"Oh Europe..." was probably the most common phrase I have used while being abroad. I would use this statement when seeing or doing things I would ONLY do in Europe, such as pay a Euro to use the bathroom, going for days on end without showers and using facial pads to cleanse myself, city/country hopping is a regular event, and spending ridiculous amounts of money on the journey of a lifetime. I realize I am not home yet, but seeing as I am now under the 24hr mark, I feel that it is a fitting time to write this.
All of the things I will do in my first week I get home:
-Drink a gallon of milk...per day. Anyone who has talked to me knows this has slowly been killing me over here
-Snuggle with my puppy dog every night
-Take a shower and feel CLEAN on average of 3 times a day...not a week!
-Sprawl on a bed bigger than me/ enjoy my own room
-Eat a million veggies...well just a healthy diet for that matter as I feel my body detiorating
-PEDICURE! my feet...well let's just say I will not post a picture...so you know they are bad considering my tooth photo :)
-Call friends via iphone..and not google voice
- The dollar exchange rate is 100%..that will be good for the head (and bank account!)
- (Dare I say) bring on a normal lifestyle... and start my summer internship!
Things I will miss/cherish:
- Hopping a plane to a different country every weekend
- My friends I have made both in Sevilla and while exploring
- My roommate Lauren who I could not have survived this journey without
- My wonderful host family!!!
- ALL European food...namely gelato
- Adventure upon adventure
- Never knowing what comes next
This past semester has been an adventure of a lifetime. Although I have said it many times, my parents are my rock and I would not have been here if it weren't for them. Their continuing support for me to take on my dreams and letting me live a limitless life has allowed me to experience some things most kids will never get to do, and for that I will always be grateful. ACtually, I would like to thank ALL of my family who has been so great and been keeping up with my life (basically, you who are reading this right now :) ) It means the world to me that you have takes time from your day to see what crazy things I have been encountering over here. All my friends who have supported me and talked to me and been updating me on Janesville/WI/Purdue stories, I am so grateful. I have learned many things over here, and one of the most important things is that I have truly wonderful friends to come back to at home.
Another really important thing that I have learned is to take what life throws at you, and just roll with it. When telling my mom some of my horror stories from over here she just says "When life gives you lemons..." to which I replied half the time "Screw the lemons!" But honestly, without a sense of adventure and openness, a life abroad would be quite miserable. I learned to take on this attitude my first trip (solo!) and relearned it again each trip with different friends.
I just got to end this excursion with some best friends from home, Abby Geiger and Ashlea SAvona. We took on Barcelona (AND Molins de Rei... only they will appreciate that), Italy, and Greece. We had the time of our lives, took wayyy too many pictures and ate WAYY too much food, and loved every second of it! It was the perfect end to a truly incredible semester.
This is just a jist of all the things that have popped into my head and I know I am leaving out a lot, but these are my feelings going into my last day in Sevilla. I am about to finish packing and take a long walk through this city one last time. Am I ready to go home? AFter two weeks of nonstop traveling and very little sleep which has left me sick, yes, I am ready. I already had my last night with all of my Sevillana friends who are now home, and I can hear my bed calling my name all the way from Janesville. It has been the ride of a lifetime, and there is no better word to describe the emotion I am feeling right now as bittersweet. Goodbye to a journey which has changed me for the better, see you later to all of my best friends from Sevilla, and hello Summer, 2011.
For the last time,
Peace, Amor, Espana
Ana
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