#1

Things I'll miss about London:

My little community in West Kensington! Just came to my coffee shop down the street for some Americano and Wi-Fi and one of my favorite little guys is working right now. He always asks how I am, am I studying hard, where I've been lately, sorry my usual seat isn't available, no the pesto baguette is not included in the 3.50 "toastie and a hot drink deal" but *wink* sure, for you.  We're friends!

It's not just him. It's the Turkish guy at the convenient store who knows me by face as the girl who came in drunk one night and cleaned him out of chocolate. That was nearly a year ago and he still doesn't let me check out with a pack of gum without asking "Are you sure? The Ben& Jerry's is on sale. We have this new box of chocolate-covered marshmallows you could have. You don't want?" I think he knows he's being a jackass but I can't help but laugh because who knows what kind of havoc I wreaked on his chocolate supply that night.

The people at Best Mangal are always pretty happy to see us walk in for a kebab and chips. Lately we've been scoring free sodas with them.

I recognized the guy who works at the Continente cafe on the corner in the station last week and gave him a HUGE smile and waved. I think it took a moment for him to place me but then he had a look of recognition and waved back. Jess was like, Do you know him? A good friend of yours?

Yeah, maybe he is! I'll miss my little friends here. I don't know any of their names but they make me feel like I really live here, this hasn't all been just a dream.  This tiny corner of London has been mine! I'll be sad to leave them.