It's my second-to-last night in Salamanca and I can't believe that I'm actually a little sad. How is this possible? After enduring two summers of no air-conditioning, people treating me like I'm an idiot (speaking to me in English as if I became enrolled in this program by pure magic), and spending 48 hours/week in class, I thought I would only be more than happy to hop on the bus on Saturday morning. I am extremely happy to go home, of course. First and foremost to see my new husband and begin my adventure of living with a guy for the first time in my life. Second, to taste the sweetness of normal beet sugar rather than cane sugar (it's not sweet!). To not eat rabbit at lunch. To feel cold air blowing on me in the house and in the car. To not pass hookers on my afternoon walk.
Despite all the things I have missed and can't wait to have back, I can't help but feel sad. I've spent the last three summers in Spain, not to mention a year here when I was younger. This country feels like a home to me more than ever place ever will besides, of course, HOME. I will miss getting up before sunrise and running, feeling as though I'm in the movie Vanilla Sky where the world has ended and Tom Cruise is the ONLY person in the street. I actually was in Madrid for the premiere of Vanilla Sky, which comes from the Spanish movie "Abre los ojos". (It is totally dead around here at 6:15 a.m. Unbelievable. And dark at that. Until quarter to seven. How is that possible in the summertime?) I will miss the rigorous schedule and constant studying. (I know, I am sick.) After I started packing tonight I felt a little strange having only one exam to study for. I certainly am not stressed out enough. I actually went to the bar in the dorm after dinner. I can just about count on one hand the number of drinks I have had since the end of June - that is how much work there has been to do.
I cannot wait to take a break next summer and finally experience the relaxing summer than I have not yet had since I started teaching. Triathlon training, cooking, basking in the glory of my recently completed thesis... It just feels strange, and a little sad, that this is the end of my Spain days. On the other hand, I finished my Master's in Spanish. Hell yeah.
2 comments:
hooray! congrats on completing your masters! it sounds sad to leave such an awesome place, but you are right, so much to look foward to at home now :)
p.s. the first time i watched vanilla sky, i didnt really dig it. i watched it a second time and i flippin love that movie now
woo hoo! yeah! can't wait to see you when you get back from san diego! congrats!
Post a Comment