Easiest On the Bus

Writing blogs while on a bus somewhere is actually the easiest time to write. It's a set time frame. It's a transitional period. It's free wireless. The only problem is it keeps me from chatting with the other passengers. That's one of my favorite parts about traveling. I did it all the time on the trains to NY. I have a feeling I'm going to meet some of the neatest people on the trains through Europe.

This time the bus to London I'm on is going straight to the heart of London, not to Heathrow. I'm not connecting to another place. I'm not just passing through. I'm going to London.

Leaving was hard, needless to say. I packed up my room, which actually didn't take long at all. I turned in my keys. I gave more hugs. Ali, the head server in the dining hall gave me a big hug and was surprised to hear I won't be back next term. I told him I'd come and visit and hopefully I could get one of the Sebastians to sign me into a meal. He said "Ohhh, don't worry about that. You will eat on my treat!" So nice :)

Today James Kanimba and I traded a lot more music. I got 40 some new songs from him and I gave him about the same. He's very familiar with London and was able to give me some tips, pointers, and directions for getting around. He even gave me his Oyster card which lets you ride the local trains for about a pound each trip. He's from Oxford and said he might come visit me and come swing dancing too! So I'm not alone. I'm not solo. It's my country now. I've got ties.

I'm a little nervous but in an excited way. London is going to be very different from HMC. And more expensive. It's about 4:45 and I'm checking into Piccadilly Backpackers Hostel at 6. I might be a little late, but I don't think they really expect you to be there on the dot.

The free wifi is great but for some reason I can't open my emails. There are 2 very important one's I'm looking at: CCIS summer scholarships and a tuition deposit reminder. Things I need to pay attention to. I want to pay attention to them. I cannot access them at the moment. And my school email address has been giving me trouble lately. Not just not being able to open emails, but even getting into my inbox. This is NOT helpful when I'm trying to work on a project in another country.

I've got to find a laundromat. A little grocery store. A library. Any place with free wireless and cheap sandwiches. And the swing club. Man I can't wait. I can't wait to talk to people about swing dancing. This is the most exciting thing: Taking a bus to London with a proper backpack. Staying at a hostel in Central London. Being unsure and having a copy of Brothers Karamazov. Traveling. This is one of those things that I have always wanted and here I am getting it.

Today I noticed that the fountain in front of HMC's president's house, Dr. Waller, was on. First day it's been on since I've been here. There were tiny blossoms on the big tree in front of Morrison. Arlosh Quad smelled so strongly sweet with blooming flowers. The flowers bloom all winter here, but they don't have a fragrance. Today they did. The sun was (and still is) shining with such intensity. I took a very nice walk down Cornmarket with Seb A. and James. We got Cornish Pasties and coffees then sat on the steps of the Bod. Just nice. I mean, really really nice. If this isn't nice, I don't know what is, in the words of Kurt Vonnegut's good uncle. If you haven't read Man Without a Country by Kurt Vonnegut, I highly recommend it. I also recommend getting yourself a used copy of Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky and reading it in a country other than the one of your birth.
It's a little bit of a tradition that has been unofficially started. Sheena got a used copy as a gift from a friend and she read it in Thailand. She gave me a used copy and I'm reading it in England. I got a used copy for Sebastian B and he's reading it in Argentina. Hopefully he'll get a used copy for a friend who's going traveling. And so on and so forth. Until there's a whole generation of travelers who are exploring human complexities through international travel and a stunning novel.

Did I already tell you about my new backpack? First of all, it's beautiful and hardcore. There are so many clips and pockets and straps and it's even got a compass and thermometer in both F and C and a wind chill chart! It's black, which is slimming, with red straps and grey trim around the shoulder straps. It's got 2 straps that clip around the waist and chest. It's got a detachable cover that can be converted into a belt pouch. It was a gift from the Sebastians. They came into my room and they were both wearing it. That's how big this thing is, it can fit up to two Europeans. I'm actually slightly small for it. The waist strap can be pulled to its tightest setting and it's still just a smidgen loose. That's ok. They didn't want to get me a girly one which was wise of them. I'm not going to carry around a purple, dainty backpack. I'm not dainty and neither is my stuff. I feel completely legit with this thing. Like a proper traveler. I just wish I could find my Nalgene bottle I had in New York. It disappeared before I moved out of Central. I'm still pissed about it. That was a serious tangible memory. That thing went on a 60 mile canoe trip in New York and I wanted it to go on a 7 month trek through Europe with me. But alas. Things come and go. Maybe it'll show back up. A lot of times things work out that way for me. Lost things and people come back to me. It's just a matter of time. That's what's so lovely about time.
It can do a lot for us.

It's 5:34 and we're pulling into London. Not much longer now. So wish me a little more luck. It's been working for me so far, all the wishes people have been sending me from back home. I think my mom's are the most effective; I'm sure shes doing the bulk of the work ;)

Oh PS. Josh and I are going to make skydiving our thing. Some couples like to go to movies or ride bikes together. Josh and I are going to extreme sport the hell outta this life together.