The streets are lit with the golden glow of lights hanging from above. Rows of doors are wreathed in evergreen, and large red ribbons tied on the side of buildings. Signs promise mulled wine and mince pies as street musicians perform classic Christmas carols. London waits in expectation of Christmas, and as the weather becomes colder, the lights become brighter in celebration.
The Christmas lights and the pine smell of Christmas trees made living in London all the better. As a junior journalism major, I spent my fall semester residing in Samford’s Daniel House in the heart of London. From the busy streets to the numerous parks, every day in London was full of great adventures and deep connections.
Going into the semester, I was nervous. Nervous about the community I would have. Nervous about missing out in Birmingham. Nervous about making the wrong decision to participate in Samford in London. Nervous about my expectations not being met and unsure about many things. From the moment I landed in London, all my nervousness dissipated. London quickly became my home.
London is a hub of cultural activity and connectivity, acting as an intersection of the world. With more than 300 languages spoken, London did not just open my eyes to England but to the rest of the globe. Classes in British history expanded my knowledge to see what stories are told and what stories are excluded. My semester intersected with people from Australia to Saudi Arabia to India and beyond. London broadened my worldview and gave me a broader perspective on the world as a whole.
Seeing a facet of the corporate world in action through my internship, I experienced the communication field interacting with the business and sports sectors. Through daily designing and developing brand material, I grew in the understanding of how my degree fits the real world. My classroom came to life through the internship.
The living area of the Daniel House proudly displayed a Christmas tree decorated with red ribbons and ornaments featuring the house dog, Larry. Each night, as we watched Christmas movies, drank tea, played the guitar and talked about life, we sat beneath the lights of the Christmas tree. The tree added to the warmth in the Daniel House, which was full of deep laughter, close relationships and moments that I would not trade for the world.
As London transformed during the Christmas season with ornaments decorating ordinary trees and wreaths hanging from everyday signs, I left my time in London deeply impacted and adorned with the joy of many wonderful moments and memories.
On our final night in London, we walked through the streets and admired the glimmering glows of Christmas. We walked past Buckingham Palace and through the great parks of London. When we came to the final street before the Daniel House, we paused. We stood in silence as we listened to the distant hum of the cars driving by, the wind rustling the leaves and the birds chirping their late-night songs.
The Christmas night when Jesus was born was probably not a silent night where no noise was heard but a night where no room was found in the bustling city of Bethlehem. And yet, the night on which Jesus was born, all creation held its breath, for the long-awaited promise had come. The God of all creation made himself man, and the world rejoices because our light has come.
This is the joy of Christmas to which London gave me a deeper appreciation. Our king forever has made his home in us. For He is here. Our Immanuel. Our God with us.