Just as I was writing this journal entry at a café facing Plaza España, the song "See You Again" randomly played on my headphones. I cannot avoid feeling a pang of sadness as I realize that my journey abroad is almost over.
Before this journey began, I had never crossed the Atlantic or the Pacific Ocean. I was always limited by the borders of America. Ever since middle school, I had dreamed of traveling to foreign lands, experiencing new cultures and feeling new emotions. I finally got the experience I had been dreaming about all those years with this opportunity to study abroad. And now, having done this -- and I cannot express myself more clearly than this -- it is something every one should do!
Every single aspect of this experience, from the crazy adventures I had and the life-long friendships I made, to the lonely nights far away from home and the deep fatigue of being busy in a foreign place, was unique and unforgettable.
I thought it was going to be easy to integrate into the local culture since Spain is where my ancestors are from and the language is my own. Also, I had seen plenty of Spanish TV soaps, so I was definitely ready, wasn't I? Naive me!
