Throwback Thursday: Madrid Edition

I’m finally settled back in New Paltz and being that it’s “Throwback Thursday” , it seems like the perfect time to wrap up my blog with some reminiscing.

As I had correctly predicted, this homesickness I would feel in regards to Madrid wouldn’t kick in until now that I’m settled back in New Paltz. Allow me to vent a little bit:

I feel this emptiness within me. Almost everyone around me speaks solely in English, I have no choice but to get back into the routine of juggling work, the Oracle, clubs, and classes. I miss walking around Getafe, I miss my roommate and the friends I made, I miss  spontaneous traveling, I miss everything around me feeling so new and fresh, I miss the food, I miss my siestas!  I feel it every time I get asked, “How was studying abroad?” I feel it when I look at the photographs I took.  I feel it when I speak to friends on Facebook/Skype.

But it’s time to move forward. It’s been great running into familiar faces around campus, seeing their eyes light up, and hearing some variation of “You’re back!” As much as I miss UC3M and Madrid, I understand it’s time to get back into the swing of things here in my other home: New Paltz! I’ve already spent a couple late nights working on assignments at the library and the honor’s center ( last night I braved my first Oracle production night back on board!)

There’s no way to truly do justice in describing the magnitude of my semester abroad within the few minutes of chit chat in passing with people so I’m absolutely happy I got to blog about it all. Madrid–and Spain in its entirety–was so enchanting.

Hanging out in Alex's flat, enjoying the view of La Alhambra, walking around Parque  Güell, drinking tea in Granada and celebrating at an outdoor Mexican festival. I had a blast with my best Ausie friends!

Hanging out in Alex’s flat, enjoying the view of La Alhambra, walking around Parque Güell, drinking tea in Granada and celebrating at an outdoor Mexican festival. I had a blast with my best Aussie friends!

 

Flamenco shows, street bands, gardens, soccer stadiums, churches, tea houses; Some of the greatest moments of my trip :-)

Flamenco shows, street bands, gardens, soccer stadiums, churches, tea houses; Some of the greatest moments of my trip 🙂

A peak at the UC3M Fernando de los Rios residence hall, which quickly felt like home ♥

A peak at the UC3M Fernando de los Rios residence hall, which quickly felt like home ♥

A simple sample of the Getafe sights I could never get tired of.

A simple sample of the Getafe sights I could never get tired of.

 

There wasn't a single place that I went that was not touched by beautiful art , regardless of fame or style.

There wasn’t a single place that I went that was not touched by beautiful art , regardless of fame or style.

All I can say is that my time at UC3M and in Madrid was so remarkable that I plan to visit again within the next year or so. My collages are only a small portion of the many photos I took. It’s safe to say that I accomplished the goals I had initially hoped to work up toward: learning more about the Spanish culture and perfecting my fluency. I also learned so much about myself and other people, which is a whole other reward in itself. I can’t thank my family, my professors, advisors, and the Center for International Programs enough for supporting me and catapulting me into what is now this amazing story that I’ll be able to tell for years and years and years to come.

 

Up In the Air

I’m incredibly lucky and blessed to say that everywhere that I’ve traveled within the last year has brought to amazing places, whether familiar or completely new. On December 25th, only a few days after I returned to New York City, I was told I didn’t have much under the Christmas tree…because I received a plane ticket to the Dominican Republic! “Can’t you stay in New York for more than five minutes?” said one of my friends when he heard of my new trip. This lovely trip down to my second homeland has been nothing but relaxing (70-degree sunny weather, hello!).

A sweet treat in one of my favorite places.

A sweet treat in one of my favorite places.

Having gone from one Spanish-speaking country to another has been immensely helpful in reaching my goal of perfecting my fluency. I often find myself caught between each country’s respective vernaculars, but even still I feel a whole lot bolder when I speak; My family and friends here like to pull my leg about pronouncing words with the Spanish lisp (which I don’t but I now know when to switch from zeta to “theta” haha!).

In my last week in Madrid, I met with the other New Paltz girls who attended UC3M and we bonded over some cheap, yummy tapas.  I already miss some of the traditional Spanish food, but the girls and I agreed we would try our hand at some tortillas, huevos rotos, and patatas bravas once we get back to New Paltz.

Truth be told, I still have my laptop set to Madrid-time, partially because it makes talking to friends over there easier and partially because I’m sort of in denial that I need to settle back at home.  In the short time I was at home in N.Y., I really missed taking my siesta—it’s more than just a nap in the middle of the day, it’s a fresh start to the rest of the day you have ahead of you. I also missed the sense of community and “mom and pop” shops—the sense of “mi casa es su casa” that all-too-busy New Yorkers seem to have forgotten. In Spain, hanging out in groups and in public spaces is encouraged as opposed to the very individualistic N.Y./U.S.A.  

I would be lying if I said that studying abroad wasn’t stressful at some points, but I wouldn’t trade the experience for anything, everything was so so so worth it. A few people expected me to be really sad upon returning and admittedly, I wasn’t. In the last year, I’ve traveled enough to say that it’s okay to miss people and miss places, but the best direction to move is forward. As much as I miss Spain, my mind is already set on having a successful semester back in New Paltz and saving up money to go back to Europe!  I made amazing friends that I miss a lot, so it’s time for me to work hard to make some new memories. Could it be that I’m in a daze because I haven’t really settled back at home? Maybe or maybe not…so I’ll check back with you all in a few days 🙂

Home

Towards the end of my trip in France, I felt an overwhelming want to return and a desire to hold on to the moment a little longer. The food, the travel and of course the friends are all things I loved about being there.

Though, as I make my way through suburbia I feel myself slipping into a comfort coma. I missed being able to drive, seeing my friends, and having access to a plethora of stores. Like a drug, comfort is addicting.

Headlights beam through my windshield as cars pass me by. Each flash lights up the interior as I drive through stagnant roads – unchanged, familiar. I feel myself slipping into a welcoming place that is warm and friendly. With open arms, I’m greeted from France. Yet something has changed. I have a feeling of something even bigger and more wild than ever before. Every time I notice it, it smiles back in its immensity.

Living abroad for only four months, which is a droplet in my lifetime, has provided me with a profound sense of motivation and know-how for handling life. In such as short amount of time, I was able to kick down many of my own fear based barriers about traveling and succeeding.  I had always known that if I wanted something I would need to work for it. This proved true for handling the application process to study abroad, to handling the documentation when there, to speaking the language.

Everyone should study abroad. It’s a chance to invent yourself and sharpen your skills. It’s liberating to to be in a foreign place. In the end, you truly see that life is entirely up to you. Where you go and  how you handle it is only a mindset away…