Another thing I like about London
all the organic food here. It's like... standard to have organic, locally grown/raised produce and meat. And they're so environmentally conscious, too, with energy-saving practices and stuff like... toilet paper that's good for the environment, haha. I bought the cheapest toilet paper at the grocery store, 89p for 4 rolls, and it was marketed as "By buying this product you're saving the world's forests!" which intrigued me in its irony, so I read the back of the package, haha. It said that this toilet paper is made by a company who tracks the source of its toilet paper all the way back to the forest, and makes sure that the forest they get it from is healthy and is being replanted and all of that. It just amazed me that the very cheapest toilet paper is still good for the environment, or at least is sold that way. I feel like in the U.S. you'd have to pay extra for that.
Last night I was feeling rather homesick, after hearing about our family's new dog (big deal!) and new trees to be planted in October, and thinking about Holland in autumn. The leaves and the apple cider and taking walks with Paxton, and I'll be missing it all until next fall. Bleh.
But then I was also thinking... I'm going to miss London too, when I leave. It will be like moving to Holland, where I missed Ohio. And then moving here, I miss Holland (and Ohio). And moving back, I will miss London. I guess it's just a part of moving and maturing or something, and it kind of ties in to my thoughts that a place does not guarantee happiness. Granted, a place can make you very happy, but it doesn't guarantee it, and it doesn't make all the rest of your problems disappear. There's always something.
Maybe that seems obvious to you guys, but I feel like I've always assumed that moving to a different city or experiencing another culture would leave me content. Or like... getting out of Ohio, getting out of the U.S., etc. But I have to learn that it's not that way. Contentment is not a place.
Anyway though. Today was pleasant. Hung out in the dorm all day, and then met Dad at the Hereford Arms for dinner. Dinner was great, it really hit the spot, haha. I had a cheddar and apple chutney panini, which sounds weird but the apple and cheddar was such a great combination. And then we walked back to my dad's hotel, where he gave me all the stuff he brought over from home for me. Stuff like... a dish towel, a book I forgot, some boxes of mac n cheese (yum), and best of all, my PILLOW. I'm so excited to sleep tonight with such a great pillow, haha.
It's really amazing how such an odd assortment of little things can cheer me up so much. I'm quite content right now.
So it was a good night. Plans for tomorrow: head to Hampstead Heath for the afternoon for a picnic and some reading, then dinner at DaMario's at 7. It should be nice. Yay for turning 21!
Oh, also. Dad and I have plans to eat at this couple's flat on Friday night, which should be quite enjoyable as well. I am looking forward to just... being in someone's home, I think. Living in a dorm, or staying in a hotel for a long period of time gets kind of stale, or personality-less, or something. That's part of why I like going to Paxton's house so much while I'm at Hope, just because it's so nice to be in a home.
But yes, off to do some reading I think.
Last night I was feeling rather homesick, after hearing about our family's new dog (big deal!) and new trees to be planted in October, and thinking about Holland in autumn. The leaves and the apple cider and taking walks with Paxton, and I'll be missing it all until next fall. Bleh.
But then I was also thinking... I'm going to miss London too, when I leave. It will be like moving to Holland, where I missed Ohio. And then moving here, I miss Holland (and Ohio). And moving back, I will miss London. I guess it's just a part of moving and maturing or something, and it kind of ties in to my thoughts that a place does not guarantee happiness. Granted, a place can make you very happy, but it doesn't guarantee it, and it doesn't make all the rest of your problems disappear. There's always something.
Maybe that seems obvious to you guys, but I feel like I've always assumed that moving to a different city or experiencing another culture would leave me content. Or like... getting out of Ohio, getting out of the U.S., etc. But I have to learn that it's not that way. Contentment is not a place.
Anyway though. Today was pleasant. Hung out in the dorm all day, and then met Dad at the Hereford Arms for dinner. Dinner was great, it really hit the spot, haha. I had a cheddar and apple chutney panini, which sounds weird but the apple and cheddar was such a great combination. And then we walked back to my dad's hotel, where he gave me all the stuff he brought over from home for me. Stuff like... a dish towel, a book I forgot, some boxes of mac n cheese (yum), and best of all, my PILLOW. I'm so excited to sleep tonight with such a great pillow, haha.
It's really amazing how such an odd assortment of little things can cheer me up so much. I'm quite content right now.
So it was a good night. Plans for tomorrow: head to Hampstead Heath for the afternoon for a picnic and some reading, then dinner at DaMario's at 7. It should be nice. Yay for turning 21!
Oh, also. Dad and I have plans to eat at this couple's flat on Friday night, which should be quite enjoyable as well. I am looking forward to just... being in someone's home, I think. Living in a dorm, or staying in a hotel for a long period of time gets kind of stale, or personality-less, or something. That's part of why I like going to Paxton's house so much while I'm at Hope, just because it's so nice to be in a home.
But yes, off to do some reading I think.
