A final stroll through London - Experiences, Surprises, and Farewell

Hello everyone,

Wow, can you really believe it? The last weeks of my long journey have begun, and it's slowly time to say goodbye. The first farewell dinner took place last week, and in the coming days, I have a few smaller gatherings with friends to bid farewell.

It feels strange, on one hand sad that this time is coming to an end, but on the other hand, I am filled with the certainty that all the experiences, encounters, and adventures will remain in my heart forever. At this point, I would like to heartfelt thank all of you: For your kind messages, your support, and for following my entries with so much joy. Knowing that my weekly reports could inspire you means a lot to me.

A long-awaited trip to Richmond

I almost forgot to mention it in my last entry: Finally, I made it to Richmond with a friend, a park in London that has been highly recommended to me countless times. And yes, it took until just before the end of my time here, but better late than never! 😊
While we didn't see any deer, we enjoyed a lengthy walk in splendid weather, simply a wonderful little break.

A sweet farewell in the lab

On Monday, my supervisor surprised the team with a homemade plum cake. Whether this was because of my departure or not doesn't matter, it was heavenly! That was also my last working day directly by his side, as he will now be on vacation until my departure.
In my penultimate week in the lab, I optimized several experiments and achieved great results. Next week, I will discuss these with my lab partner – and perhaps Wednesday will be my little finale when I conduct my last major experiment. I sincerely hope to finish strong with a successful outcome.

Surprise visit from home

In the middle of the week, I experienced possibly the best surprise of my last days here: Suddenly, my aunt and cousin were at my door in London! From that moment on, we explored the city together. On Thursday, we spontaneously went to the musical 'The Devil Wears Prada,' an evening full of glitz and magic. Friday took us to Greenwich, where we rummaged through the market and admired the elegant Queen’s House. On Saturday, we dared to venture to the Portobello Road Market, which was hopelessly overcrowded and didn't yield many finds, but we rewarded ourselves with mojitos in the sunny Hyde Park and a visit to the Princess Diana Memorial. In the evening, we strolled along the Thames, enjoyed cocktails, and let ourselves be enchanted by the sparkling London by Night. The crowning finale was Sunday: a trip to Oxford, where we walked through cozy streets, found pretty postcards, and enjoyed the beautiful weather to the fullest.

These days with my family are a real gift, and I cherish every minute. The coming last days here in London will surely be especially intense.

If you don't want to miss the next entry of my journey, feel free to stop by again next week.

Until then,
Your Steffi