An American Girl in Paris: Through the Streets of London

My time in France has officially come to an end. It was bitter-sweet to leave as I am going to miss my little ones and the friends I've made. However, I feel extremely blessed to have had this experience and can see how this opportunity has helped me grow and develop as a person.

Elizabeth Gilbert said, "In the end, I've come to believe in something I call "The Physics of the Quest." A force in nature governed by laws as real as the laws of gravity. The rule of Quest Physics goes something like this: If you're brave enough to leave behind everything familiar and comforting, which can be anything from your house to bitter, old resentments, and set out on a truth-seeking journey, either externally or internally, and if you are truly willing to regard everything that happens to you on that journey as a clue and if you accept everyone you meet along the way as a teacher and if you are prepared, most of all, to face and forgive some very difficult realities about yourself, then the truth will not be withheld from you."

After this 6 month adventure abroad, I fully and whole-heartedly agree with this. Leaving my comfort zone of California and all the familiarity and easiness of my life there, I found myself forced to adapt and change in my new environment and culture. I feel I followed the laws of the quest and I'm coming away from this journey as a different person. I'm a lil bit more confident, a whole lot more independent and very much so more willing to try and do new things! Overall, this has been a life-changing experience for me and I'm so glad I decided to come out on this adventure.

Okay, on to my next topic! LONDON! I absolutely love it here. I arrived on Wednesday and it's been a blur of historic sites, scenic walks, double decker bus rides and endless chatter with my cousin. The city is so alive! It has this buzz that you can almost feel. People are out everywhere walking, jogging, biking, etc. It has the historic charm of Paris but, I can speak the language and the culture is more similar to ours. I've had a blast with my cousin, swapping traveling stories, watching family home videos, walking the streets of London and stuffing ourselves with great food! Here are some highlights....