Young Volcanoes.

"Come on, make it easy.
Say I never mattered.
Run it up the flagpole."

-Fall Out Boy.

I feel as if this trip is making me learn all about sight and vision. Why, you may ask? Everything here must be done with eyes (and heart) wide open. If you don't see something, you will never realize its true beauty. And that is especially true along the streets of London. 

Over the past week or so, I've been able to look upon some of the most beautiful sights someone could ever see in a lifetime. Even war-torn museums and pre-American buildings come alive with the second of a glance. Admiration meets the eye in the biggest way, and I'm not just talking about the London Eye.

I came to this epiphany as I stood upon the Jubilee Bridge across the River Thames. (I can't even believe I am typing that statement right now, let alone comprehend that I can now say I've been there and seen that!!!) We are so completely lucky to experience these sights with bright eyes and wondering minds. I literally can't even get over how every single square inch of London makes me feel more at ease and more myself than ever. It's practically indescribable walking down every Tube tunnel or cobblestone pavement. When your panorama is filled with the likings of Big Ben, St. Paul's and London Eye, you know it's real.

And like people say: picture or it didn't happen.

Fabulous flapper frock circa 1920s.

Checkerboard chick. 1960s.

Twiggy-inspired Mod.

Love this city.

Borough Market.

Like whoa.

Exotic meats...?

Naturally, a creepy selfie with these cool guys in the back.

Natural History Museum or Jurassic Park?

First official ice cream in London. First time eating goat's milk ice cream. Yay for firsts lol.

My heart and soul.

I see you, St. Paul's.

Stand up for what you believe in.

The Shard. It's pretty tall.

Selfie #2. How embarrassing am I?

My favorite thing EVER.

Cool chandelier, yo.

V & A. 

Protest.

Please let me have this outfit I need it in life pleaseeeeeee.

Miracles.

"Oh now, I'm floating so high.

I blossom and die."

-Coldplay.

Whenever I get to writing these, all I really want to say is how much I love this city.

London has gotten into my bones and seems to be flowing through my veins. Even when I find the random irritants about this place, they never outweigh the true love I have for the city. There's something about the vibe I could never describe (rhyme time...boom boom) and I just feel so alive along these streets.

Tonight was one for the ages filled with the best cider a girl could ask for, trivia competitions and my all-time love, McDonald's. (Yes, it's only been five days but we are in a steady relationship and I don't want to lose that.) 

Although school may be on the rise and schedules will change the free-for-all atmosphere of the past week, I still know that London will always remain my number one for the next four months to come.

CHEERS.

Uptown Funk.

"Stop, wait a minute.

Fill my cup, put some liquor in it."

-Mark Ronson & Bruno Mars.

Dark pub life forever. But, like actually. We live for dimly lit pubs and girl talks all day and all night. Rather slow day today with orientation coming to a close. While I can't wait to get in the actual groove of things, it's been nice thinking of this time as a little vacation. Like the idea of no worries and chill vibes makes life a whole lot smoother. And while that may not be reality in everyday life, I still appreciate the moments without stress or assignments.

First weekend in London approaching soon, though, and hopefully it leads to more British drinks in hole-in-the-wall places.

The City.

"Yeah, if you wanna find love,

then you know where the city is."

-The 1975.

London, you rock my world.

I've spent less than 24 hours in this extraordinary place where everyone is different and every piece of anything has a story to tell. Never have I ever been so in awe over every single detail of a city before. From the uneven pavement to the hole-in-the-wall shops left and right, London just screams out how cool it is all the time.

It's almost as if I feel I have been here before. While nothing is at all familiar, it seems like I can call this place a home without even knowing it that long. I feel comforted by damp breezes and grey skies for once in my life, and saying that truly does speak volumes in my book.

Even the little things make my heart swell more than it probably should. I mean, Nando's. There. A quick little fast food joint makes me overly enthused with the fact that I can walk down the street whenever to eat bottomless fro-yo or cleanse my sinuses with way-too-spicy Peri-Peri chicken. Heck, I got to go in a pub today to order vodka and Sprite, which in terms of a 20-year-old American is like the end-all. (Well, I'm not that desperate to drink, but you know what I mean.) 

London just makes me happy and that's all I could have ever asked for and more. Besides, I just started on this journey and I am already confident it is going to be one in the memory books for decades to come. 

I love you, London. And I can't wait for that love to become deeper and greater than I've ever experienced. 

YOU. ARE. GREAT.

The view looks mighty fine from the top floor. Am I right?

Hi Tower Bridge.

Big Ben. But actually though. BIIIIIIIIIIG BEN.

I spy with my London Eye...

And we'll never be royals...(royals).

Yo, what up Parliament!

This. Is. Everything.

Don't mind if I don't. Mmhmm.

An actual drink. In an actual pub. In actually London. What is life?!

Wheel.

"And if you never stop when you wave goodbye,
you just might find if you give it time,
you will wave hello again."

-John Mayer.

In less than 24 hours I will be on a plane (hopefully, asleep) on my way to another continent for the next four months. While this adventure has been on my mind for probably the last 3 or so years, it's always weird when a dream becomes hard reality. Of course, I'm beyond stoked to be able to live in this unexplored world. But nerves are about to get the best of me, nonetheless.

I've left home and gone far away time and time again, but not to some extreme unknown where there are questions waiting down every cobblestone street. 

I don't even know what to say or feel or think at this point. Because no matter how much worry or excitement or anxiety I put in right now, I honestly don't even know what to expect on the other end.

I just hope to God that at the end of the day, all is well and I can just chill out for a bit. I need a bit of a vacation from this...well...vacation.

Gosh. Alright. I'm doing this. One way or another.

Next time you hear from me, get ready for a possible 'cheerio' or rant about tea. Who knows what will happen across the pond.

Later, skater.

Leave The Night On.

"It's still early out in Cali.

Baby, don't you wanna rally again?"

-Sam Hunt.

Like I tell everyone, my grandparents know how to party harder than any 20-year-old I know. In honor of my grandma's birthday tonight, we did exactly that. 

Shout out to the coolest grandma I know. I mean, she wore a faux fur vest for God's sake. HOLLA.

Weightless.

"Maybe it's not my weekend,

but it's gonna be my year."

-All Time Low.

Wow. It's 2015. Figures, man.

While I start off my new year in shambles due to poor adolescent decisions, the end of 2014 was spent with the elementary school gang. And in our town, that means reminiscing on days gone by and some of the funniest stories in your memory bank to date. Mix that with a little bit of crazy dancing to One Direction and a lot of embraces all around and voila...one of the best nights in a while. 

Sure, I'll suffer the consequences of the careless lifestyle, but for a night like that, I do not mind.

Thanks, 2014. You were one of the greatest years I could have ever imagined.

2015, you're next. You have a lot of high expectations to live up to. I mean, I shouldn't be predicting anything, but hey. The future looks solid and based off what's on my plate, nothing seems impossible.

LET'S DO THIS.