Transition

It's a hard adjustment to go from London life to life back in Wisconsin.  However, I have found that Madison life proves to be much more enjoyable than those long, tiring days working at home this past summer.  It was amazing to return to Madison and see all of my friends that I spent every single day with over in London.  I'm even living with one of them (LC)!

 

Nights and days in Madison have turned into an interwoven social scene of my life before London, with bits of the great people and friends that I met while I was abroad.  The friends that I met in London made a big impact on my life, and caused me to expand my social boundaries with new people that are interested in new and foreign things to me. 

 

I'd like to think that we've brought a little bit of London back with us to Madison, although Madison could never compete with the classic sophistication of London.  Instead of enjoying the exotic cousine at local markets, we dine on Madison's "cart" food.  And instead of spending nights sipping cider and waitrose brand vodka, we drink tequilla shots and fishbowls.  We won't ever be able to match the elegant museums and ballet performances, but there is always movie night at the Union where you can watch intellectual flicks like Bridesmaids.

 

One thing that I am immensely grateful for here in Madison, are the prices.  And the coupons!! Gone are the overpriced meals and drinks, and back are the amazing deals that Madison has to offer.  Oh ya, not to mention the 3 dollar fees every single time I attempted to take money out of my account in London.  I'm very happy to say goodbye to the pound and welcome the dollar back into my thrifty life.

 

I'm depressed to find that Madison classes have not changed during the semester that I was absent, but I'm hoping that the 8 month long break that I recently experienced from them will help me pull through for just one more year (and then likely excruciating years of law school after that, but let's not focus on the future).  London classes were like a breath of fresh air to this anxiety crazed student that will likely have a nervous breakdown before graduation, but it's given me a whole new outlook and appreciation for the teachers we had abroad and their unique and refreshing way of teaching.

 

While I miss London and my travels abroad every day, I'm glad to be able to spend one more year with the people I spent those days with and to be able to relive the experiences a bit every week with the incorporation of travel journal in my life.

Summer

It's hard to explain my reaction to summer "vacation" after the 5 amazing months I had spent abroad.  To put it simply, it was boring.  After the novelty of seeing my precious dogs again and visiting with my friends from home wore off, I was left sleeping way too much and watching way too much criminal minds and law and order.  Life in London was full of energy, new experiences, and constant activities.  Life in small town Hartland, Wisconsin was filled with nights glued to the tv and the occasional night out with my parents to the townie bar down the street, "Woodies". 

It also was overwhelmingly dedicated to work.  After I spent those first few weeks in bed, which I insisted to my parents were because I stillllll hadn't gotten used to the time difference, I was pushed out of the house and into the search for a job.  I swear there were times my parents still wished I was in London, and my mom demonstrated this feeling of agitation by searching for jobs for me on craigslist.

Of course mom's efforts proved to be much more successful than any of my own at finding a job, and that's how I landed at the Sandbar Sports Bar.  At first sight, this job looked promising. Nights making great tips for the wealthy lake goers and spending more time with two of my best friends that also got jobs there.  Little did I know, I was in for quite the experience.  After spilling two large margaritas on a gentleman's blackberry, I learend that the owner of the establishment was not quite as "laid back" as he attempted to make himself out to be.

The job consisted of constant screaming by owners and managers and the endless bitching by my fellow female empoyees. Remind me never to work with that many girls ever again.  After two months of dealing with the leering stares of scumball men and way too many 15 hour workdays, I decided to not show up one day.  My parents, always urging me to do the right thing, pressured me into getting my job back, in which I faked "pink eye" for both a doctor and my manager.  Two weeks, after the expiration of my two weeks notice, I was home free.

While this job almost ruined my summer, I had days on the lake to ease my pain and two other jobs that I loved.  I spent time interning at the American Cancer Society and helped plan events and I worked as the assistant to a lawyer.  I also had my family and friends with me every single day, which helped me make it throught those busy days.

Returning to reality after London was tough, but it made me further appreciate the time that I was able to spend studying abroad.  It's amazing how much we were able to do while we were oversees and my repetitve summer days of doing the same thing again and again made me yearn for London, but it's time to snap back to reality and struggle through this last year in Madison.  I'll keep praying that someday, after I graduate, I can return to London and relive those days, but until then, I'll hold on to the memories that I've made.