A great adventure and a great year

Today I walked to the park and enjoyed the sweet summer sun. It never ceases to amaze me when I walk through Hyde Park. The grass is so green, the air is so fresh, and there is always something to see. It could be an old man letting his puppy run wild, a couple in love resting in each others arms, or maybe just a mother of three watching her kids in awe. But no matter what the instance there is always a peace that fills the air, almost as if it was encased in an untouchable bubble of sweet delight. I will miss this.

With only a few more days here, I've slowly been attempting to organize my things because I know the day I leave will come before I know it. My room has transformed from walls filled with pictures of family and friends and posters of inspiration to the stale color of off-white. Shelves filled with library books on electron microscopy, alloys, and other materials related writings are now empty. Drawers full of school papers are cleared out and a two-feet high stack of class notes and papers sit on my floor. There are a couple bags full of "get rid of" items, which include clothes, bed sheets, electronics I can't bring back with me, like an alarm clock and curling iron, and other odds and ends I just can't keep. As I stared at the blank walls I couldn't believe my eyes. After months of longing for home, I was finally staring right at it.

Without noticing it I've grown to love the city. I love riding the red double deckers, watching skaters in the park, and gazing at the beautiful glow of the city after dark. I no longer hear the sounds of the city as a pesky noise, but rather the music of the life here. The gloomy skies have made me cherish the beautiful sunny days. But these things I've come to love don't begin to compare with people I've come to care about.

Of all the things I've done and seen, my greatest accomplishment is the friends I have made. Some I may never see again, but there are some memories I will never forget. I wonder how I got so lucky.