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Polaroid of the Week: My Emotional Return to London After Nearly 5 Years

Polaroid of the Week: My Emotional Return to London After Nearly 5 YearsOn my journey from New York to Sri Lanka, I made a brief stopover in London—the city I left in 2010 to explore the world. Back then, I never imagined it would take nearly five years to return. London has always been one of my favorite cities globally. Even after nearly half a decade of worldwide travel, it remains one of just three places I'd consider calling home: New York, London, and Berlin.

Returning after such a long absence proved deeply emotional. I'm not sure if I'll expand on it further, but the view in the photo above unexpectedly brought me to tears. Nostalgia washed over me as I rediscovered beloved store brands, restaurants, coffee shops, and foods. I was thrilled by new discoveries and the persistence of old habits—like instinctively boarding the subway nearest the exit after years of honing time efficiency. Yet, I'd forgotten details like street names, which still embarrasses me (I couldn't even recall the street where I once lived!).

As I said, I'd also forgotten just how much I love this city. Heading to the airport on a beautiful sunny autumn day, I vowed it wouldn't be another 55 months before I return to London.


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