Hello and welcome to Day 11 of my LIYSF journey! I can’t believe we’re almost at the end of the program; time has absolutely flown by. It feels surreal to be nearing the final days of this unforgettable experience. But first, let’s talk about today.
The day started a bit later than usual, which was a relief. The plan was to kick off with a principal lecture on the historical highlights of chemistry. I was all ready to head to RGS for the lecture at 10 AM, but then my roommate wasn’t feeling well. She decided to skip the lecture and since I was already pretty tired of the constant back and forth walks to RGS, I thought, why not just stay in and attend the lecture online? Honestly, it felt like a great option to me-no walking, no rush and I could enjoy the lecture from the comfort of my room.
But then, of course, came the twist!
We were hungry. Like, really hungry! We’d both missed breakfast (partly because we were tired of the same old breakfast options and partly because we were just ‘bed rotting’), so we decided to do something about it. We were craving something new, something exciting… and what better place to satisfy your food cravings other than London’s famous Borough Market?
Now, we had a lecture at 2 PM, so we had to move fast. We made our way to the market, which we realized was fully packed. Turns out, it was the weekend and the market was in full swing. The streets of London were beautiful to walk through, especially the iconic London Bridge Walk, but the crowds at Borough Market? Whew.
As soon as we arrived, we could hear people warning each other about pickpockets and announcements echoing through the market. It was packed like rush hour on the tube. I’m not a fan of crowds, so I wasn’t too thrilled about exploring the market. But, my roommate, on the other hand, had a craving for donuts and veggie mushroom platters that could not be ignored, so I joined her.
The crowds were so thick that we actually got separated for a good 20 minutes, which was not at all ideal. But eventually, we reunited and we were back on track. There were so many tempting food options, fish and chips, chocolates, pastries and what not! But the queues were incredibly long. If I’d stood in line for anything, I would’ve missed the next lecture for sure. So, as tempting as the food looked, we decided to head out once my roommate had satisfied her cravings.
By the time we left, we were just in time for my 2 PM lecture on “Illuminating the Brain,” which was fascinating. It’s honestly been so exciting how diverse the range of lectures at LIYSF has been. Every day, we’re learning something new, and today was no exception.
After the lecture, the big event of the day was Sports Day. Everyone was buzzing with energy, there were three teams: yellow, red, and blue. I was in the yellow hall, and while I wasn’t participating, I thought I’d go and cheer on my team. But again, change of plans!
After dinner, I made my way to the sports field where all the teams were showing off their team spirit with banners and face paint. It was so lively, but honestly, I was pretty tired and thit was so crowded in there. I stayed for about 10 minutes and then decided to head back to my room. I’m sure everyone had a blast, though, and I can’t wait to see the pictures!
Well, Tomorrow is a free day, so I’m beyond excited to explore more of this amazing city! I’ll make sure to take in all the sights I’ve missed so far.
Until then, catch you in the next blog!
