The Summer I Left My Heart in London
By: Natalie Kreider
One could only imagine all the things that could happen living in London for three months. There were times that I approached with wonder and curiosity, while there were those where I’d be lying if I said that I didn’t want to go home. However, those moments forever changed me, and I couldn’t be more grateful.
To quote Jake Keller, Paddington Art’s intern before me, “London broke my bank account…” I knew that was going to happen, but not in the first month and a half. To be honest, I got caught up in the shopping and going out to London’s pubs with my new friends. It was easy to forget that I was an international student on a visa, living in one of the world’s most expensive cities without permission to receive public funding. Then, reality hit. For a moment, I just wanted to go home to leave the discomfort behind. But I wasn’t going to let that define the rest of my time here, so I decided I needed to get creative and make the best of the situation. I cooked more of my meals, spent my days in awe of the free art museums, and wandered through Hyde Park in my new clothes — small things that brought me joy.
I’ve always been drawn to roles that support and uplift others, which is why I believe I was led to Paddington Arts—a not-for-profit that embodies those values and has made it its mission to empower youth through the arts. My role there was to write and post content for their blog, where I was given visionary freedom. That said, I had only ever written within a scholarly context, so this was a creative challenge. Initially, I was going to approach my articles by combining a journalistic and academic tone. That was more challenging than I anticipated, so I changed course and started writing about my interests, my reflections, and what was on my mind. These articles soon became another archive for my last six weeks here in London.
Looking back, my summer in London was far from perfect, but that’s what I needed. This was my first time living by myself and for myself. My mom told me that I wouldn’t be the same person when I came back home, and I know she’ll be right. Through every high, low, and quiet in-between, I’ve evolved more into who I’m meant to be. From navigating financial realities to finding my creative voice at Paddington Arts, each challenge shaped the experience into something I’ll carry with me long after leaving. And with that, London will always have a special place in my heart.
