Leah's London

When I was a little girl, the song, "London Bridge is Falling Down" was quite familiar. The London Bridge may have fallen down, but it was put back together again in the desert town of Lake Havasu City, Arizona. As a native of Lake Havasu, I grew up with some idea of what the city of London might be like. Until the London Bridge Rotary Club provided the opportunity for me to spend an entire month there, I really had no idea how much a trip to such a vibrant city as London could change my life.

             Each and every experience on my four-week London adventure taught me more about life and growing as a person than any other experience I have had so far in college. From visiting the Tower of London to our weekend trip to Edinborough, Scotland, the trip was filled with wonderful adventures and memories that I will have for the rest of my life. Perhaps the most rewarding part of the whole experience however, was being able to meet and spend time with so many amazing people within the group and at the University of Westminster.

            I remember first meeting Rebecca and Lindsay and talking non-stop for almost the entire nine hour flight. We found that although we had never met before that plane-ride, we had so much in common and plenty to talk about. This continued when we met up with Jason and and Julia. Each of us were so different in our personalities and areas of study, yet we were all able to connect and bond with each other and have a great time. The dynamic personalities and interests of this group came together to produce many fun adventures and memories. We were also able to spend time with other students from all over the country at the University of Westminster's summer program. The university staff were extremely friendly and accommodating and helped make the trip a success. The coursework was interesting and relevant, as I chose to study the history of London. The class allowed me to better understand the culture and history of the city.

            Although we had so many amazing experiences, I had a couple favorites. A piece of advice for any future first-time travelers to London: take the bus tour before doing anything else! Riding on the top deck may ruin your hairdo, but it provides a stunning view of the sights of the city and offers a myriad of different activities to choose from. Once we took the tour, we had a better idea of what we wanted to see and how to get there. We decided to visit the Tower of London which was perhaps the most incredible and inspiring place I have ever visited. A major interest of mine being Tudor English history, the Tower of London encompassed everything about Tudor England that I find most interesting. Not only are visitors guided by authentic Yeoman of the Guard (also known as Beefeaters) but they can enter prison cells that once held famous historical figures like Sir Walter Raleigh and Lady Jane Grey. Another of my favorite experiences was meeting the Lord Mayor at Guild Hall. It was truly incredible to see the long-held English traditions being enacted by the city council at the historic Guild Hall. I also greatly enjoyed seeing shows in the historic theater district. I attended three shows, including Wicked, Les Miserables, and Billy Elliot. I now plan on continuing to go to the theater and take advantage of performances here in Arizona.

            Among the sights and sounds of the vibrant city of London, I felt surprisingly at home. This trip has made me appreciate not only the history of London, but the history of my home-town of Lake Havasu as well. This experience has taught me how to be more independent, how to navigate my way through a bustling city, but most importantly how to let go and have fun with new people in a new place. The vibrant English culture and people are truly unique. I would like to extend a warm thank you to the members of the Lake Havasu City Rotary Club and all who made this experience possible. Although it is difficult to sum up in so many words, I will certainly treasure this trip as one of the best experiences of my life.