April 18, 2006

My time in London has reached its conclusion. Great things have been happening as of late in spite of the rigors of finishing up all my work for the semester and preparing for finals. Perhaps I’ve procrastinated a bit too much here in this huge city, but I think that the atmosphere is conducive to that. There is so much to do and sometimes it was hard to motivate myself to do schoolwork.

Two highlights of my trip have occurred in these final weeks. Our last group meal was a fitting end, quite enjoyable and very special. On Easter Sunday, we had a traditional English ‘afternoon tea’ at the Hyde Park Hotel. The hotel maintains a dress code, so we even had to put on our Sunday best for the occasion. I discovered through this process, however, that I had neglected to pack any dress shoes. I managed to find some suitable soles, though. But anyway, we a were seated in a dining room that overlooks Hyde Park through large glass windows, so it’s essentially the hotel’s back yard. The food was delicious and my company was of course superb. It’s still somewhat surprising to me how close I have become to some people on this trip.

I have truly forged friendships that will likely last a lifetime. As far as the food goes, there were finger sandwiches, desserts and breads that we basically devoured as quickly as possible. Maybe our European exposure hasn’t quite yet taught us the lesson of moderation when it comes to food. It was surely survival of those who could eat the fastest at our table. I’m exaggerating a bit, but the food was definitely worth savoring every bite. I even found, for the first time, a brew of tea that I like. They offered three kinds. The Hyde Park Hotel is a fine dining experience.