OUR LIFELONG CONVERSATION (PART 3)...

PART 3: THE EVOLUTION OF "BUS BUDDIES"

the first saturday we were in england, i was just waking up and trying to decide what to do with the day when kristen knocked on my door and invited me to go for a walk with her and some others at a nearby park. i eagerly said yes and jumped out of bed right away (something that rarely happens) to get ready. there was no way i was missing out on a chance for social interaction.

i went downstairs and saw her and a few others hanging out in the common room. i wasn't sure who was actually going for the walk at this point but as we made our way outside i realized that mark and evan were the only other 2 joining us. we all walked and talked and strolled through university parks. somewhere along the trail we passed kyle and camille and the kids who were also out for a mid-day walk. we stopped to chat with them for a while.

(years later kyle came across this photo and sent it to us,
quite proud that he had been the very first to take a picture with both evan and me in it)

after that weekend, the first full week in oxford wasn't easy. we were all still adjusting to jetlag and i was unsure how i felt about the aspects of this new setting. i loved parts of it but was definitely experiencing a strong case of homesickness (something i hadn't fully felt since i was 10 years old at camp skyridge). i took colin and chloe for long walks in their stroller to pass the time. we sang and danced to the philadelphia chickens daily. i tried to pleasantly adapt. some days were better than others.

by the weekend though i was extremely thankful for another invitation from kristen, this time to go into london with her and some friends. as we walked to the bus station early on saturday morning there were 5 of us: mark, kristen, val, evan, and me. mark and kristen naturally sat together, i think val decided to take a nap on a seat by herself, which left evan and me sitting next to one another on a bus seat for more than an hour of uninterrupted conversation. by the time we arrived i already knew lots more about this guy. i also quickly discovered the more i found out about him, the more i wanted to know.

we got off the oxford tube at notting hill station. we made our way through the crowds at portobello market ready to browse through block after block of vendors. we set a time to meet at the end of the street. i thought that meant we would all separate and shop on our own. evan had a different idea of what that meant and thought we were all still staying somewhat near each other. he spent much of the hour trying to find where i went wanting to make sure all 3 of us girls were safe. when we met back up he told me he couldn't find where i went and gave me the nickname "sneaky pete" because he thought i was too good at disappearing into the crowd (later he shortened it to just "pete" and called me that for months).

the rest of our day trip to london was filled with sightseeing, seeing blood brothers at a west end theatre, and familiarizing ourselves with the city we would return to many saturdays that semester. that evening we walked along london bridge. i convinced everyone to throw a 1p (pence) over the bridge and we each made our own wish. we all agreed that you couldn't tell anyone what you wished for unless it came true (little did i know that my wish would actually be granted and sooner than expected). then we found our bus stop and climbed back on the oxford tube that would take us to our home away from home. it was late, we were tired, and evan decided to spread the love and sit next to val on the way home. don't worry about me, i didn't have to sit by myself. an intoxicated english scholar sat down in the open spot and told me in ridiuclous detail about her recent discovery of some insect species. thankfully i didn't pass out from her breath.

(L- the other 4 standing by tower bridge after we made our wishes)

(R- me, val, and evan at dinner,
please look how ridiculously far i am leaning in, haha)

another week was passing by and as the weekend approached a different group was making plans for a saturday trip to london. some of the girls i had gotten to know on our floor had invited me to join them and i said yes. when i agreed to go with them, i didn't know their guy friends next door were inviting others to come and evan had also already said yes.

the computer lab was in house #10 (the guys' house) on the ground floor. friday night before i went to bed i walked over to check my email. the lab was empty except for 2 others, mark and evan. i ask them what they are doing the next day. mark tells me he is hanging around oxford. evan says he is going to london. i tell him i am too and when he asks who i am going with i tell him, "rosalyn and them." he says he is going with them too. how convenient, i think to myself. (warning- if you ever thought i might have been somewhat smooth here comes the part of the story that you no longer will) i say how much fun i had riding next to him the weekend before on the bus and jokingly ask if he will be my "bus buddy" again this saturday (please try not to be jealous of my gift with words). i wait for evan's response. i remember mark suddenly looking up from his computer to see how this was going to unfold. and then evan laughs and says, "yeah, of course." from that point we always knew who we'd be sitting next to when we traveled and it was quite an excellent arrangement.

(L- the girls in london
the second saturday)

(R- some of the other people in our group arriving in london that day)

a sneak peek of what's to come next thursday...
PART 4: VALENTINE'S DAY IN THE CITY OF LOVE
(or at least somewhat near it)