I must admit I am very jealous of my colleagues Fran Gallagher, Dick Evans and Mary Hunt as all of them were recently in London. I spent three and a half months living in London during my junior year in college and I have not been back since. That was three years ago. The city holds a special place in my heart for a variety of reasons and I really want to make a return visit. The itch has been getting worse lately so when I found out all three of them were there I got a bit green with envy! Spending a semester abroad is something I would recommend without hesitation to any college student, especially if your school offers the opportunity like mine did. And London would be the first place I would suggest. The adjustment is not as hard to make because there is no language barrier and the city is so full of history, easy to navigate and fun.  Plus it is just a hop and skip across the pond from mainland Europe, and that affords visitors the opportunity to explore other parts of the continent on the weekends. I visited seven other cities while I was there. The drawback, of course, is the exchange rate. But, as Courtney talked about in her blog yesterday, I saw Europe and London through a college student’s backpacking budget. What do I miss about the city? I miss riding the tube and minding the gap, I miss the cereal and scones at Marks and Spencer, I miss exploring the city, I miss the way the cabs look, I miss the TV shows, I miss living in a townhouse with nine other people, I miss everything about the city, including the smells!  That is definitely the short list because I could go on and on and on. But, London means so much more to me – it represents independence. Besides Canada and Mexico, this was my first time leaving the country. I was far away from home and in a foreign country. We found our own housing and made our own way there. I was afraid that I would be homesick, but the city quickly became home. I joined the gym, I had an Oyster card – aside from the accent, I felt like I belonged and that was a huge step for me. Besides my best friend, I had no other comforts from home and I learned then that I can make it on my own, anywhere. That is a very eye-opening realization. My friends and I navigated our way around cities we knew nothing about where we could not even speak the language! The whole experience made me grow as a person and start to feel like an adult. That is why London has so much meaning to me and why 20 St. Michael’s Street off of Edgware Road will always feel like home. I am sure everyone has a city that stands out to them. London is mine and I can’t wait to go back. When we were over there in 2005, London was in the middle of their campaign for the 2012 Olympics. Each of us made it a point to “Back the Bid.” We promised to return to the city if London did indeed win the bid. I certainly hope I don’t have to wait till then to return to my favorite city! -Kimberly Krol, circulation and public relations executive