I always knew London was a mix of history and modernity. It’s impossible to miss it as you walk down the block. We go to sites every day that have had significance for hundreds of years. We go to streets with names like Queensway because Queen Victoria used to ride down them. We live across the street from a royal palace.
But I’ve seen this concept more closely this week. I’ve stood on the same spot as every single English monarch in Westminster Abbey (if that’s not standing on history, I don’t know what is). I’ve seen a centuries-old monument with visible bomb scars surrounded by modern buildings because the plaza was once destroyed by bombs. I’ve followed in the footsteps of the England’s most elite at Cambridge. I’ve seen the reminders of war and hate in many ways, and I’ve become a part of history myself. This week, while exciting and full of amazing opportunities, has reminded me of the power that our history has over our future. More…