DIESA: Did I Even Study Abroad?
Another day in London has left me feeling like I never left, that I haven’t changed.
Everyday, I will attempt to create a professional, articulate, hilarious and modern take on my day of thought or action. Inspired by Casey Neistat who created a vlog everyday for 450 straight days. I will call it: 365MeThoughts
To find the acronyms that are at the top, go to my Instagram page everyday and see what the images are and see if you can figure it out…
Something is wrong. I miss Austin, everyday. But, I feel like I haven’t left the great British capital. I visited London for the second time this week. I used the same railway stations, visited the same sights and acted as the same Londoner I had always been.
Today’s trip to the city exemplified this very paradox. It’s interesting because I have a tendency to want to be very busy. In my mind, if I’m busy — I’m active. If my mind is active and healthy, it has the best possibility to create ideas and practices that can benefit the world.
I had a busy day ahead. One meeting and then I met some old aquaintances. The meeting was a success and saw me take in the vistas of South West London. Later I travelled to QMUL campus in Mile End. I can’t say that I missed Mile End as a place but the vibe of Dixie’s Chicken and Mile End Road brought some memories of the previous year to the forefront.
I think the reason for today’s post being on the topic presented is because I got to see my old friends again. I left them at UT in Austin three weeks ago with the knowledge that they would be studying abroad at my university in London. Today was the day I met them again. Leah and Zeke were amazing to me in Austin, they helped with transport and local directional information as well as being great friends too. To see them today made me miss Austin a lot. This is where I’m at an impasse, because I missed Austin but while the memories have been pushed to the back of my memory — London seems like it has been the home I’ve always known.
This sense of place and belonging I think might stem from an afterthought about study abroad. It’s intriguing to have these thoughts because they are solely unique to my experience.
I also met and dined with some of my closest friends from QMUL. What makes them so amazing is that, even after 5 months and in Inaz’s case since June 2017, they still are there to talk to. They still are my friends. The two people pictured above maintained conversation across many timezones whilst I was away. It was quite extraordinary to have a piece of home in my pocket.
Where do I go from here? I think I have to just keep working hard on the MExU Project prior to launch, work hard at university and continue to explore journalism opportunities. Also, side note — someone find me a job, thanks.
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