1 Week

My exchange year basically went a little something like this:

September, October, November, December, January… June 22nd.

My last day of school was yesterday, and I don’t think I’ve ever cried so much in my life.

There came a point where, as I was going from person to person with hugs, breathing became a difficulty.

As there was a line of kids forming to give me a hug, I felt so loved. I’ve never felt so lucky in my entire life. I have never felt so helpless in my entire life. I can’t even begin to describe the feeling leaving so many people behind.

Today was the typical end of the year pool party. I’m so lost when it comes to finding the right words to say goodbye.

This is way more difficult than the beginning.

At this point in the journey, crying comes and goes unexpectedly and on a daily basis. I can’t begin to explain the feelings I have. It’s like each goodbye rips out a tiny piece of my heart. The difficulty to let go of a goodbye hug is absolutely terrible.

But all together at the same time, these feelings and the crying, when looking at it from a different angle, they’re good. It only means that I had an amazing time.

Which I surely did.

 

Home Stretch

This is all coming to an end.

I find my emotions towards these last 3 weeks to be more depressed than excited. I wish it wasn’t so hard, and I wish time would even slow down a little.

I’m trying so hard to take everything in, but the days here fly by. I wish I could remember every single thing that made me laugh, every moment I felt a sense of belonging, or when I started to understand everything. However, that’s impossible, and slightly frustrating.

I’m not ready. That basically sums up everything.

I have this massive part of my heart dedicated to Spain. Every single person I’ve met while being here has a spot. Even down to do that kid who thought it would be funny to call me “cheeseburger”. It’s a weird thing, because no one gets how much they mean to me.

I just can’t stop thinking about everything.

More than anything, I’m just incredibly happy for this. All of it.

Update: I Don’t Feel Like Doing Math Homework

As I’m sitting here with 62 math problems for homework, it suddenly hit me that I haven’t written for a little while and right now would be a perfect time to write an update.

May has been the slowest fastest month of my life, because of the anticipation of arriving home and the feeling of wanting to stay.

Lately, all my conversations have been about all the memories, and all the arrangements being made for people to come to the U.S. and me to return to Spain. If I had a dollar for every time someone asked me how I feel about going home, I could afford to stay.

This past Thursday and Friday, I took a test to prove the Spanish skills I have formed over the past nine months. It went really well, and I’ll know my score in a couple of weeks, and eventually, I’ll get a certificate of some sort that represents the level of Spanish I have.

Yesterday, we threw a surprise party for a family friend. The party was mostly adults, but I found myself having fun. Just like all Spanish parties, there was a lot of dancing, alcohol, and dancing.

There’s only 4 weeks left of school, which only means one thing: finals. That basically explains itself.

On the bright side, I’m in the process of perfecting things in the language perspective. This does mean I’m bilingual, or that I can speak perfectly, it just means I’m happy with what I’ve learned, and all the verb forms are starting to connect and make sense when I talk. Something I never thought possible.

A true miracle.

 

Barcelona

Barcelona is where I spent this past 5 day weekend.

I went with my sub tutor from school, her husband, and two kids. We left on Wednesday, and as I squished into the middle seat of the small car between the two car seats of a four and a six year old, I just reminded myself of the destination. We stopped in a small village on the way, as well as Zaragoza, and although it elongated the trip by 3 hours, it was worth it.

Once we got there around 9:30, I was greeted by the family, who were all incredibly nice. It will never seize to amaze me how no matter where I go, or who I am with, people are there with open arms, welcoming me into there home, or life. It’s great.

The first full day, I went with the tutor and her two kids around the city and out to the beach, getting a brief tour, and seeing all the typical touristy things of the city.

The next day I went to the Sagrada Familia, which is a cathedral that is still in the making. The architect had started building the cathedral when he died, and left only a blue print behind. Because the type of architecture is so complicated, the construction team has trouble on a daily basis constructing the figure based off of the drawing left behind. For this reason, it’s still not finish, after at least 100 years of building.

The last full day there, which was Saturday, I went into the city on bike with a friend of the family’s. They had a communion to go to and I was sent out to explore. As I navigated through the bust streets and tried to keep up with the hard core biker, I was able to experience things from a different view.

We left at 10 in the morning and didn’t get back until 8:30. Although it was a long, sweaty day, I enjoyed it. We ended the day on a lookout at the highest point in the city. Another memory.

And today I headed back to school, with under two months to go.

I think I figured this thing out. The truth is I am so excited to go home, but on the other hand, I know that once I say goodbye, that’s it… at least for awhile. So therefore, since I don’t want to say goodbye for good, I’m not ready to go yet.

However, there’s no avoiding what’s to come, so until then, it’s all about enjoying these last weeks, which are unfortunately filled with exams, which fortunately don’t matter…. too much.

With that being said, here are some pictures, to illustrate the trip:

Over Exams

I have a new vision of what hell looks like. 

If you could take this past week and make it into a place, I’m pretty sure there would be fire and Satan involved. 

That’s just the school aspect, I mean. 

7 exams, 4 days. My brain is so over ecuations, formulas, history, and drawing fancy shapes.

I’m just thinking about Friday, at 12:50, when this hell week will come to an end. 

To be completely honest, this is a form of complete procrastination. 

Time to go study for the math test that awaits me tomorrow. 

 

March in Pictures

These are all pictures from when my family came to visit.

They’re all mixed up, but this basically sums up their trips here!

 

90 Days… What?

My mom and brother are standing back on American soil after the fastest 12 days of all of our lives.

The days until I return home number somewhere in the 90’s. As June 29th gets closer, everyday here is more enjoyable, and I don’t know why this is happening. I’m about 110% sure that waking up on June 30th in my Lansdale bed, opening my eyes to those paper stars that hang from ceiling, will be sad. Because that’s when it’s all really over. I don’t want to think about it.  I don’t want to be the “ex” exchange student.

The past 12 days were spent in both Madrid and Granada. We all had so much fun together, and Cody and I finally had a chance to make up for all the picking on each other we missed over the past 6 months. We saw all the cool sights of Madrid, and finished off the trip in Granada where we spent a day at the beach. It was perfection.

Tomorrow, being Easter, will probably be spent studying and Skyping with the family as they get together at my aunt’s house.

I can’t believe how fast spring break went. I can’t believe how fast all those post spring break exams crept up on me. I’m going for it though. The end of the third marking period is my time to get good grades. I’m capable and even though the fact that my grades are barely worthy-some is constantly lingering, I’m going to give it my all. After all, I am planning on attending college at some point. So here we go. Wish me luck.

And to all a happy Easter!

 

Procrastination Post

Let the 17 day weekend begin.

I’m sitting here making a list of things to pack to head out to see more of this awesome country with my family, and suddenly am filled with overwhelming excitement. I miss them so much.

To be honest, I wish my dogs were coming along but apparently that’s “too much work…” blahblahblahhhh. But who wouldn’t want to see these cuties after 6 and a half months?

I remember when I first got here and was thinking  about how I could study abroad in college, and if I would want to come back. But now I know the definite answer to that. YES.

I don’t have any super exciting news, I think I just convinced myself to do this to procrastinate the studying that presents itself today, because we all know that studying will not be happening while my family is here. But those 4 exams and summary of that one movie we watched in class still remain.

And for any of you wondering about the language thing, it’s good. I haven’t had any super improvements after Christmas. I’m in the stuck stage when you get a little frustrated because it’s been 2 months and nothing has changed. But hey, 3 more months to go, I’ve got time; not enough, but I’ve got it.

Better get going… primo Carlos is coming for lunch, and I’ve got packing and studying to do.

Wish me luck.

Amusement parks and Dance Parties

What a life.

Today I found myself adventuring through the amusent park here in Madrid. The field trip was for physics and chemistry, but let’s be real, not one person was thinking about velocity or potential energy while riding roller coasters, or while  throwing ourselves onto ride after violent ride.

Today I found myself in the medical center of the amusement park.  But no worries, a cage just ripped open my knee.

Today I found myself, skipping through the park, laughing at screaming friends, and laughing some more. But let me tell you; you don’t have any idea of what “cold” is until you’re riding a roller coaster or free falling through the brisk morning air, as mini snowflakes are falling from the sky. Even though I arrived home with my cheeks red, and freezing hands, it was all for a good purpose.

As of now school is my favorite place. I don’t know why, I just love it. Me and 5 others in my class are working on a project right now thats super big, and we all need to talk for a total of 45 minutes, which makes me a little nervous. Not in the fact that I’m not confident in how I speak, but 1) I always get nervous talking in front of people 2) we aren’t allowed to read straight from paper which is completely normal for people that are native speaker 3) some kids in my class are tools and will most definitely make fun of me.

We have gotten together twice to work on the project, but so far have nothing. This is because our little get togethers always turn into dance party, youtube surfing, prank calling get togethers. Which I’m completely fine with.

Another thing: on Friday I’m meeting with some people from school to get information about volunteering here in Madrid. They go to Sol on Sunday mornings to give breakfast to homeless. I’m pretty pumped. I’ve been trying for awihle to find something like this to do here, and I think I’ve finally got something.

Well, with that being said, only 4 days until I’ll be reuniting with my mom and brother, and, get ready for this….

106 until I’m home. However, I refuse to accept that.

Content

Well, the days with my dad came and went faster than expected, but the time was well spent.

After my last post, we had 3 more days together, 1 being spent in Segovia, and 2 here in Madrid. All I can say is we had a good time, and the goodbye was rushed by the metro I took to school Wednesday morning; arriving one minute after us at the station. As the train pulled away from the platform, where my dad was standing, I felt a little puddle of tear forming in my eyes, but I quickly reminded myself that this goodbye is for only 4 months. And all was well.

My mom and brother will be here in 9 days, which is crazy, and super exciting.

By the time this is over, I’ll be a professional tour guide.

At this point in my exchange, the weird thing about all of this is thinking about living back in PA again. I’m so comfortable with everything. I have this type of confidence here that I’ve never had before. And I’m saying that to be anything but a tool, I’m just content at this moment in time.

I’m happy.