I’m lucky enough to already have spent one semester in London, and to be entering a new period of connection this spring. I found some of my greatest friends in the few months I spent here in the fall, and I’m looking forward to fostering those bonds throughout the rest of my time here, and to developing my sense of connection with London itself.

One of the core differences between London and Wellesley is the sheer level of activity. London is constantly bustling, full of noise and movement and visual texture. Wellesley is quiet, slow-moving, and wide-open. It was an adjustment in the fall, realizing that everything I needed was only a few blocks away, that everything in the city was made to be convenient; most things back home at Wellesley took time to reach and to access – even walking across campus took 15 to 20 minutes, let alone going into the ville or Boston. 

The more time that I’ve spent in London, though, I’ve wondered if that was such a bad thing. When everything here is so convenient, I’m not spending as much time with myself in transience. At Wellesley, surrounded by life that I’d grown so accustomed to, so familiar with, the journey to-and-from places was core to how I calmed myself and made space for reflection. Here, the journey is consumed by constant tiny choices: dodging other people on the sidewalk, making sure I hop on the right tube line, and whether to sit down for a few stops or stand by the door. I’m spending so much more time thinking about what I’m doing, rather than having the room to process what’s around me and what I’m feeling. 

My year in London began with a retreat to Cumberland Lodge in the town of Windsor, which is about an hour outside of the city. This historic manor, with extensive grounds that overlooked Windsor Castle, provided an opportunity for me to adjust to my arrival to England in a way that felt familiar. On the second day of the retreat, instead of going into the city with everyone else, I took time with two of my new friends to wander around the grounds, chatting about the things that we noticed and relishing in the slower pace. Since that weekend, I’ve been thrust fully into the rush of the city and have found little respite! 

I love London, though. I love its little conveniences, even though they make my days breezy and quick. I love that I am enabled to try new things, constantly. I love that there is information abound, both sensory and otherwise. I love that I feel like myself here, that I am building friendships that feel wholly supportive and honest to who I am. These experiences remind me of why I wanted to be here, and why this new year is flush with potential. 

This new opportunity through Paulson is the push I need to draw myself into more intentional connection with nature. I don’t want this second half of my time in London to fly by because I’m not giving myself the time I need to sit with myself, to sit with and really see the life around me. I’ve chosen a sit spot at the major park near my school’s campus; I’ve wandered through this park plenty of times, but usually only when I needed to take a call, or my friend wanted to go for a walk between classes. I want to enjoy this space more consciously, and I think choosing a sit spot here will help me grow that connection. 

In the brief moments I’ve spent in my sit spot already, I’ve started thinking about what I want to focus my learning on this semester. I’m very interested in the ecological role of the ravens that flock to this park; I’m intrigued by the starlings and the other birds I don’t recognize, ones whose calls are totally unfamiliar to me. One of my strongest points of connection to campus at Wellesley were recognizing and keeping track of my favorite birds, in particular goldfinches and catbirds. I’m curious about how I might be able to build up a knowledge base here, and I hope through beginning to attend London Audubon bird walks in the area and spending more time consciously considering the birds I see and hear, I will be able to grow my understanding.

I enter this new term and this new year of my life full of hope and an eagerness to lean into my curiosity and not shy away from the discomfort of slow, quiet moments. I’m ready to begin this journey with this city I already cherish so deeply, and I hope I will leave London in June with a renewed sense of love and appreciation for life here.