I really hate recapping things, I'd much rather talk about things right after they happen, so I'm going to briefly recap. We did all touristy things around London, of course, like seeing Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square, Tower of London (which he loved), did a tour of Parliament, went in the London Eye, rode bikes in Hyde Park, walked around Kensington Gardens, walked along the London Eye Pier, went to Leicester Square and Piccadilly Circus, and got delicious red velvet cake at Hummingbird on Portobello Road. He even got to come on our ISA trips to Stonehenge, Bath, and Cambridge with us.
In addition, we made a 2-day, 1-night trip to Paris together, which was absolutely beautiful. I will admit, I liked Paris so much more this time around. It was beautiful and sunny out instead of gray and cold, I wasn't sick, we stayed in a nice place instead of a sketchy hostel, and I was with Steve. So, it was a lot nicer. We saw the Eiffel Tower sparkle at night, had a really classy dinner of Filet Mignon together, saw the Arc de Triomphe and walked along the Champs Elysses. Unfortunately, we didn't get to go to the top of the tower or go ice skating there because I'm an awful person. I had to write a Shakespeare paper due that day, and our hotel didn't have WiFi, so we spent a good couple hours searching for a place with WiFi. When we finally found one, I realized my adapters were back at the hotel and my computer had 10 minutes of battery. We had to go back to get the adapters, go to McDonalds so I could stand up by the straw counter to write my paper (which only took an hour to write, it's just all the other stuff that took so long), and then the Eiffel Tower had a long wait and we ran out of time. I'm still really upset with myself about this, but Steve has told me to stop blaming myself. Well, we'll be back, Paris.
I loved having Steve here. It was wonderful to have someone from home so important to me out here, and reassured for me that through all the bad times I have out here, I still have people at home who love me and will help me through. It was also nice because it felt like we were living together (because we were, essentially), and it made me think about us in the future a lot, even more than I usually do. Saying goodbye was tremendously difficult, because now instead of waiting 2 months to see him, I have to wait 4.5 months.
However, Steve missed his plane so we ended up with one extra day together.
This was absolutely horrible because it cost almost $300 to change his ticket, which I gave him the cash for because it was the money he owed me and had just given me. I know he'll pay me back eventually, so that's not a concern at all, but I knew he didn't have the money to put down himself. However, I really need all the money I can get right now. Things are just tight for everyone. Besides that though, it was really good to have him here the extra day. I felt so much better the next day when he was leaving, because I already got all the emotional stuff out the night before. We were both just in a better mindset about it, knowing that we'll be fine and we can absolutely do this, instead of being sad and crying about it.
I miss him terribly, but time is going to fly. My parents are going to be here now in less than 5 days, which I am SO excited about. Classes are done this week, then I have Jim coming out at the end of April, and hopefully finding a way to do a final trip in May (making the decision between Scotland and Ireland in April or a beach trip in May is really hard). Then, Milan will be here before I know it, and I'm really looking forward to that.
So, while I miss having Steve here and know it will be a while before I can see him again, I think he came at a perfect time. The first two months were the hardest. I was getting adjusted, it was miserable outside and I certainly haven't been the happiest, and it was really hard at first. He came at a transition period. The weather is getting nicer, and if the weather is nice out I'm automatically a much different person. My classes are ending, which will make me happier because I hate my classes. The next few months will fly by because they'll be much easier on me. At least, that's the plan.
In Paris, stereotypical couple Eiffel Tower picture.
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