London Highlights 2014 British Study Program

Allie Smith (left) with Morgan Collier in the Eye of London (Photo by Allie Smith)

My summer study abroad trip was jam-packed with cool sights, and I came home with photos and memories that will literally last a lifetime.  

When I think back on my trip abroad, the moments that stand out the most come from London.  It’s exactly what you picture when you think of it, with giant red double-decker buses, Big Ben, and the Houses of Parliament—but somehow it’s so much more. 

I loved hearing the casually cool accents of locals and feeling the chilly, breeze on every corner as I tried to “fit in” in my bright pink raincoat.  On our last night in London, a group of girls and I decided to say our goodbyes to the city by taking in the sights one last time.  Only this time, we decided to check out London from an aerial view by taking a ride on the London Eye. 

We rushed through our dinner at a nearby pub, nervous that somehow the tickets would sell out, or the giant Ferris wheel would close before we got the chance to step aboard.  Luckily, we made it in time to snag our tickets and hop in line. 

As we waited, we took “selfies” and squealed with excitement as the line moved more quickly than expected.  The men who took our tickets were friendly and upbeat, as if they thrived from each new passenger’s eagerness. 

Once we stepped foot inside the surprisingly roomy car, we slowly started moving up, as each car behind us was filled.  None of us wanted to waste a second, and we all immediately began taking pictures on our phones and cameras.  

The view was breathtaking from every angle, and lucky for us, the sun was just setting—creating a gorgeous orange and pink backdrop behind the famous landmarks below. 

It was in that moment that I realized I was truly there, in London, with a few girls I had met not long before that Ferris wheel ride—girls who quickly became some of my closest friends. 

I didn’t want to say goodbye to London at all, but I know I chose the best way to do it, and I know I made the right decision in studying abroad, because I couldn’t relive it if I tried. 

It was perfect, and I’ll never forget it.