Matt and I decided to do something touristy and take a spin on the London Eye. He’s lived in the city for almost 6 years and had never done it. I have seen the queue wrapped around the thing every time I have visited and have always thought, “Nope. Not doin’ it.” But we were proud of ourselves for thinking logically and going in the evening because A. shorter lines and B. beautiful sunset.
We only had to wait for about half an hour and the view truly was stunning. With my forehead pressed up to the glass window like a little kid, I peered down at the tiny people making their way down the congested streets of London. Boats chugged along the Thames River past parliament. The overground trains looked like toys weaving their way through the city. It was shocking to see how far the city of London spans. Matt pointed out places to me while I half listened and ran around the tiny swinging capsule taking photos. At one point I asked him, “Did you always envision yourself living here?” Without hesitation he said, “Of course. I just love it so much. There’s always so much to do, I feel like there’s always so much potential — that possibilites are endless.”
Seeing him look out the window over the city he loved, I suddenly had the utmost respect for him. Because, while cities seem exciting and enticing… in reality it’s not simple living in one. Perfect example: getting groceries. Such a simple task. But here it’s a two hour ordeal. You have to find the one closest to you (usually a 15 minute walk). Because you can only bring what you can carry, sorry, only one variety of cereal (tear). Then you get to cart it all the way back home!
Another task that can potentially suck the life out of you is commuting. Luckily, big cities like London have fantastic public transportation. But just like all things man-made, sometimes things stop working. When you tell someone “Yeah I’ll meet you there at 6” what you’re really saying is “Yeah I’ll meet you there whenever the Victoria line decides to start functioning properly and I’m able to pry myself from the suction of the other 15432553252+ passengers pressed up against me.”
I guess what I’ve really learned from this trip and living in a new environment is that living in a thriving metropolis requires that you have patience. And I guess that’s why I admire Matt and other people I’ve met here so much. Nothing seems to perturb them. Yeah, sometimes things are annoying and frustrating, but hey it’s city living — get over it or move away.
Global Experiences connects employers around the world with students, graduates, and young professionals who are looking to take the next step in bettering their lives. 