Last Week in Spain

My last week in Spain was an emotional rollercoaster for me. I had spent so much time trying to avoid thinking about leaving, but now that it was only a matter of days, I had no choice. Along with all the packing, gift buying, trains, and planes to think about, I had to figure out exactly what I was going to DO. I had to spend time with the family, but also make time to see everyone I had ever met during my stay. 

My Spanish Family!

Monday and Tuesday we were at the beach for my friend’s birthday. Wednesday I was exhausted after two days of the beach, so I spent it with the family and my neighbors and Thursday was a chill day too. In Alicante they were having these huge bonfires for San Juan and the week before my friends had mentioned going. I didn’t know if we were going or not, so I asked my friend, but never got a response. I figured we weren’t doing anything that day, so instead I hung out with my neighbors and tried to pack a little more. We made plans to go out to eat that night and maybe watch a movie later on.

At around 8 or so, Mama Josefina wanted to teach me how to make tortilla de patatas a very typical Spanish dish, which she KNOWS how much I love. Normally we don’t eat it in the house (since potatoes are contraband), but the Dad wasn’t there. It’s a pretty simple recipe.

I wasn’t planning on staying in the house for dinner, but Mama Josefina encouraged me to sit and eat, so I did. I tried to finish quickly since I had dinner plans with my neighbors. Once I was done, I started picking up. Mama Josefina sent Ana to the Tita Conchie’s house to get a permanent marker… or so I thought. 

Los5 and I

As I was cleaning, Mama Josefina was looking through the camera and wanted me to see some pictures. She was going through the same pictures a couple of times, and all of a sudden someone blindfolds me. At first I thought it was Pablo. Then they started dragging me. They let me run into a wall, and when they started dragging me outside, I knew it had to be my friend. They pulled me, and pushed me into a car (where I fell on the floor). No one said a word, it was so quiet. I had no idea whose car we were getting in to, who was driving, or who was even with me. I knew someone was in the backseat with me and there were two people up front. I knew one was Diana, but the others were a mystery. I tried to feel the person next to me, but they kept slapping my hand away. I tried to talk, but no one replied. I asked about my cell phone (which of course they left in the house with my camera), but they were nice enough to bring me some clothes and makeup. Thank god because I looked terrible.

We drove a long way. I had no idea where we were going. When the car finally stopped, they pulled me out and removed the blindfold. We were in the orchard house of Maria (La China), the place where we had the costume party in February. Everyone was behind the bar and jumped out yelling, “Surprise!” Then they all came up to me, hugging me and crying. I of course started to cry to. It was the sweetest thing in the world. 

Almost everyone was there even my friends from Murcia. They had music blaring from the car and everyone danced and had a good time. They gave me this adorable little photo book that everyone made a page for with pictures of me and them. They decorated it, and as I read it I don’t think I had ever cried that hard – ever. Then they gave me the Spanish flag that everyone signed. They signed it backwards, so it’s all wrong, but still sweet. 

The next day, Friday, was my ACTUAL last day in Murcia. That morning I went to the school to get my grades (passed all my classes!), then my friends and I went to breakfast. Afterward I went to the house and got dressed. I went with Mama Josefina to go pick up Ana, and she took us to see La Fuensanta, the patron saint of Murcia. It was a big cathedral up on the mountain dedicated to her. It was closed, but the outside was gorgeous.

Later that night all the family came over. Everyone brought the food that they knew I loved. There was tortilla de patatas (the way the Grandma Krumi makes them), pizza, pastel de carne, sliced tomatoe, bread with sobrasada, sausage, pastel de carne, torta de chocolate, and my favorites: empanadillas. They gave me presents: a cute purple bag, a bracelet, and two adorable necklaces. 

After we finished eating we went inside to watch a video that Mama Josefina had made for me of my WHOLE time in Murcia. I cried as soon as it started and couldn’t stop. It was the sweetest thing in the world. It made me realize that I was actually going to leave my family. 

Later that night after my last goodbyes to the family my friend called me and told me to come outside. When I opened the gate, he and his group of friends (who call themselves Los5, because there are 5 of them, and they’re the BEST of best friends) were all lined up in front of the house. They had come to say bye to me. They hadn’t been able to go to my going away party because they went to the bonfires in Alicante, but they still went out of their way to come see me off. So I hung out with them a while, then finally it was time for them to leave. 

I was back at home by 2 in the morning, but I couldn’t sleep. I didn’t even want to. I stayed up all night working on a photo album I was going to give to my host family as a present to thank them. At around 9 o’clock Saturday morning I was already running around La Alberca looking for last minute things I needed. I still had to repack my suitcases, get dressed, and everything. I was so unprepared. My friends came by at around noon to say goodbye one last time. I had just finished packing everything, and looking around my empty room was the worst. It didn’t feel like I was actually leaving, but as my friends walked away from my house that last time, my heart just fell to my stomach.

I gave my family the album to look at (without me because I wasn’t ready and we were running late). As I finished up, my host Mommy walked in my room sobbing, followed by my host dad, and I just broke down. We all hugged, and I could tell how much they loved me. 

We then got my luggage and got into the car. On the way to the train station I was calm. I just looked at Murcia one last time. It really is a very beautiful city. Small, tranquil, but filled with so much life. 

At the train station we got a bite to eat as we waited for the train. When it was time for me to board, I cried more as I hugged my host family. I didn’t want to get on, but I finally did. And as I looked through the train window, I cried even more. 

After about 7 hours I finally made it to Barcelona and from there was the long road home.

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