Farewell London

There is just so much to say about our last few weeks in London in mid-January. So many things to take care of - packing the house for an overseas trip, wrapping up all of our 'affairs' and most of my job, packing for a month-long trip to several different climates in one small suitcase....and worst of all, saying goodbye to so many great friends. We spent a lot of time reflecting on our experience abroad, and agreed we wouldn't have traded it for anything.

Kent and I could go on and on about what an amazing experience it has been living in Oxford and London. We've had some great trips over the past 2.5 years - hopping away to Europe for a long weekend, road tripping around the UK island, welcoming visitors from home, going home to remind us of the great friends and family there, and going the distance to be at good friends' weddings.

Looking back over this blog, the chronicle of our time abroad, we're reminiscing about all of the travels....Spain, India, Paris, Scotland, Wales, Devon/Cornwall, Brittany France, Tuscany Italy, Austin, Budapest Hungary, Raleigh, San Francisco, Boston, Venezuela, Les Deux Alpes France, Warsaw Poland. Extending the adventure on the way back to the US via Hong Kong, Australia and New Zealand.

We're also reminiscing about the simple things. Going to the grocery store and finding different foods. What international - yet at the same time quintessentially British - cities both London and Oxford are. Walking and public transport instead of a car. How British English really is different with its pronunciation and colloquialisms. Electric kettles and drinking tea in general. What punting is. How important a sport rowing is to Oxbridge. We learned about the football the rest of the world watches (aka soccer) and rugby...still don't know a thing about cricket though.

And the not so simple things, like Kent earning an internationally renowned degree graduating in the top of his class. My experience working for virtually a start up business. Both of us meeting some of the most intelligent and interesting, lifelong friends. Friends from 50 different countries and cultures.

It was worth it. It was worth this experience to quit our jobs, sell most of our possessions, leave a comfortable and great place to live, leave a solid group of friends in Austin, move far from our families, leave our puppy....and move to a foreign place. To miss out on the things back home that we wished we were there for, like the birth of my niece and nephew or family holidays.

I'm sure Kent could add more deep thoughts, but all in all I know we both feel bittersweet....sad to leave London and our friends there, but happy to be back home in the US, closer to family and friends here.

Here are a few pics from our last days in London. Packing the flat, our farewell pub night at the Builders Arms, and finally visiting the National Gallery the day we flew out.