distance in between me and everyone else without sacrificing visibility of each other seeing as I’m in London for the first time and would rather not resort to navigating all on my own.
Nonetheless, I was stoked to go to bed in peace. I always read one of the many marked bible verses out of the little New Testament Bible my mom gave me before I left before bed, and the one I read before closing my eyes this night was Psalm 4:8- a perfect way to end a night, especially after having looked forward to a peaceful, quiet sleep. Things have been lining up like that day after day, and it’s been beyond comforting.
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