I gave a thank you card to Maria Carmen, my host mom. She said "soy muy tonta. Lloro en seguida." It must be so bittersweet to say goodbye again and again to her host sons and daughters. She told me to hold a stone that she gave me when I meditate and it will relieve anguish. Us being Pisces fostered a bond. I didn't believe in horoscopes before, but many of the Pisces-related qualities she told me was oddly true.
Nerea and Maitane visited to say goodbye. Their mom had made me a handbag, the two made me a bracelet and necklace. We played just for a second, tasting their abu's lunch and approving, showing me some judo movements. They are so sweet and kind and accepting. I have learned so much from them- how to love a person immediately after meeting them without a moment of hesitation about our differences.
Julia, an intercambio whom I took flamenco/latin dance with, met me for an helado. I ordered my last (and largest. Three enormous scoops of different chocolate icecreams) Livanti icecream. We walked about La Rambla and about La Catedral de San Nicolas. She told me she hadn't slept for 48 hours due to an overwhelming tsunami of excitement. An architecture company had offered her a one-year contract after years of job-hunting and living with her parents (she is 27 and holds a master's and bachelor's degree earned in 4 years. She's also considering phd). Becoming financially independent after the age of 26 is normal in Spain. I felt immensely grateful that I'm soon interviewing to work as a Kumon tutor despite having completed only one quarter of a bachelor's degree (opportunities like mine have often occurred to my peers with even less education). She recounted how her father cried to find out she had a year's job and the celebrations her friends and family gave her. Julia recommended that I would return to Spain one day, and I agreed whole-heartedly. As we departed, she told me her boyfriend was waiting at home for a surprise...
Nerea and Maitane visited to say goodbye. Their mom had made me a handbag, the two made me a bracelet and necklace. We played just for a second, tasting their abu's lunch and approving, showing me some judo movements. They are so sweet and kind and accepting. I have learned so much from them- how to love a person immediately after meeting them without a moment of hesitation about our differences.
Julia, an intercambio whom I took flamenco/latin dance with, met me for an helado. I ordered my last (and largest. Three enormous scoops of different chocolate icecreams) Livanti icecream. We walked about La Rambla and about La Catedral de San Nicolas. She told me she hadn't slept for 48 hours due to an overwhelming tsunami of excitement. An architecture company had offered her a one-year contract after years of job-hunting and living with her parents (she is 27 and holds a master's and bachelor's degree earned in 4 years. She's also considering phd). Becoming financially independent after the age of 26 is normal in Spain. I felt immensely grateful that I'm soon interviewing to work as a Kumon tutor despite having completed only one quarter of a bachelor's degree (opportunities like mine have often occurred to my peers with even less education). She recounted how her father cried to find out she had a year's job and the celebrations her friends and family gave her. Julia recommended that I would return to Spain one day, and I agreed whole-heartedly. As we departed, she told me her boyfriend was waiting at home for a surprise...
Luis, my host uncle who joined me and Maria Carmen for lunch every day, taught me one last lesson. Hasta ahora means we will meet very soon, hasta luego means we will meet again sometime, hasta siempre means we will be friends for eternity. Hearing hasta siempre from Luis, my professor, from Pepa the program coordinator- this fills my heart with a mix of salty tears and sweet joy.
My two suitcases, souvenirs, and clothes sprawl out on the ground. I watch my room empty... as sweat pours from my skin like rain. I can barely wait to be in ever-present, not-humid air conditioning tomorrow night. Yet I could wait saying goodbye to Alicante.
To escape the heat, I spent one more beautiful afternoon lounging at Playa Postiguet, embraced by the shade of a palm tree, the clear blue sky, the cool jade sea, the smooth warm sands, and utter tranquility. I siesta-ed and awoke refreshed and once again in love with the Mediterranean.
The blue walkway by the beach was the first and the last site I visited here in Spain. As I walked along the cubic tile pattern, I felt a little like a different person from the sick-of-home Amy who arrived in Alicante eight weeks ago.
All my bags are packed, once again. I'm ready to go home.
My two suitcases, souvenirs, and clothes sprawl out on the ground. I watch my room empty... as sweat pours from my skin like rain. I can barely wait to be in ever-present, not-humid air conditioning tomorrow night. Yet I could wait saying goodbye to Alicante.
To escape the heat, I spent one more beautiful afternoon lounging at Playa Postiguet, embraced by the shade of a palm tree, the clear blue sky, the cool jade sea, the smooth warm sands, and utter tranquility. I siesta-ed and awoke refreshed and once again in love with the Mediterranean.
The blue walkway by the beach was the first and the last site I visited here in Spain. As I walked along the cubic tile pattern, I felt a little like a different person from the sick-of-home Amy who arrived in Alicante eight weeks ago.
All my bags are packed, once again. I'm ready to go home.