My Time in London

I somehow always find a way back to London. It was the first place where I truly felt as though I could be who I was. It wasn’t about reinventing myself, it was about accepting who I am and who I hid growing up. Letting myself open up and make a second family. I never really believed that second family’s were even remotely comparable to your blood but my first experience in London proved me otherwise. I was there for three months studying abroad and it wasn’t until my last month that I found people that genuinely changed my perspective of life and what support and family love can feel like. This most recent time that I got to visit I was truly by myself and got to experience a whole new side of who I’m becoming and what that city had to give me.

My first Airbnb was terrible but I ended up staying with a friend who’s pursing their master’s degree and it had the cutest balcony. This was breakfast one morning

August 17th

Saw Harry Potter at West End! My sister, Scarlette, was so jealous when I told her what I got to do.

August 20th

Got to hang out with Alex! We got crepes and went to Hampstead Heath to hang out and see the dogs.

August 22nd

Went to see the first game of the Women’s Rugby World Cup! It was England vs USA, so I had to represent of course. The train ride to Sunderland was treacherous but I got there a bit too early. Instead of killing time I figured waiting in line would probably be smart so I can get right to my seat but I was indeed the first person there which; yay being on early and would be the first person to enter and yay yay that I got picked up waiting as a volunteer. The group was walking by me carrying a heavy rolled up piece of fabric and they talked to me as I was passing by about how the US was going to lose (we did in fact lose) but of course I rebuttal-ed.

It turned into the leader telling me to bring my stuff and help out! We did the trial run and I was standing on the pitch! We practiced then got free upgraded tickets and after doing it for the live audience, we re-rolled everything up and I made a few new friends that were also rugby-enthusiasts! That has been one of my favorite memories of this trip for sure.

August 25th

Ended my time at Carnival! Yes Puerto Ricans are Caribbeans too. Yes I grew up double Caribbean because my dad is from Barbados. Every other person had a Barbados flag and it was iconic. I only met one other person with a Puerto Rican flag, but that goes to show that we are in fact everywhere. (As I’m writing this I’m probably the only boricua in Mauritius) And food-wise that day was so yum, jerk chicken, coconuts, rice, plantains, the works.