Overall, Spain was so many things. I can't believe it's over now. Still, even though it seems strange that this huge dream of mine- this huge part of my life that I will remember forever- is over, what seems stranger still is that I don't feel weird. I talked for months about what it would be like to adjust back into American culture. but.... I'm adjusted. What's weird is that I don't feel weird. I have filled up every ounce of my time with doing things and seeing people, so that might account for some of it, but everything feels normal. Everyday. Common place. It's as if I haven't been away for 7 months- first at camp and then in Spain (literally, I was at camp on a wednesday, and standing in Spain that Saturday) so this should feel like a much bigger deal than it does. That's what's strange. I never experienced jet lag. Are you kidding me? I mean, thanks God! but... Bizzare! It's supposed to take a day for every hour. I should just be getting over it. I was fine after the first night! and hungry at all the right times too! Bizzare. What do I miss? I miss my host family. I miss the aqueduct. Tortilla Española (that I should've made by now and still will...sometime) I miss the shops. and I miss Spanish. I feel the lack of speaking it and sometimes I get this panicked guilty feeling like I'm going to forget it. It's sad. I miss my Spain term group. I miss our jokes, I miss Spanglish and all the weird stuff you can say when you have two languages to work with. I miss feeling pushed to learn more and speak even when it's tough. I miss the beauty of the city. AND THE WARMTH. How does anyone live in this frozen wasteland!??!?! anywhoo..... those are the things I miss. The things I'm glad to have back are of course my family, my friends (and all of those wonderful screaming embraces- why can't we always meet like this?!) I love my house and my bed and the privacy that no one can hear me all the time. I love driving again (minus the cold before the car heats up) I love doing all sorts of things. I love being able to hang out at places other than bars once the hour passes 7pm. Of course I have to put the I love that there's no finals. I love being back at my church and everything that goes with that. I love english worship songs. I love lefse! and baking! I've gone baking crazy! I love my mom's soups. Missed those a ton! I love the Christmas music that I couldn't find on youtube B.J. Thomas- just feels like Christmas to me. and there's other stuff, but that's what I can think of now.
Now I want to bring up that Spain Term bucket list that I wrote about 70 days ago. I confess, some of these things didn't get done.
"Some aspirations I have for by the time I leave Spain are as follows:"
1. Learn Spanish dishes
-eh, yeah. pretty much! I know a good 3 things to make and I can guess at a good number because I've had them so much!
2. This goal used to be to reach fluency, but now it's to reach a certain unexplainable level that's "fluency" to me.
-yup! Reached it. I can hold a conversation for an undetermined amount of time with minimal terror and frustration. That was the unexplainable goal! Honestly, I think this right here is the biggest deal for me. It actually may be one of the most proudest moments in my life. Something that caused me so much frustration and so much stress, that I wanted to accomplish so badly-This seemed so unattainable to me 3 months ago! I've climbed a mountain that used to seem so big and now, I'm definitely not standing on the summit, but I'm standing high up there looking down and so proud! I'm anxious to keep climbing!
3. Go to Ireland.
- I did it. I went to Ireland. Not only THAT but I went to the "cliffs of insanity" (cliffs of Moher) from the Princess Bride- my favorite movie of all time!!!! I saw plenty of Irish songs and ballads and watched an Irish river dance sorta thing with traditional songs and feet that tapped so fast you'd think it was fake! I made a potato dinner and saw all the famous sights. The Aran Islands might be the most gorgeous things in the world and I'm going to have to go back.
4. Buy colored skinny jeans here
-the point of this one was to come back with a classic part of the Spanish wardrobe. I didn't do that with colored skinny jeans exactly, but I did accomplish the reason behind the goal. I look European sometimes. That's enough for me.
5. Go to "El Rey León" (the lion king) in Madrid.
- eh-no. This disappoints me, but I've done things just as amazing with my time-and who knows! Maybe this'll be a great night with friends that I still get to have someday!
6. Play my violin in the street
-honestly, it just didn't work out. I said this was my hardest goal and the one I would've been most proud of- other than Spanish, maybe yeah. but at the time I didn't understand the stigma with playing on the streets. In America, it's done by all classes of people. Flash mobs are a run off of this. In Spain, it just means you're homeless, a hobo, begging for money, and all the bad connotations you could have. This wasn't the express reason, but it's why I don't morn the loss of this too much. I was told not to by more than one person. Also, I didn't get a chance to practice hardly ever and it got too cold when I would've finally had the gumption to do it.
7. Read the book of Acts
-I did indeed finish Acts. I wanted to further my faith and I believe that Spain has been one of the most challenging experiences for me that I've learned a ton from. I even think I won't realize the difference it's fully made until more time has passed.
8. Go to a discoteca
- Well this was definitely met. I did as the Spanish do and went for it from 3 to 5:30am one night. Spaniards are crazy. It was an experience that I'm glad I had, but I'm quite sure that I won't be continuing this partying thing in the states....
9. Grades
- ummm none of us know yet. I'm thinking they could be good, but this was a freaky part of the semester. We could never check. Didn't get much feedback either. So I guess we'll see....
10. Healthiness/ fit
-In the way this was originally intended.... nope. but- turns out that I was the only one who escaped unscathed the entire Spain Term without an injury, sickness -not even a cold, and I've had perfect health the entire semester. This is a miracle cause generally, I'm at least some level of sick at almost every moment. Total 180
11. 2 mom skype
- This happened 3 times now! My sisters and niece even got into the mix! Made me happy that two people that have been my mothers could meet :)
- All in all, I'm happy with the results of this Spain Term.
I'm closing a chapter of life now. No idea where it's gonna take me next. Just following along with God as he turns the pages and trusting him. I'm excited for the new adventure he has for me! but... still, chapters are hard to close. I find it hard writing this and I realize I've left a piece of my heart across the sea. <3 Goodbye Spain Term.
God- thank you.
~Erin Lindberg
Dec 21, 2013