Global Leadership Scholars: The London Experience: Taylor King: 10 Countries Down, but Who's Counting?

Well folks, It's been an exciting last few months to say the least. I truly wake up every morning and ask myself if this is really my life, and when I decide it is indeed, I then ask myself why I deserve it. I don't have a good answer for the second one, but I am so so so grateful.

Spring break? Munich, Prague, Krakow (Auschwitz), and Buddapest

Mini break? Spain and Morocco

Work? Jenny Packham

First three months? Perfection

My favorite parts in each country for spring break were as follows:

In Munich, we spent three to four hours at this restaurant called the "Hofbraeuhaus" where we ate awesome food, met fun people, and listened to a live Germanic folk band play quite boisterously. Prague was just magical all around. The tour of the city was wonderful, and my favorite part was walking down by the river with Mikhail, Elizabeth, and Matt, sitting on a barge, listening to the water, and talking about how blessed we are to be where we are. Krakow was interesting. The town wasn't super amazing, but I loved eating in the Pizza place Matt found, going to Auschwitz, and eating in a cute cafe with Eric. The final leg was spent in Budapest where I met a new friend named Sara who is from Colombia but studying abroad in Prague. I also liked exploring the city, seeing the shoe statues, and the riverboat cruise (that was sooooo cool). Truth be told, I couldn't have been happier to be back in my own bed and see the fam once I got back, but spring break was the trip of a lifetime.

Mini break favorites:

Everything? The sun was shining, I never had to wear a coat (pretty sure I didn't even bring one), and the sights were to die for. Spain was a much needed break from wintry London (though I love it), and I think I enjoyed it so much because I was finally in a non-english speaking foreign country where I could speak the language! It was so much fun communicating with the locals, eating at LB's host family's restaurant (and meeting PAPULI!), eating everything actually, and laying down in the grass next to the beauty of Spain and my pals. Morocco was a different experience, but I loved it in a different way. It felt very primal hiking through the ATLAS MOUNTAINS to see the giant waterfalls (the biggest in Northern Africa), and it felt so perfect. I loved how nice and inviting the people were, and I would love to go back when I could explore the desert more!

Now I'm back in London working for the amazing Jenny Packham (fashion designer known most notably for being a favorite{favourite as they spell it here} of Kate Middleton), and exploring the city everyday. For example, this weekend I went to Dover with two of my flatmates, Ross and Laura Beth, and then I went to the London Zoo with two more, Hannah and Maggie. The countdown is on, because I have literally one week left here from today, and I'm going to make it count!

I'm currently stuck in this painful limbo between excitement about returning home to be with my family and friends, and never wanting to leave because a piece of me will now always claim British citizenship. For now, I guess that means I'll eat my scones, drink my hot tea, and dream about the day when popcorn is salted AND buttered and Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo can once again be consumed.

XX Taylor

(For some reason everyone in my office signs their e-mails like this, I thought I would try it out)