"There is nothing like returning to a place that remains unchanged to find the ways in which you yourself have altered"

Ok so my last post kind of rambled. So I will try to be shorter and more concise. And maybe get the picture thing down while I’m at it. So here we go.

You are all probably wondering why the title of my post is a quote from Nelson Mandela (and if you aren’t then you should be lol). Well as many of you know (or don’t know depending on how close we are), eight years ago when I was 13 years old I ventured across the “Pond” with my family. We came to London for 10 days and explored the city and its history. It was here that I realized the hold history had over me. Here that I fell in love with Tudor England and the Elizabethan period. It was here that I made the unconscious choice to pursue history as a major. In short, it was in this great city that my love of history blossomed.

This weekend we returned to places I had visited so many years ago, when I was young and didn’t know what life had in store for me. On Friday morning we ventured out to the Tower of London. I stood before the armor of Henry VIII, the great Tudor king who captured my attention as an adolescent. I stood in front of the Crown Jewels, which have been used for centuries to crown the monarch of England. I took pictures near where 3 queens lost their heads, most importantly and intriguingly to me, Anne Boleyn. For one morning I was tumbled back into the past. Not Tudor past, but my own. For that moment in time I remembered a sad little girl who knew nothing of what life held for her, but was so interested in this slice of history. She didn’t know that this interest would turn into a passion that would launch her college career.

Later on in the day, we all rode the tube over to Westminster Abbey and did an audio tour inside the Abbey. As I walked into this historic church, I had to catch my breath. Not only was I walking into an important part of European history, I was also retracing the steps of the girl I use to be. I stood in front of the alter where kings and queens of England have been crowned. I saw the Coronation Chair that many monarchs have set in. How could thing’s get better then this? Well they did. I got to stand in Poet’s Corner where plaques honor some of the greatest literary figures ever. Shakespeare, Austen, Byron, the Bronte sisters and so many more. But even this corner could be beaten. I came full circle when I stood in front of the tomb of Elizabeth I and her sister Mary I. They were buried together and on the floor of the room is a quote that I couldn’t get out of my mind all day: “Near the tomb of Mary and Elizabeth remember before God all those who divided at the Reformation by different convictions laid down their lives for Christ and conscience’ sake.”

Elizabeth has always been a hero of mine, and her history has kept my attention for many years. Just being in that room brought so many emotions and reflections to the surface. In that moment I looked back at the past 8 years, and saw what my life had been like. I saw myself as that little girl in awe standing in front of this tomb, and I compared her to the young women who now stood before Elizabeth and Mary’s tomb. It’s amazing, the room and the tomb were just as I remembered, yet something had altered. That something was me. I had done more then aged, I had grown and matured. I had lived life and somehow survived. Most importantly I had lived up to the promise I made to myself so many years ago as I stood in front of this tomb: that one day I would return. Return I have, and let me tell you, though the road was long and hard, it was definitely worth it.

Tower of London, My first love

Me & Tower Bridge

Execution Site for Royalty

Elizabeth's Mother, Henry VIII 2nd wife

Roommates!

Group pic at Tower of London

I guess that was a little more personal and heavy then my usual posts are. I just had so many feelings Friday. The rest of the weekend was much lighter, I promise. On Saturday we took a boat tour (so chilly) to Greenwich. This was an awesome experience since I got to climb up a very high and long hill. But at the top of that hill, I officially entered the Eastern Hemisphere (yea that’s right I’ve been to the East!) It was super awesome. I got to stand at the prime meridian. I got to be in 2 places at once, even better, I got to be in 2 hemispheres at once! Then about 8 of us chilled on the grassy hill, and eventually talked Trevor into log rolling down it (very high hill, yet very fun to watch). After coming down the hill we had an adventure getting back to our part of town. One of the train stations was closed so we had to take a bus to the tube station which resulted in Jamie, Mike, Christine, and I being a bit confused (but not lost).

2 hemispheres at once!

Eastern Hemisphere

Always Anchored, Always Delta Gamma

Sunday brought Speaker’s Corner. This is a place where you can just shout about things you want to talk about. We heard an old British lady on her stepladder tell us we are all bad and evil and don’t deserve to be in the mother country and that we should all leave England. It was very interesting.

We spent the afternoon in Regent’s Park and Camden Town and concluded our evening with dinner at our advisors house. His house was very nice and he fed us lots of Italian food which was yummy. After leaving his house, about 6 of us decided to check out the Thames Festival in which we saw some free runners (jump on polls and off walls and do crazy flips and stuff) and this awesome guy who was an amazing beat boxer. The festival ended with fireworks (I know fireworks in London with Big Ben and the London Eye as background!).

Me holding Trevor in both hemispheres

Great View

Trevor Log Rolling down the epic hill

The Petebox (beatbox guy)

Fireworks!

Yesterday I went to another play and saw "MotherCourage & Her Children." This was a long play yet so cool mainly due to the fact that Mrs. Dursley from Harry Potter played MotherCourage. Today I went to a Hindu temple and learned all about the religion.

Well that’s it for now. I guess this post is just as long as the other. Maybe I shouldn’t ramble about my self-reflection again. Let me know what you like and what you want to hear more of.

Much love,
KP