Sitting here in my “I heart London” shirt, writing my final blog, I’m overwhelmed by how profound and true those simple words across my chest feel. Though, if I’m being honest, I wish the shirt said “I heart England,” because this trip would not have been complete without our day trips to Bath, the Cliffs of Dover, Hampton Court, Oxford, and, endearingly, Stratford-Upon-Avon. I don’t think I’ll be leaving my heart in England; I think I found it here. You can take the girl out of the UK, but you can’t take the UK out of the girl, am I right?
I think that Stratford-Upon-Avon was the perfect way to end our time here. As a devoted fan of Shakespeare since early high school, I’ve long hoped to visit this place where such genius was born and brought to life. Also, after watching Hamnet (which is indeed my 13th favorite movie), I knew that this place also held intense weight that Shakespeare carried throughout every one of his writings, and I hoped that his inspirations would, in turn, inspire me. Growing up in such a quiet town, without the luxuries we know today, it makes sense that imagination could become such a powerful source of joy and purpose. Shakespeare never left England, yet he wrote with incredible depth about distant places and the complexities of human life. His work is timeless, transcendent, and endlessly relatable. To me, Stratford is proof that no matter where you come from, if you run with your passion, it can carry you to every corner of the world! Shakespeare did that through his writing, and through his words, he has allowed countless others to experience the world too. I hold a deep respect for him for all these reasons and more, and let me tell you, it was something quite special to sit in the exact space that he sat in while writing his classics, and I was inspired to write a poem of my own!
This town was tranquil, quaint, and captivating in its simplicity, and it was a slow, sweet way to end the trip. And now it’s hard to imagine going home to normal life after living what feels like a dream for so long!
I meant it when I said I found my heart in London, in England. With every new street and every turn of a corner, I found myself wondering how so much beauty could exist in a single glance. Somehow, in what was probably the busiest season of my life, finding bliss felt seamless. It was there in the couple on the Tube, squeezed into the crowd and still holding pinkies, every dog trotting proudly beside an owner who looked just like them LOL, in the beautiful parks where time seemed to soften and slow, in the art and history manifested into every street, in the fast, wonderful friendships I found on this trip, the kind that reminded me what can happen when you show up fully and completely as yourself! And the theatre. Oh, the theatre. This trip has reignited my love for an art form that has filled so much of my heart for so long. London has changed me. More than that, it has given me one of the most important lessons I think I could ever learn… love and life are much easier to find when you hold your arms open to receive them. I’m going home fuller, with more life in me, more wonder, and a newfound determination to keep seeking these moments, to keep holding my arms open and saying yes to the big and small things!
England, I will hold tight all you have given me and be back soon to gather more of your goodness.
Thank you to Shawn, Susan, my new lovely friends, and everyone on this trip for making this experience unforgettable as well. Couldn’t have asked for a better group!
Best,
Siena
Theatre in London U of A 