Saying Goodbye to London

So, the semester is over, and "graduation" is today from the London College of Fashion. I was really so lucky to be able to come here, and have my family supporting me. I learned so much valuable fashion knowledge, and I also learned that I CAN survive on my own in the city. I can't wait to see what is next for me. I'm excited to go home and see everyone, but I will miss London (especially Summer in London). I feel like I can do anything now. If anyone ever has the opportunity to study abroad, DO IT!

So here is a collection of sayings and things I want to remember about London (good or bad).

1. Tube= underground subway:
     - when you're going up or down the escalator, STAND on the right- NOT the left, so people don't run you over while they're running up the stairs. People in London are NOT lazy. (Fun fact while 1 in 5 American is obese, 1 in 3 Londoners is obese.... this is because of the tube).
    - . MIND THE GAP!!!- means don't fall between the train and the platform or you will die.

    - "Please stand clear of the closing doors" means "please stand clear of the closing doors"- not jump in. These doors WILL slam closing you in them, holding the entire mile long train up, and causing you great embarrassment and maybe some lost luggage.

2. Seltzer= fizzy water/ sparkling water/ sometimes soda water (but sometimes that's tonic)
    - this made it hell almost every time I wanted to order a Gin and seltzer.

3. Chips= Fries

4. Pants= Trousers, Underwear= Pants, Tank top= vest

5. Ask for student discounts at every store.

6. It is TRUE that more people have bad teeth in London than not (this isn't their fault, they have worse dental care than in the U.S.)

7. DJ's will NOT play Lil Wayne at the club. (Sorry Weezy, we tried)

8. Brick Lane is AWESOME for vintage finds.

9. Holland park is another world- the most gorgeous park I've ever seen, especially in
London.

10. Marks & Spencer should be the only grocery store in London. They have the freshest food.

11. Porridge is oatmeal with cream/ milk already mixed in.

12. They don't really sell wheat thins, cheez-its, or any snacks that I love (this could be seen as a plus because I probably lost weight here).

13. "Topping up"- means adding money to something- your phone bill, your oyster card (train pass), your Internet "it's time to top up!"

14. The London Bridge we think is the London Bridge, isn't really the London Bridge.... it's the Tower Bridge.



LONDON BRIDGE



NOT London Bridge- Tower Bridge

 15. Oxford Circus- where I got off every day to go to school, shop, shop, or shop. This is the busiest tube station in London, and Oxford Street is THE busiest street in the WORLD (I'm not making this up).

16. Topshop= my favorite store.

17. Guys tend to be A LOT creepier in London than in America. If I'm at my fugliest I will still get whistled at, kissed at, or stared at. OOOH LOOK A GIRL!

18. When in Paris, watch out for pick pockets, and con artists. We got to see Basia (our study abroad coordinator) tell one off in french.

19. Paris is beautiful. And full of bread and cheese- my favorites.

20. Do NOT cross the road in front of a bus.... like really people?

21. Hyde park mansions are right next to my flat.... I wasn't aware of this until about two weeks ago.

22. Flat= apartment

23. British TV= old seasons of American TV.

24. People are a lot more fashion foreword in London, and you can be yourself. No one cares.

25. However, I'm getting tired of the skirt with tights and flats and a trench coat and a bun (the non daring girl's uniform in London).

26. It doesn't matter if your hair is messy in London, you still look cool.

27. Rihanna= Goddess in London.

28. Justin Bieber= God in London.

29. TINIE TEMPAH is my new favorite rapper (besides all my American faves)

30. Piccadilly circus- a fun name for a mini time square- like roundabout. It's not a circus.

31. Bakerloo- The train line I took every day ( Passing Marlybone, Regent Street, Baker Street)

32. Leicester Square- Pronounced LESTER... oops

33. Shrimp = prawns.

34. Fashion school WAS a lot of hard work. I;
       -wrote three separate 30 page papers in Fashion Marketing Class with my partner Dylan
       - Wrote a 15 Page final Visual Merchandising Portfolio
       - Predicted two trends for 2013 and presented a final project on this- including silhouettes, colors, fabrics, and economic reasoning.
      - Wrote a press release, did two photo shoots, did multiple mini- press releases, learned what a fashion Icon was, and released a new perfume.

      - Filled a journal with my own sketches

      - Wrote a paper on " The gaze, Objectification, Consumption and their relation to Female Gender Roles in Fashion"

35. And I enjoyed every minute of it. BYE BYE London, I'll be back!