One Week Left in Spain

It’s hard to believe (at least for me), but I will be heading back home to the States one week from today. In a way I am happy, I miss my home, my family, my friends, my car, and most of all my pets. On the other hand I am a bit sad, being here for an entire academic year really makes it feel like home.

I’m not sure how the transition back is going to go, it’s definitely going to require some major readjustment. Most specifically, my eating schedule. I remember during last school year typically eating lunch at around 11:30 and dinner at around 5:30. Here I am eating lunch closer to 2, and dinner after 9.

Lots of people (my parents included) sort of criticized the way I used my time here in Spain. They kept urging me to travel, to see everything I could in the year I had. But that’s not really the way I wanted to do it. My goal was to try and really grasp the experience of just living in Spain. I tried my best to think of my stay here as permanent, rather than temporary, and avoid being a foreigner.

In a sense, especially first semester, I think I really did succeed. When the new crowd of second semester exchange students came in I drifted a bit more towards the exchange crowd, trying to be more like a big brother that knew the ropes. Not really sure if this worked out or not, but I definitely had a great mix of times here with both Spaniards and fellow Americans.

I haven’t really had much time to think about my departure, my last exam is just 2 days before my flight leaves. Aside from studying I have been busy trying to keep up with various design projects I have going right now. This sort of “don’t think about it” attitude is likely to continue up until about 3-4 days before my departure. But that’s the way I like it. I don’t like to sit and ponder over what I could/should have done, what I will be leaving, etc. I just like getting up one day, packing my bags, and moving on to a new place.

No matter where I am, I’m still me.