Hello world!
I am currently back in the United States and preparing for another educational semester at my home university. As the title says, I have written beforehand some final reflections on my study abroad experience, specifically of Spain but also in general for those who would appreciate insight on the process. Also, I would like to apologize as I have not written about some of my destinations that I mentioned. With that being said, I shall make it a goal to update everybody who had followed me during the four months overseas on my small adventures in the next month or two, as my schedule will allow.
What you're about to read are some notes to self while waiting for various things to occur (bus ride, plane trip, etc.), and for that, it might seem a bit choppy and random.
12/21/2011
Right now, it just turned midnight at the Granada bus station, where I am waiting from my 1:30 AM bus to disembark to Madrid. I purposely waited until exactly midnight to write the date, a feat that I may have never done before. The last twenty-four hours have left me in an interesting state, almost nostalgic if an emotion is necessary. It was strange waking up and going through my day thinking of all the "last" things I would be going through.
Last test, last lunch, last time seeing friends, last goodbye.
In some places, I was glad that it was the last. In others, no.
Upsetting is a great word to describe leaving friends that I started this adventure with in August. One of them, Macy, was someone I came to be intellectually challenged with and supported by, which seems strange but it is hard to describe the impact someone has made on you. She will be heading to Texas to see her family and then continue school at Texas A&M in the spring.
This whole trip has proved many things to me, one of them is that there is so much left in the United States that I shall discover in the future. Sure, Europe is a fantastic place to travel, but I find myself lacking knowledge of what it is like to live in other parts of my own country. Where would I want to go first? Easy, Chicago. There are many reasons why I want to know my city better, and it is mostly because a professor I had this semester studied in Chicago for some unknown amount of time and knows more about the city than I do (or so it seems). That leaves me almost embarrassed that I have been living in the suburbs of Chicago all my life.
I took my literature exam today for the same professor, and afterwards I ran into a group of friends who decided to enjoy the last day in Granada with a sunset view from the Mirador de San Nicolas. The view was simply serene. I could not have had a better last image burned in my memory than that.
As a final reflection, I will tell parts of my experience along with some advice if someone is debating whether study abroad is a worthy experience:
1. Four months IS a long time. No matter which way you put it, there is no other way to say it. Today I realized that I would be seeing my parents for the first time again and started to cry. These tears were very ambiguous, confused on whether they were tears of joy or sadness. I know as a fact that I really missed my family, I just have repressed as much emotion as I could so I would not be homesick. I guess it just hits you hard when this is no longer held back. Moreover, it has been extremely difficult to be away from my boyfriend. Yes, it is expected for me to miss him, but I learned this semester that he is a person who is hard to live without. Four months is long and hard, but also manageable. However, a year-long stay would be impossible for me to endure.
2. No country is any better or worse than the next. I have decided that there are great things to be said about everywhere along with several negative things. During an experience staying in another country, it is best to keep an open mind and have a positive spirit. Otherwise, time will drag and homesickness will kick in- hard. I know a handful of people that were constantly negative during the semester, and I do believe that they never will have learned to appreciate Spain as I have.
3. Language learning is a very difficult task. However, I believe that nothing is impossible. I went through my bouts of sadness because I felt my language skills were insufficient. To overcome this, I would study harder and practice more, which proved to be all that I needed.
4. Packing light is such an overstatement. Coming to Spain, I only had one medium-sized bag and a draw-string bag as a carry-on (Lots of hyphens, funny). Since I did not pack so many clothes and certain indulgences (such as all my accessories and meaningless junk), there was plenty of room for my bag to expand as I bought more things throughout my trip. I also bought a small carry-on to fit all my gifts and souvenirs at a small price (12 Euro for a suitcase, not bad!)
5. Patience is a virtue. I cannot reiterate this enough, as it seems that I occasionally forget that everything WILL be okay and just relax. Today, I waited in the bus station of Granada for almost three hours, took a five hour bus to Madrid, and went through airport security and waited in the terminal for a whopping five hours. That in itself is fifteen hours just to do one thing, which was to get on the nine and a half hour long flight back to Chicago.
6. Take antacids with you. I did not, but I have a strong stomach and am willing to try new dishes at the drop of a hat. I could not possibly manage to count how many times people complained to me on how disgusting something was that they ate. Most of the time, I think people make up their mind before they try something, and then instantly dislike it because of the preconceived notion. I highly recommend trying everything, with a brave soul and no judgment, and if all goes wrong, antacids can revitalize you.
Finally, I shall entertain those with some strange, yet interesting thoughts during my travels home:
1. Customs officials (everywhere) barely look at my passport.
2. I think Americans (in general, and not everybody) are a bit neurotic about safety and security. But then again, we have perfectly valid reasons to be that way.
3. Funny exchange between "1st class passenger" and airline employee:
Passenger-"Why are they going on?"
Employee-"Si" (meaning yes, probably said that because of a misunderstood statement)
P-"WHY. WHY!"
E-"Sir, the back rows of the plane need to get on first"
P-"So I paid for first class just to wait here like the rest of them?!"
E-"We will call first class, soon"
*At that point, the passenger rolls his eyes, puts his earbuds in his ears and jams pompously to some tune, unknown to "the others".
*Shortly thereafter, about five minutes, first class boards.
*Comment from the crowd: "You're such a jerk". Well said.
4. Being in an airplane lavatory during turbulence is quite a scary and potentially gross experience
5. Live feed of the plane taking off and shortly after was a strange perspective. Not sure if I like it or not.
6. I have seen people who never got up during the flight (about 6 or 7 hours in when I wrote this). I could never possibly sit that still for that long.
7. After a while, minor turbulence does not bother me. It's funny how we get used to this type of stimulus that would usually prompt fear.
8. Cannot decided whether I like Boeing or Airbus better, since I have flown on both types of aircraft various times this semester. I also am not sure of the major differences between them, and it makes me want to know more.
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