The Study Abroad Experience Pt.3: The Premiere

As I said before, I had absolutely no problem doing things on my own during my time abroad.  Often times, those were the times that I enjoyed the most.  When I found that the red carpet premiere of the final Harry Potter film would take place when I was in London, I just had to go.  The only problem was, I had class at the same time.  Being the obsessed Potter fan that I am, I wasn’t going to let that get in my way.  So, I spoke with m professor and explained how much it meant to me, and he said I could go.  So, the morning of the premiere, I went to my internship as usual, and then headed to Trafalgar Square (where the premiere was held) after working. 

The day before the premiere, I had to go and get a wristband that was required to enter the square on the day of the premiere.  My boss let me leave work early so that I could run to the square and get one.  I was a bit nervous there wouldn’t be one because someone else from work had come in late because she’d been waiting in a massive line to get one.  But, luckily, there was absolutely no line that I had to wait in, and I got one immediately. 

The day of the premiere, when I arrived in the square, it was a torrential downpour.  I was not looking forward to waiting for hours in the rain until the stars arrived, but nothing was going to keep me from having that experience.  I battled the rain and the crowds and managed to get into a really great spot along the center red carpet.  The red carpet wrapped around the entire square and then down the center of the square where I was.  And after 3 hours of standing around waiting, the stars finally arrived.

Rupert Grint was the first to arrive in the square, and soon after him, Tom Felton.  Emma Watson came about 30 minutes later, and let me just say, she is more beautiful in person than I could have ever imagined.  It took about an hour before the two other people that I most wanted to see came, but when they did, they blew me away.  Daniel Radcliffe entered with his usual awkwardness and adorable personality that makes me love him so, and J.K. Rowling herself arrived with all the grace and elegance that I’d imagined her to have.

The stars and J.K.R. all circled around the red carpet, taking pictures, doing interviews, and most importantly, spending time with the fans.  I’ll never be able to put into words how incredible it was to be there, knowing that the people that I admire most in the world were only mere feet away from me.  While I didn’t get to get any autographs or take any pictures with the stars, I had a prime location.  I was able to see the stars doing interviews without using the big monitor that was set up, but could use it if I wanted to, and had the perfect line of vision for the big speeches.  And If you don’t know the speeches that I’m talking about, click the link below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKXuOj9d5o8

While the speeches were happening, I couldn’t control my emotions.  There had been times while standing and waiting that the soundtrack playing in the background got me choked up, but when the speeches began, and especially when Emma Watson broke down, I couldn’t help it.  I was embarrassed at first, crying in the middle of Trafalgar Square, until I realized something.  Every single person in the area was crying too.  I felt truly at home and with people that were exactly like me in their love for this incredible franchise. 

While going to the premiere had its downfalls (I had a stomach virus for days after from standing in the rain and the emotional stress), I would never trade that experience for anything.  Being in that square was truly one of the best moments of my life, and I can’t believe it was over a year ago now.  I still can’t believe that the Harry Potter series has come to an end.  I still find myself waiting for yet another book or another film.  The series took me from childhood to adulthood- something that only my direct peers will understand.  

People younger and older than me have sat and judged, including my own family, and that is simply because they do not understand.  The books and films began when I was at the perfect age to get into them, and they ended just as I truly became an adult.  I always consider myself having left the states a kid, and returning as an adult.  Nothing ever gave me more of a sense of finality of my childhood than the end of this series.  Harry and his friends were there for me through thick and thin, and made my childhood and teen years better.  I can’t imagine what I would have done if this series never existed.  And all I can say is that my children will never have to answer that question.  I will introduce the books and films to them in the same way they were introduced to me: little by little, day by day.  I just hope that one day, they will be able to say they had just as meaningful experience with the series as I did.