Well, that time that I was dreading inevitably arrived: I bid a fond farewell to my London family.
Two years ago, we all arrived together. We came from North America, North Korea, and a fair few places in between. A few us had connections in the city, but most of us were brand new in foreign territory. But we had each other. And we grew to be very close.
Drama school puts you through the wringer. You change as a person as you learn to become a more open person, and so a better actor. It's physically and emotionally draining. You will probably even cry in front of your classmates, and are astounded when it's ok: you can breathe through it, and actually find comfort when one of your classmates throws their arms around you in support.
My class was exceptional as a group. All of our tutors said so! We became a stronger ensemble more quickly than most classes, and we were indeed strong. We supported each other on and off stage. We were at the globe together. We went to Russia together. We celebrated thanksgiving, easter, and those of us who couldn't make it home had each other for Christmas.
And suddenly, I can count with the fingers I have how many of us are left.
They left in true style: with a grand party. We started in the afternoon and continued on until 4am. I was talking to Matt while there was still daylight about books that we were reading. We talk about literature all the time, recommending something to one another. We would hangout in my garden for hours just reading, not even music filling in the silence. And it struck me: this was our last hang out for the foreseeable future. And it wasn't marked by reminiscences or tears, it was just like any other hangout. And maybe that's right. Maybe that's the best way to celebrate: to make it like any other day, all of which created our friendship in the first place. And that was comforting.
Not to say that there weren't tears.I helped Jamie to the curb the morning she left, helping with suitcases. Her cab pulled up. We loaded her bags. We hugged tightly and cried. She got into the backseat and in a movie moment, the cab pulled away leaving me on the curb, waiving as the taxi drove away,with Jamie waiving from the backseat and out the back window. I walked back into the house, and it was empty. Just me. And it felt like it wasn't just the house that was empty, it was the city. It was suddenly hard to breathe.
I have a community here. I have a life! The other day, I got off the tube and did some banking. Then I went to grab my first pumpkin spice latte of the season and to finish my book. I was so close, and a new one was waiting for me at the library! Yes, I belong to a library. Then I went to work. I've established myself in London, and I have a routine. There's comfort in that.
But nothing will beat the last two years. Nothing will beat the experience, or the people. I am so grateful and will forever be. God, it actually is indescribable how incredible that time was. I can't! It's just a feeling that makes me flush, that makes me tingle, that makes me smile.
I refuse to accept that these people who so influenced me have left my life. You never know where things will go. I never knew I'd be living in London! Yet here I am.
So I refuse to say goodbye.
See you later guys.
Two years ago, we all arrived together. We came from North America, North Korea, and a fair few places in between. A few us had connections in the city, but most of us were brand new in foreign territory. But we had each other. And we grew to be very close.
Drama school puts you through the wringer. You change as a person as you learn to become a more open person, and so a better actor. It's physically and emotionally draining. You will probably even cry in front of your classmates, and are astounded when it's ok: you can breathe through it, and actually find comfort when one of your classmates throws their arms around you in support.
My class was exceptional as a group. All of our tutors said so! We became a stronger ensemble more quickly than most classes, and we were indeed strong. We supported each other on and off stage. We were at the globe together. We went to Russia together. We celebrated thanksgiving, easter, and those of us who couldn't make it home had each other for Christmas.
And suddenly, I can count with the fingers I have how many of us are left.
They left in true style: with a grand party. We started in the afternoon and continued on until 4am. I was talking to Matt while there was still daylight about books that we were reading. We talk about literature all the time, recommending something to one another. We would hangout in my garden for hours just reading, not even music filling in the silence. And it struck me: this was our last hang out for the foreseeable future. And it wasn't marked by reminiscences or tears, it was just like any other hangout. And maybe that's right. Maybe that's the best way to celebrate: to make it like any other day, all of which created our friendship in the first place. And that was comforting.
Not to say that there weren't tears.I helped Jamie to the curb the morning she left, helping with suitcases. Her cab pulled up. We loaded her bags. We hugged tightly and cried. She got into the backseat and in a movie moment, the cab pulled away leaving me on the curb, waiving as the taxi drove away,with Jamie waiving from the backseat and out the back window. I walked back into the house, and it was empty. Just me. And it felt like it wasn't just the house that was empty, it was the city. It was suddenly hard to breathe.
I have a community here. I have a life! The other day, I got off the tube and did some banking. Then I went to grab my first pumpkin spice latte of the season and to finish my book. I was so close, and a new one was waiting for me at the library! Yes, I belong to a library. Then I went to work. I've established myself in London, and I have a routine. There's comfort in that.
But nothing will beat the last two years. Nothing will beat the experience, or the people. I am so grateful and will forever be. God, it actually is indescribable how incredible that time was. I can't! It's just a feeling that makes me flush, that makes me tingle, that makes me smile.
I refuse to accept that these people who so influenced me have left my life. You never know where things will go. I never knew I'd be living in London! Yet here I am.
So I refuse to say goodbye.
See you later guys.