The Thames River

This past Sunday afternoon, my roommate Veronica and I went down to the Thames River where we always sit and feed the birds. We brought an entire loaf of bread with us this time and enjoyed ourselves very much, so much in fact that I returned at 9:00 again that evening to sit, read, and write. My article this week is my reflections while sitting by the riverside.

Thames by Day
It’s a beautiful Sunday afternoon; the town centre is filled with people of all ages. The sun is shining and there's love and laughter in the air. A cool soft breeze blows down by the river and everyone sits along the rock wall to watch the birds surround the guests throwing bread and food. The water is quite calm and when the sun hits it, the shine is blinding. 

The smell of fall is all around and random thoughts run through my mind as I sit and observe. The young children fishing across the river from us are laughing and enjoying themselves even though their only catch seems to be garbage lingering in the water, but they treat it like a prized possession. 

You don’t seem to hear any arguments or disputes on this lovely day, just the pleasant company around. There is so much to enjoy and take in while sitting here that my words cannot describe. The atmosphere is something totally different than any other I have experienced. I wonder what it is like here in the winter months; does everyone stay enclosed in their cozy little flats? Does the wildlife leave and go somewhere a bit warmer? Will I still feel the holiday spirit as I do at home starting after our Thanksgiving holiday when the intense Christmas shopping starts or will it be just another routine that I go about each day like now? I feel guilty not wanting to leave here and return home. I must admit that I don’t feel a bit homesick after being here for an entire month. Don’t get me wrong, I do miss my family and friends. But I am very comfortable and have found a place that brings about all new thoughts and feelings. Will this trip change who I am forever and the relationships with people I have back at home? Time passes so quickly here that I don’t know where it goes. 

Thames by Night
Alright, well now it is 9:30 at night and I’m back at the river. The water is calmer than ever and all the geese and swans are floating around sleeping. Couples walk down the river path together and the loud drunken friends pass by also. It’s nice to have a getaway place where I can go with no worries. The wind has come to a halt and it feels warmer now than this afternoon. I wonder what everyone is doing back at home, if the hunters have come back empty-handed or successful. It's strange knowing that it is early afternoon there when it is pitch black here, I’m knackered (a.k.a. British slang for tired), and it's almost time to hit my bed. 

Well that is about all I have for you this week. I hope it helped you visualize what I am seeing and experiencing. No new pictures this week. I’m sorry. I tend to forget to take my camera because it doesn’t feel as if I’m a tourist anymore, and I just think to myself that I can take pictures some other time. 

Next Friday, Veronica and I are taking the Chunnel over to France, We're staying in a three-star hotel room for three nights and returning to England at 6:00 a.m. on Monday morning, so I can hopefully make my first lecture of the morning. Now whether or not I will stay awake in class is a different story. But my body will be present, right?  I will talk to you all next week when I get back from Paris.

Have a great week,