Home

I've already been home for almost a week.  Strangely enough, in a lot of ways it feels as though I never left, and that being abroad for five months was some elusive dream.  I guess I've come full circle.  The last things I did before leaving: I had In-N-Out and tried to fall asleep for my morning flight.  The first things I did upon arriving at LAX: I had In-N-Out and tried to fall asleep while fighting the jet lag.  But so much has happened in between!

After returning to Barcelona from the south of Spain, I found myself in an anxious, excited state driven by the pressing necessity to pack my bags and say my final goodbyes.  On Monday, a bunch of us went to La Ovella Negra to celebrate Danisha and Akansha's last night in Barcelona.

On Wednesday, my last full day, I got semi-nostalgic and started taking pictures of my apartment again, even though I was sure I had already done so when I first moved in.

That night, I enjoyed one final tapas dinner before heading to the bar El Gato Negro with some friends.

The next morning, Ben and I shared a taxi to the airport.  As I almost missed my Sevilla flight, Ben almost missed his flight home.  Somehow we were both lucky: I used my last minutes on my Spanish phone to call him for the fifth time to wake him up, he happened to pick up that time, and we were both on our way.

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Now that I am back home, I realize that there were a lot of things I had missed while abroad: free water, free refills, toilet seat covers, the convenience of stores being open all the time, having a washer and dryer, and maple syrup, to name a few.  But just as much, I realize that there are a lot of things I miss now that I am home: beer that is cheaper than water, tapas, taking public transportation, and the siesta and slower pace of life.

Studying abroad in Barcelona for the past five months has been one of the best experiences of my life, and I am extremely happy and thankful for the opportunity and adventure.

Flying to Barcelona.

On my way home.