nightmare on oxford street

today began with me panicking about rain and ended with me sobbing at the marble arch.

let me explain.

the london underground is on strike for twenty-four hours. for some reason, the union decided that my first day of school, the day that i needed to take the central line across the city to get to class, was the best day for this protest.

i woke up this morning to the sound of torrential downpour. i knew this day would come, but as my rain boots are being shipped from home (right, mom?) and my umbrella has the diameter of about 14 inches, i instantly began stressing about how my hair would hold up during my first day at fashion school. but, i needed to get art supplies before class started, so after bundling up, putting my hair in a bun, and waterproofing everything i own in plastic bags, i stepped outside. the sun also decided to make an appearance at this time and i sweated my way to the art store.

after rebuying many of the art supplies i already own at home but forgot/decided not to bring, i had three hours before class. that was plenty of time! on a normal day, i could grab lunch, take a shower, sightsee, meet the queen, and make the trip to school in that amount of time. but oh, no, the tube strike.

knowing that i didn't have any idea how to use public transportation, i forfeited the use of a bus and hailed a cab. no problem. 2 hours and 45 pounds later (that's 60-something dollars), i made it to class with time to spare. at least i wasn't late like the rest of my class and i actually did i decent job on my first in-class assignment, which was to draw a live model. this was the first time i had ever drawn a person, period!

but then, hell broke loose on london. as people tried to rush home from work, buses were packed and cabs were occupied. i frantically texted my mom of all people to look up a bus route, but because of the panic surging through the streets many lines were down or delayed. i followed a girl from my class onto a random bus that i knew ended up at the marble arch, where at least i knew there were lots of hotels. hotels=taxis. i can do this.

as i stepped off the bus at the marble arch, i looked around at the streets lined with people also desperately needing taxis. hundreds of people. i looked down at my phone to call my RA so he could at least tell me what to do next, but my phone was dead. great. now my mom thinks i'm dead, i have no way to contact anyone, and i'm stranded at the marble arch. i made my way over to a taxi pulled over on the side of the street with the word "reserved" in the window and asked the driver if there was a place i could find an unoccupied taxi, or even if i could have the number for a taxi service. "it's crazy tonight. you'd best be getting on a bus for the next couple of hours," he said as he stared at his phone.

i started bawling.

what a pathetic sight that must have been. an american girl, wearing 2039 layers, juggling her art supplies in tears at the marble arch. he looked at me in terror, as if i had told him i was missing a limb. "are you upset? what's wrong? are you okay?" he quickly asked. i explained that i am by myself in london and it was my first day of school and i didn't know how to get home. his heart softened in front of my eyes and he explained that his daughter was twelve and he couldn't stand to see me cry. after introducing himself and promising to help me, the little bald man named james offered me a ride home after the person he was waiting for was dropped off.

so, james and i dropped off an international businessman with no manners at the hilton and then started the 45 minute journey in terrible traffic to thoresby house. i cried on and off the whole way home, partly from gratitude, partly because i kept thinking my mom would send out a search party, but mostly because i was exhausted. in this moment, i hated london.

i'm not sure if you watch the hills, loyal reader, but in one episode lauren is in paris. she is picked up by an attractive man on a vespa and they scoot around town all lit up for her private tour of the city's greatest landmarks. in a really weird, completely not romantic way, i kind of felt like lauren all of the sudden. road closures had the taxi all over the city, and out the window i watched the ritz sparkle and piccadilly circus bustle with energy. my mood elevated as i found places that i could bring my parents when they visit and as we drove past hyde park. james and i chatted the whole way home, my voice wavering the entire time.

we finally pulled up to thoresby. i jumped out of the car, so excited to lay in my bed, and asked james how much i owed him. "buy a drink on me, ali. and have a great time in london, it really is a beautiful city," he said. he wouldn't take a dime from me (or i suppose a pence?) and after i safely got to the door, james waved and drove away.

so that was my first real obstacle in london. i knew it would happen one day and i also knew it would work out, but when you are in those moments, nothing can make you feel better. except for nice men named james.