Adios, Madrid

Well, if you know me, you know that I'm AWFUL at saying goodbye. This whole week has been so bittersweet between saying goodbye to professors, students, other people from my program, and my host mom. I have a liiiiittle bit of a hard time with change. I'm so excited to go home and see my family but it makes me sad that I'll never be here again in the same way that I am right now. But, such is life, I suppose.

When you study abroad, people always tell you how much you'll learn about the language, the culture, other people, etc. But I didn't realize how much I would learn about myself. Sounds cheesy but it's true! I feel like I have a much better idea of what it is I want to do with the rest of my life and how I want to do it. I've changed and grown in ways that I didn't expect. I feel incredibly lucky to have had this experience.

My sister sent me this quote a few days ago: "A man travels the world over in search of what he needs and returns home to find it." -George Moore. Incredibly appropriate, don't you think? As much as I love Madrid and have loved being here, I've realized that this isn't where my life is. I was here to learn and grow but I'm supposed to go back home, home to my family. It's funny that one of the things I've learned from being here is that I belong somewhere else.

Oh! The link I posted on this blog is of one of my favorite songs- it's quite fitting I think! You ought to listen to it. It just might be the story of my life ;) And here are a few pictures from the week.

Frozen yogurt run

Two more of my girls- Marta and Meiki. Clearly I cried when we said goodbye.

My classmates at Complutense. So many fun memories!

Complutense Campus

Our last night out with almost everyone in our program and friends from class, too.

Sunset at Templo de Debod with Alex. What a beautiful place I have lived in.  

Sorry for the most sentimental and emotional post! I've so enjoyed keeping a blog (Sophie always told me I should keep a diary, I wish I would have done it before now! She's always right...) and I hope you've enjoyed reading it too! Happy, happy holidays :)

Te echare de menos mucho, Madrid. Ha sido fantastico. Todo bueno llega a un fin- todavia no estoy lista! Pero eso es lo bonito de la vida. Nunca sabes que te espera. Enves de estar triste, ponte a pensar que es lo que sigue.

"Let the beauty we love become the good we do." -Rumi