Submitted by Julia Silverman on the 2019 summer session program in England sponsored by the Department of Art & Design…
The night before any milestone event in my life, my family has always ordered Chinese food for dinner. It all started when I was 8 years old, specifically, the night before the morning I was leaving for sleepaway camp. I was only going to be gone for a week, but my Mom insisted I have one of my favorite meals before I go. Maybe it’s got something to do with my family’s deeply rooted love for Americanized foreign food, but I’ve always thought it’s to get the good guidance from a fortune cookie when you need it most. Crazy that to this day, I still look to a cookie for the wisdom I need, but it is not a tradition I am ready to abandon just yet.
All these years later, there I was. I’ve grown a few inches and learned to use my indoor voice (a little bit more frequently), but other than that, the scenario remained unchanged. It was the night before I am set to embark on the trip of a lifetime to study in London for five weeks, and it was no surprise that my family was feasting on (you guessed it) Chinese. After all these years of fortune cookies, I’ve kind of become an expert (on the cookie picking process, that is). The thing about a fortune cookie is you have to pick the one that really speaks to you. I know how crazy it sounds, but the cookie really chooses you. (*Side note/disclaimer* You should probably know that I’m a huge believer in fate, destiny, and the universe.)
So, I scanned the cookies on the table, waited until it felt right to grab one, and peeled back the plastic wrapper to reveal the carefully folded cookie (that, truthfully, I never eat because, truthfully, they really aren’t that good). As soon as it found its way out of the wrapper, the cookie began to crumble in my fingers revealing to me the little scrap of paper that held the words I need to hear most. This particular night it read, “Nothing in life is to be feared. It is only to be understood.” And so the cookie had spoken. And so I was off not to fear London, but to understand it. And understand it, I soon would.
After our first full week in London, I can confidently say I now know where the phrase ‘it’s raining cats and dogs’ comes from. Well, actually I can’t, but if I had to put money on it, I’d guess it comes from the rainy season here in London. I did indeed over pack, but somehow missed the ‘bring-some-sweaters’ memo for days like these.
Rain and chill aside, week one was an incredible introduction to the program. We’ve had talks from Alumni of the program, we’ve visited sites like Harrods and Borough Market, The Tate Modern, Portobello Road, The British Library, and a million places in between. Through everything, my absolute favorite part has been all the little stops that make me feel like a local here. Heading out a bit early to explore coffee shops discovered around the corner from the flats, little book shops, and markets that all make me feel like I’ve lived here all my life. I feel like a native running to grab a coffee at a small shop before heading off to a full day.
One shop in particular has become my favorite. Moreish, the coffee shop tucked in between pubs and pizza places, is filled with the aroma of espresso and pastries which dance out the door inviting people to come in off the street and out of the rain for a short break in their morning commute. As I sit there, in my little piece of London, I am thrilled to be part of this world if just for a moment.
London, I think I’m going to like you.