So ladies and gentlemen, the end has come. Time to say goodbye to this crazy but lovable country.
I am very grateful to have had this opportunity and for the friends I've made and the professors who been there and my host mom, who, while there were some up and downs, turned out to be great. Four months truly is a long time, and it's starting to hit me how I truly have learned to make Spain my home.
I suppose the thing I will miss most, above all, is walking. First of all, walking is a free activity. Also, it is healthy and lets your mind process your thoughts. Walking makes me feel active and useful. Now, sure, anyone can walk anywhere. But, in the states, you have to "go on a walk", unless you don't have your own car. It certainly seems impossible to go anywhere without a car in Seattle. Being in cars is isolating and you have to make an excuse to leave the house, like an errand, or whatever. Furthermore, Valladolid is beautiful!! There are fountains and tall old buildings. I still havn't exhausted every nook and cranny.
Secondly, I'm really gonna miss my café con leche. It's so perfect!! Small, cheap, tasty, just the right amount of coffee.
Thirdly, I'm gonna miss tapas and my host mom's cooking. Never thought I'd say that, but she's learned my favorites, and even though after every meal I feel like my stomach is being punched repeatedly, I'm gonna miss the Cocido and Paella real bad.
Finally, and this list could continue for a while, I'm going to miss talking in spanish!! It is fun and keeps life interesting. Everyday you learn something new, a new phrase, whatever and you can feel yourself improving. I just don't want that to end! I want to keep improving. I'm glad I'm taking a spanish class at Mac but it's not as fun...
All that said, I can't WAIT to get me some Sushi, some Mexican, not be using the Euro, and never eat bread again.
Truly, it's time to leave. There is nothing left for me here! All my friends have left, school is done, I'm broke. There is no other option. But, traveling sure can be addicting, no matter how exhausting. It's like constant mental stimulation. Always new smells, sights, people, languages. It's hard to get enough. Plus, this has been a great excuse to avoid "real life", aka, thinking about where my life is going, what I SHOULD be doing, etc. But, at the same time, I need to get back, refreshed and europ-fied.
I think, if I were to summarized what I've learned about myself, (this feels a bit like a reflection essay for my classes in school, gross), it would come down to a few basic things. I believe I've learned how to adjust when things go wrong (better at least). Traveling forces you not to freak out when things do not work. Second, the world ain't so big! Yes, its scary, but you truly can go anywhere and make it work. It's possible to live anywhere as long as you are willing to give up certain things. And finally, relating in another language certainly opens up your eyes. You never knew how dumb you could sound until you really live somewhere where they don't speak english. Makes you think twice before judging others in the same situation.
I feel like, I am, if only a little, more independent and more relaxed. I hope these things work in my favor later.
I do not regret one penny I spent (mostly). Everywhere I visited was incredible. My favorites, by far, where Sevilla and Amsterdam. Absolutely beautiful. (I went to Paris, Amsterdam, Sevilla, Madrid, Lisboa, Córdoba, Granada and Barcelona) If I could go anywhere else in Europe it would be London, Greece, and Germany, but I still got a little time.
Well, I suppose that's it. Today is very sad and lonely, just me and my packing. But, as I've learned, change is inevitable and goodbyes never get easier, but each time you do it you realize something new.
Hope to see all of you soon in the U. S. of A!!
Send love to the travel gods...
Grace
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