Well, I’m back. Back in Houston, back to the old grind of completing school assignments and balancing extracurriculars. Viewing London as a whole, there were numerous things that I loved, but, in honesty, also numerous things that could have gone better, in my eyes. These things that could’ve gone better may sound nit picky, especially as someone who has already been to the city before, but I think they are valid; this was some of the most fun that I’ve ever had in my life, but nothing’s perfect, even if it is as close to perfect as I’ve ever felt, as this certainly was.
Entering a foreign country certainly isn’t easy, and I respect and admire all of the planning and preparation that went into this trip, considering that it’s better than anything I could have done, most likely. Additionally, I absolutely love the packed days of learning that made it so satisfying to return back to the apartments and soak up the day. Places I would have liked to go include the British Museum, with its plethora of unique and mystifying artifacts, and Abbey Road Studios (although maybe that’s something that is best suited to an individual such as myself).
Something that I learned on the trip was how to better connect with others. Sure, I made others laugh and smile as normal, but in reality what is far more important is how I actually learned the deep, important, and introspective things about other people; I would gladly give up my “comedy abilities” any day to be able to better learn about and connect with people, not just friends, on a more meaningful level.
I am incredibly grateful to have someone such as Mr. Grisbee with whom I could talk with about whatever was troubling me at a particular moment; sometimes, when getting to know others on a greater, deeper level, I felt somewhat isolated myself. It was nice being able to have someone who could understand my frustrations at some points.
The whole trip wasn’t like that, necessarily. Easily the best moments were hanging out with friends in a new environment, certainly, but a close second was simply the sheer amount of things we saw, from ancient Roman ruins to WWII bunkers to ancient castles, magnificent cathedrals, and lush gardens. I have talked about picking a favorite in the past with my other peers on the trip, but the truth of the matter is there is simply an impossibility of deciding; I change my mind every day. Additionally, there is something interesting about having heritage from this part of the world and seeing names that may be more than a little familiar (many Morleys, including on a fried chicken chain restaurant) and learning about what my ancestors may potentially have had to deal with (many diseases, wars, and executions, that’s for sure).
Ultimately, the meaning and the purpose of this trip transcends any photo op, inside joke, or place to visit. The meaning and purpose is certainly to learn, yes, but it is also to, like I said earlier, connect with some of your peers in a way that can only exist on excursions such as these. When I first saw my name on the roster list for London I was ecstatic, but even then I couldn’t imagine what was in store for me. I definitely had ideas, but, like the Jamaica trip before it, the actual experience transcended any expectations I had.
I can absolutely guarantee that this experience is a memory for life. How could it not be? I am grateful for this experience yes, but also for being a part of a school that can allow such an experience in the first place. I shouldn’t cry because it’s over. I should smile because it happened.
- Connor Morley
Entering a foreign country certainly isn’t easy, and I respect and admire all of the planning and preparation that went into this trip, considering that it’s better than anything I could have done, most likely. Additionally, I absolutely love the packed days of learning that made it so satisfying to return back to the apartments and soak up the day. Places I would have liked to go include the British Museum, with its plethora of unique and mystifying artifacts, and Abbey Road Studios (although maybe that’s something that is best suited to an individual such as myself).
Something that I learned on the trip was how to better connect with others. Sure, I made others laugh and smile as normal, but in reality what is far more important is how I actually learned the deep, important, and introspective things about other people; I would gladly give up my “comedy abilities” any day to be able to better learn about and connect with people, not just friends, on a more meaningful level.
I am incredibly grateful to have someone such as Mr. Grisbee with whom I could talk with about whatever was troubling me at a particular moment; sometimes, when getting to know others on a greater, deeper level, I felt somewhat isolated myself. It was nice being able to have someone who could understand my frustrations at some points.
The whole trip wasn’t like that, necessarily. Easily the best moments were hanging out with friends in a new environment, certainly, but a close second was simply the sheer amount of things we saw, from ancient Roman ruins to WWII bunkers to ancient castles, magnificent cathedrals, and lush gardens. I have talked about picking a favorite in the past with my other peers on the trip, but the truth of the matter is there is simply an impossibility of deciding; I change my mind every day. Additionally, there is something interesting about having heritage from this part of the world and seeing names that may be more than a little familiar (many Morleys, including on a fried chicken chain restaurant) and learning about what my ancestors may potentially have had to deal with (many diseases, wars, and executions, that’s for sure).
Ultimately, the meaning and the purpose of this trip transcends any photo op, inside joke, or place to visit. The meaning and purpose is certainly to learn, yes, but it is also to, like I said earlier, connect with some of your peers in a way that can only exist on excursions such as these. When I first saw my name on the roster list for London I was ecstatic, but even then I couldn’t imagine what was in store for me. I definitely had ideas, but, like the Jamaica trip before it, the actual experience transcended any expectations I had.
I can absolutely guarantee that this experience is a memory for life. How could it not be? I am grateful for this experience yes, but also for being a part of a school that can allow such an experience in the first place. I shouldn’t cry because it’s over. I should smile because it happened.
- Connor Morley
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