JetSetter: Right Across the Pond
Chase It.
Burdened by the weight of monotony, tired, seeking escape—the plea and plight of many who find themselves bored with their day-to-day. We call it day-to-day, clarifying it in reference to time, when time is not the issue. The only cure for monotony is variety. Noting, ironically/aptly that variety comes in many different shapes and sizes—much like Nerds.
Variety, easily obtained, is hard to come by. It is easy to implement variety in one’s life, but we are too lazy to seek it out. We gaze at it from afar, from the comfort of living rooms and the ease of our phones.
Chase it. The biggest way that I have implemented variety in my life is through travel. A great place to start your travel experiences is by visiting two of Europe’s most influential cities: London and Paris. If you are looking for culture, for food, for fun, for sights, then look no further because these cities have enough to spend years searching. You could search day after day, year after year, and merely scratch the surface of what these cities have to explore.
London, England - Also known as The Old Smoke, referring to the famous smog in the 1950’s that led to the death of over 4,000 people. London has a population of just under 10 million, which feels deceptively low when you take into consideration the close-quarters living that takes place within the streets and towering buildings. Walking is a way of life there, a requirement of living in the city. A walking tour of London is the perfect way to acquaint yourself with what London has to offer and with how Londoners take in the sights and sounds of their own city. Yes, Big Ben, the London Eye, and Piccadilly Circle are a must see, but hiding behind these famous sights are a city and culture that may be overlooked if you aren’t careful. In the streets beyond Piccadilly circle is China-town, filled with the hustle and bustle of the big city but with the distinct odor of foreign cuisine. The theatres of London are incredible. After seeing it for myself I can attest that Les Miserables was beautiful and the talent was impeccable, but don’t take my word on it alone, you can check out my tear-soaked shirt if you really need some convincing, and check out other productions when you go visit!
If you have the time and if you really care about learning from the culture that you have travelled to, then seek out local ministries that are involved with investing into the lives of locals. These different ministries seek to love on those that get overlooked in the city. They will be more than happy to utilize you in what they do while you are there. London City Mission is a great ministry that I paired up with on my trip, and we were able to visit some of the local communities, were warmly greeted into their homes, and listened to their stories. Big Ben may be a great clock, but you may encounter a big guy named Ben who tickles your ears with stories you’ll never forget.
If you are able, hop on a train and enjoy the British countryside while travelling to Oxford, a city wrought with education and higher-learning. Take a load off and enjoy a bus-tour of all the colleges in the city, and while you are at it, grab dinner at the Eagle and Child pub where C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien used to sit and dream about Middle Earth and Narnia.
Weston Martin