It's been 3 weeks since I left Spain to come home. I've realized that I haven't really let myself think about my semester in Spain in-depth and actually put my experiences into words. How do I even begin and where do I begin? Guess the beginning is always a good place to start....
I always knew that I wanted to travel the world. When I was a little girl, my daddy would come back from his business trips to exotic places like China, India, Taiwan and bring my presents and stories back. I guess this is where I got bitten by the traveling " bug."
Fast forward to senior year of high school. I got the chance to go to Italy for spring break with some of my best friends. Seeing the ruins in Rome, riding a gondola in Venice, and visiting the statue of David in Florence were things that I dreamed of doing, but thought I never would. I will always look back on that spring break as one that showed me how wonderful the world was. Right after coming back, I knew that study abroad was my next goal.
After months of preparation and worry and details, I was in Spain. I knew that I was going to be scared and nervous about being away from home for 4 months, but I also knew that I needed this experience. To know that I could go anywhere, not know anyone, and be okay. To know that I didn't need my family or friends to always be there. To know that I could be happy, just me. The first few weeks were tough, I felt torn between how much I loved Spain and how weird it felt being away from everything I was used to. But that feeling of wanting home slowly went away after the first month. After the first month, I completely fell in love with Salamanca. I coudn't have imagined a better city for me. It was everything I had hoped and dreamed about in a study abroad experience. I needed a place like Salamanca and it became home to me a little more everyday.
Studying abroad was more than just improving my Spanish or learning to become more independent. I found a peace within me that didn't really exist before. I give all the credit to the Spanish way of living. Spaniards relax more, laugh more, just enjoy life more. I try to describe my experience to friends, but the memories that I cherish the most are the ones that really can't be described. How do you describe the peace you feel when sitting in the Plaza Mayor with new friends on a sunny day eating ice-cream? or the awe that comes over you when you see the Eiffel Tower, the Sagrada Familia, or Big Ben? My four months in Spain were so full of just pure joy. The bittersweet joy that happens once in a while. I never knew that my heart could be so full. Everyday, just walking to class, I was joyful and so at peace. The best moments of study abroad were the simple ones like sitting at a cafe with friends and speaking in spanish, going dancing until 8 a.m, eating a warm pastry in front of the cathedral. Little things like that made my experience so enriching. When people used to say that they " found" themselves during study abroad, I never really got that. but now i do. Because in a small way, I did find myself. I found out what makes me truly happy and where I thrive. And I found a place in which I am truly happy. For this, I am so thankful. Salamanca was my home for 4 months, but I will always think of it as my true home.
I remember when I was leaving and saying good bye to my intercambio and my program directors, I couldn't help but cry. My intercambio said this to me, " Karen, it is good your heart is breaking because that means that this place touched you, changed you. and now you will always have this place to go to for happiness." My program directors also told me something that encouraged me that it wasan't goodbye: " No es un adios, es un hasta luego." Translated: This is not a goodbye, it is a see you later." There is so much truth in what they both said.
I can't wait to travel again and to see even more new places. Adventure awaits in every place I want to visit and hopefully soon, I'll be getting on a plane to go to a new place, a new culture where I can see even more of this amazing world.
I am so thankful for my experience abroad. So thankful for the chance to visit London, Paris, Italy and many other places. So thankful for the happiness and peace I found while abroad. And last of all, so thankful for the love and kindness I experienced in Spain from my friends, host parents, program directors, and the numerous amazing people I met along the way. This was one heck of an adventure! Hasta Luego, Salamanca. Te quiero con todo mi corazon...
