Submitted by Colette LaPorta on the 2018 summer session program in London, England sponsored by the Department of Art and Design…
Six kids, recognizably American, swarming a map in the middle of the street. Silent, heads tilted, confused expressions. We were clearly very, very lost.
This little, old British man, smaller than anyone in the group, sporting a full suit and cane, appeared out of what honestly felt like thin air. He asked where we were going, said to follow him, and suddenly took off on a mission. I was super hesitant to follow, thinking there was a huge possibility he was just messing with the foreigners, but we were lost and he really didn’t give us much of a choice. ‘When in London’… right?
We right away found out he had only the sweetest intentions and maybe wanted some company for himself, someone to educate about his home he was so obviously proud of. We began our walk and he turned to me to give me a history lesson on the cathedral we were passing. This man wanted to be our tour guide.Once we got to the cafe where he was meeting his friends, we said our good-byes, and headed to complete his last instruction to reach the Tate Modern. We looked back and he vanished just as quickly as he appeared.