The end of an era...

I promised myself I wouldn't stat crying while writing this entry. I'm already starting to break that promise...

The is the final entry I will post in here from Toledo, Spain. This is the final time I will be writing while sitting in the Fund Lab, typing on my half faded keyboard, retelling my adventures and what it is like to be abroad. This is the beginning of my last 36 hours in Spain that won't be spent in an airport.

It's so amazing the change a person goes through abroad. I still remember that first day here. I had no idea what to expect, everything was foreign and new. I had no clue about where things were, I had to concentrate so hard to listen and understand people, and honestly, I was scared to death of the upcoming semester. I was thrown on a bus, trudged through a city with my bags, in the middle of a sea of 90 other people feeling the same way, and then thrust into the home of a family I had never met. I wondered if the three months would go quick enough.

But then I started to get to know Toledo. I got to know my family. Each day became easier with the Spanish. Each day held a new adventure. there were ups and downs, and Spain and my host family became a true home. I overcame the language barrier, and my family got to see my personality. I made so many amazing friends and met so many wonderful people. Yes, there were so many lows and many battles with homesickness and people I just didn't get along with, but that's normal, that happens anywhere. The highs were amazing and the experiences I have had are enough to cherish for a lifetime.

The most amazing part of this experience was not the traveling, by far. The most amazing thing was the daily life, becoming integrated into the city and culture. Becoming a regular at a local tienda. Going to a bar with friends and having the bartender know your drink order. Seeing patrons in the street from the library and saying hi. Coming home everyday at 2:30 to eat lunch and 10 PM for dinner with your host family. Random 2 AM Döner Kebabs. Talking with your host brother after dinner. Working at the library. Running across town to catch an AVE or across Zoco to catch the 6. My amazing host family who I love and will miss forever. These little daily things that occupied my last three and a half months made my experience what it is, gave body and soul to my abroad time.

Tonight was graduation at la Fundación Ortega y Gasset Toledo. It was a nice little ceremony, and we all got diplomas. There was a line of professors at the front of a room, and when your names was called, if a certain professor wanted to personally give you the diploma, they got to, and then you shook their hand (for males) or gave them a hug and dos besos (woman). My internship teacher gave me mine. However, I still continued down the line and also huged and dos beso'ed my grammar/convo teacher (an amazing professor), and Yuki, one of the coordinators here. The diplomas were read off in two parts, which was also neat. The majority of students were read off in the first part. Then some students were called second. Earlier in the day the faculty met and discuss which students excelled the best/profited the most from the experience. I felt very honored, because I was called in the second group of people.

We then had a buffet, it was nice to get to say bye to all my friends, and my host mom got to be there too. There was lots of pictures and a few tears. This experience was amazing!

So now for my recommendations to students thinking about going abroad. Do not think about money. Do not worry about any fears. Do not worry about host families, or language, or friends, or missing anything at Ripon (or whatever university you are from). Do it. Just do it. Go abroad. Experience everything you can, take in every moment, and savor every piece of your experience. It is worth it 100 times over. I have learned so much this semester, about Spanish, about culture, and mainly about myself. I know this entire entry I have sounded like a cliché, but it is all the truth. It will be worth.

I feel so blessed for my time here, and I wouldn't trade it for the world. It will be very hard to get on the plane and leave Spain (even though I am going to Belgium before the States), but I know I am ready to go home, and I know I will return. Three and a half months is not long enough. It is a good start, but long enough.

Tres meses no es suficiente. Quizás una vida entera. Quizás…

…Voy a echarte de menos España, ¡sin embargo voy a regresar tan pronto como puedo! Voy a dejar una parte de mi corazón aquí para siempre. Besos.