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| In front of the Tower Bridge in London last summer |
I’m moving to London tomorrow. I can’t believe this day has come.
I have a one-way ticket to join Liebling in the UK. I leave Friday evening and arrive at London’s Gatwick airport on Saturday morning. I have truly become the queen of overnight long-haul flights- this will be my third in less than two weeks.
Always the procrastinator, I still haven’t packed anything. I am daunted by the fact that I am only allowed to bring one 23 kilo (50 lb) suitcase with me on the plane. I am shipping the rest of my personal effects and it may be months before I see them again, so I am aware that I need to choose very carefully what I bring with me now. I have spent the last few days trying on things in my closet, testing out their viability/practicality/level of style for what promises to be a long, wet winter in London.
I think that once I get to London I will sleep for the next 100 years. The break-neck pace of the last three months has been taxing.I alternated between being a teacher, student, tourist,and back again, straddling hemispheres and suffering divergent time zones as I vaulted between Asia and the Americas. I studied and partied on opposite ends of the United States. I came home to Toronto.Then I travelled and studied in Guatemala, Honduras, and Chile.
I need a good rest, but wont allow myself to stop moving. I miss teaching. I want to get back in the classroom. So the job hunt begins as soon as I touch down in the UK.
And then, there are people to meet and things to see in London. I can’t wait to explore all the options and opportunities that such a large, vibrant city can/will/should afford. And all this from our new, centrally located London flat.
For anyone keeping score, this is my fifth move abroad. I moved to France for a year two separate times, worked in Mexico for a year, and just spent two years in Hong Kong.
As a little girl growing up in Canada, I never dreamt this would be my life.
But now that it is… I can’t believe I never set foot outside of North America until the age of 21.
I feel like I’ve been on the road forever.
Because now I can’t separate what was “just a hobby” from who I am.
Because being on the road/exploring/voyaging/touristing is me.
I love the sensation of living abroad, the taste, the smell, the confusion, the triumph, the
disappointment, the newness, and I am indelibly marked by this lifestyle, just like Hester was marked by the scarlet letter.
I am Oneika… the Traveller. London, bring it on.
Psst! Don’t forget to “like” me on Facebook if you haven’t already! Your support is much appreciated!
{ 39 comments… read them below or add one }
So excited for you Oneika! London Town is one of my favorite cities and I'm sure the adventures will never end there. As far as the packing goes, as the English say, keep calm and carry on!
I wish you all the best! Good luck in London!
Kisses from HK,
Nicole
I am SO happy for you! I adore London and have friends there and now this gives me one more excuse to try to visit next summer. I'd love to meet you in person! Safe travels!
I'm super excited for you! Cant wait to read about your adventures!
fantastic post…and OH how I love London
Excited to see what's next for you!
So beautifully written. I wish you all the best. I LOVE that you and your long distance relationship have worked out. Que bueno!! All the best, my dear. Look forward to reading more. Cuidate and thank you for sharing your journey through life with us.
LOVE this post!
From a fellow Toronto girl, congratulations on your move to London.~~
I'm really excited for you! Best wishes and safe travels.
Very exciting! All the best in the next phase of your adventures.
YESSS!!! Go girl! xo
the countdown begins!!! I'm so excited for you. This will be a great new start and I can't wait to read about your new adventures.
Safe travels to London! I am so excited for you and Leibling finally to be together!
Safe travels girl. Hope to see you soon on this side of the Atlantic!
Bon voyage!!
Look out, London!
Safe trip!! Hopefully I'll find a way to London soon.
Good Luck in London!!! I've enjoyed reading about your travels and expat life so I'm sure it will be exciting.
Yes, bring it on indeed! I am super excited for you. Good luck. I'll be waiting to read all about this new adventure when you land on the flip side.
how very exciting! congrats and safe travels!
Yaay!!! I hope you enjoy London and all that it offers!!! *throws confetti in the air*
good luck moving oneika!!!! don't worry about clothes, you will buy everything new there anyway… at least that's what i did when i moved from berlin to london
lots of love from hong kong!!!!
http://www.chungkingdiary.wordpress.com
Not that you need it…but good luck.
After meeting you in person and realizing that you are even more amazing than your online persona makes you seem, I have total faith that you will be able to conquer London
You.Go. Girl! Keep striving to achieve all of your dreams and more, and good luck on this next leg of your journey! Can't wait to read about it!!!
omg i can't believe the time has come either! very excited for you and all the new adventures you're about to embark on!
xo
*standing ovation* Excellent post! You are such an inspiration! I look forward to all your new adventures so don't sleep for TOO long.
have a safe flight and looking forward to sharing in your adventures in London and Europe. Take care.
Yeeeees!..Love conquers all
This is only the beginning of great things to come
CHEERS MATE!
Good Luck Oneika… i wish you the best on your new re-set mode.
http://theeternaltravelerwannabe.blogspot.com/
Congrats on the move, and for the record, I seriously don't think you even slept since before you left for HK!
Hi Oneika! I always wanted to read your blog and kept forgetting. I see your name in Kyle's blog all the time. i read a few posts and I love it! how could i not see it before!!? Good luck in London!!! I loved London!! and living in europe must be an amazing experience!!!
I read about your blog on Clutchmagonline.com. I was intrigued because you were the only Canadian listed. I live in rural Saskatchewan. I've read a few of your posts and am exciting about your adventures in London. It's a wonderful city.
Valerie
Bon voyage et bon courage!
Such an exciting new chapter! All the best in London, I'm sure it'll be full of adventure
Just found your blog! I'm a Coloradan, but we have a love of France in common. I did my study abroad in Brittany. I travelled to Toronto recently too. Looking forward to reading more!
Thanks so much for the well-wishes, everybody!
@Quiana: Would love to meet you, too! Hit me up the next time you're in London!
@Mimi: I see you got your travelling shoes on!!! Awesome!
@Ritchie/Valerie: Yay, a fellow Canuck! Never been to SK but have a few friends from there. I would love to go in the winter! Thanks for stopping by!
go on girl! the world is yours!! isn't that sooo exciting!!!
@Kristina: Thanks for the well-wishes!
Such a great post, Oneika! It even brought tears to my eyes- I'm so happy for you!
You are going to do wonderfully in London. Once again, I am so very proud of you. (You know what I mean.) *hugz*
Your life is so enviable, I never left the US until I was 20 for study abroad in France and I just spent the last 8 months teaching in France. I'm back in the US now for the time-being but I will be living vicariously through you. Thanks for the amazing blogs and uplifting experiences! It gives hope for other black female travelers