Well, I've now been back in good old Andover, MA for 3 days. I had the weekend to relax and indulge on all the food I missed (i.e. mac and cheese, calzones, etc.). Now, it's time to basically lay around and do nothing until I go to Israel in 6 weeks! I've really begun to miss Spain, nothing will ever be the same.
I'm extremely grateful I had the opportunity to go abroad. It was a once in a lifetime experience that changed me as a person. I took a huge risk, and no, I'm not talking about skydiving. I spent 5 months living in a country that does not speak my language, and with a family that is not my own. I am amazed at how quickly this foreign place became my home, and being here in America feels just as comfortable as I felt in Seville. This trip gave me a new sense of confidence, I feel as though if I got through that initially frightening experience, I can get through anything. I'm thankful for this, and realize how fortunate I am to have met the great friends I met, and see the great things I saw. How many people can say that in short 4-5 months, they made new friends that will last a lifetime, tried new foods weekly, saw the eiffel tower, stood outside the English royal palace, became close to fluency in a new language, overlooked the Atlantic while standing on the edge of Europe, stood in the place where Anne Frank was held hostage, and jumped from a plane? Not many, and that's just a short list of the things I did!
I know this experience will stay with me forever, and will probably affect me in ways I can't even imagine.
Anyone who is offered the opportunity to spend time abroad in the future should absolutely take advantage of this, whether it be in Spain, Italy, France, Australia, Asia, or South America. It's extremely beneficial to live in a new culture and learn how others live. Additionally, this is most likely the only time in my life I was able to have a 5 month break from reality. When September rolls around, it's back to difficult school work, internships, and preoccupation about the future. While in Spain, none of these thoughts cluttered my mind, and I only hope at some point I will have the chance to return to the place that has become my Paradise.
