Farewell

Beautiful Spain

I have been back home for a week now and I still miss Spain like crazy. Although it makes me feel better that everyone there is off on their trips, so I don’t feel like I’m missing anything. Plus, I love being back with my family. Being around them made me realize how much I truly did miss them.

I think about my host family ALL THE TIME and I continuously look at pictures of my time with them. Everyone bombards me with questions and asks to see pictures, but I don’t know how to convey the AWESOMENESS of my trip in words… so I just say, “Good.” Even though it was so much more than just good.

So far I have been keeping in contact with my host family and my friends send me messages telling me how much they miss me. The Spanish are big on details, so I try to expand on my responses as much as possible. We’re doing good so far, and when school starts and I have lots of new things to tell them, I will be BOMBARDING my Mama Josefina with emails and pictures. And I’m sure she will be doing the same for me.

I’m already planning when I will go back there. I also have friends planning on making their way out here. I’m not sure how that’s going to work out as of yet, but until then we have a big skype date planned.

My Family

Coming back was odd. Getting back into the habit of speaking English all the time was different. I kept saying, “Perdon” when I meant, “Excuse me” or “Sorry”. As I spoke it felt robotic and unnatural… like I had to THINK about what I was saying. Even when airline staff would speak directly TO me, I had to make myself listen to the words they were saying, when normally it just went in. I’m determined to keep up my Spanish, so my emails to my friends and family there will keep me fluent.

Eating the yummy, fat, greasy American food I was used to was like going to Heaven. I’ve been eating HORRIBLY. My host parents would probably faint if they saw the amount of sugar and calories I was consuming. However, starting today, my mommy and I are going to eat healthy.

It was depressing to see how far everything was from each other here. I can’t just get up and walk to the store, walk to school, walk to my friends house, or take a bus whenever I want. I have to drive. I really liked walking everywhere. The only place close enough to walk to here is the pool and the mailbox.

I swore that I was going to sink into some sort of depression when I came back, but I’m okay. I don’t cry, I get sad, but not TOO sad when I think back on Spain. I think having my family here to entertain me has helped a lot. Also, the fact that I keep in touch with everyone back there makes it a lot easier. And  then realizing that I had an amazing experience that helped shape my life makes everything all worthwhile.

I had the best host family in the world. I honestly couldn’t say thank you enough to them. They are the best people I have ever met in my life. Never would I have imagined that I could love anyone as much as my family, but I truly consider them my second family now. They took care of me, made me feel so at home, and made my nine months there the best nine months of my life.

My Mommy and I reunited!!

I also can’t say how grateful I am to the amazing friends I made there in Spain. When I met up with other foreign exchange students in Barcelona  and we talked, I realized that I was so lucky not to have been placed in a town with other exchange students. It forced me to make friends with ONLY Spaniards, and I’m so glad I did. Because Spaniards are some of the best friends you can have. No one here in the United States would KIDNAP me for a surprise going away party. They did so much for me, and were so loving, and so giving, and so much fun. I love them so much, and they know that they ALWAYS have a home in the United States open to them, just like I know that their homes are always open to me.

I would like to thank AYUSA and InterHispania for everything they’ve done for me as well. I went to a wonderful school with THE most helpful, supportive teachers ever. I had an amazing local coordinator (who luckily was also a part of the family). I just had an all mind-blowing experience. One I will never, never, never forget and one I wouldn’t trade for anything in the world.

I want to thank my parents for supporting me and letting me embark on this experience. It means the world to me.

And last but not least, Ms. Emily for being the BEST editor in the world. She has kept up with the blogs, always giving me the best feedback, and has been so encouraging, and so sweet throughout this process.

I thank anyone who took the time to read this, and I hope you enjoyed it. This has basically been my diary every week for nine months. If it ever crosses your mind for even a second that you may want to do something like this, I STRONGLY encourage you to go for it. It’s an experience that will CHANGE your life completely. You will create the most unforgettable memories, meet amazing people that you would have otherwise never have gotten a chance to meet, and have a chance to truly define yourself as a person.

I love you guys!

Viva España!

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