I survived the dreaded goodbyes (or aka, hasta luegos). I honestly didn't know if I was going to make it through these past few days without throwing up. My stomach has been in knots for days now. Still is. But I survived and am now in Barcelona after just meeting with Gina's former foreign exchange student who lives in Barcelona - Iris. I am so glad that we finally got to meet up, especially after having such a tough day of goodbyes it was nice to grab a coffee with such a sweet and genuine person.
Last night after dinner with the family around 9:30ish, I went over to Morgen's apartment with the gang for the last get-together. Triste. Triste. Triste. I am going to miss them so much. I am so blessed to have met such wonderful, amazing people this semester. They made my experience what it was. And although our time together in Spain is over, I look forward to all the USAC reunions! Wherever they may be. *cough cough* Cabo :) jaja Anyways this morning I woke up and did NOT want to get out of bed because I knew this was the last morning I would wake up in my comfortable little bed in my cozy little room in Alicante, Spain. During the usual breakfast with Feli, I was tearing up... No way could I start to cry already. I sucked it up. jaja The whole morning and afternoon, there was a huge elephant in the room called This Is Sarah's Last Day in Alicante with Her Amazing Host Family. It was obnoxious. Finally it was that time. I went to my room, put on my shoes, then went back to the living room where Feli and Alba were... I can't even remember if I said anything before we were all hugging and had tears in our eyes. I couldn't stand it - seeing both Feli and Alba cry. Madre mia. We said how much we were going to miss each other, what a delight it had been living together, how we can't believe it went by so fast, and how I am going to return muy pronto (ASAP). Then Feli apologized for anything that either she or Alba did over the course of the semester that might have upset me etc. At first I thought she was kidding or that I had misunderstood because neither of them ever did a thing (not even in the slightest) that upset me even a bit. I told Feli that she was crazy for thinking that and that they were perfect. When I start to tear up, I can't speak or convey my feelings without bawling so before I said goodbye, I wrote them a letter - everything that I knew I wouldn't be able to say in fear of crying or just because I needed to use the translator! jajaja The last thing that was said was "Hasta luego" and then as I was walking down the stairs I heard Feli say "pobrecita" and that was it. I was crying. As much as I will miss "pobrecita", I will miss Feli calling me "carino" even more. They will always hold a very special place in my heart as I know I will in theirs. Needlesstosay, the walk to the train station was a little embarassing... Spaniards were staring at me (which isn't unusual) but they were staring evenmore as I was bawling on the sidewalk with a gigantic backpack on. I finally put on my sunglasses to conceal the tears and redness. jaja
Anyways that is enough of my sob story. I'm sure you all are tired of hearing about that. But overall, I could not have asked for a better Spanish experience. I'm not sad because I know that I will see all these beautiful people again even if it is in a few years. I am more sad because I was not ready to leave, in my opinion. There is so much I needed to do, needed to see, needed to say, needed to learn, needed to experience and of course, there was time that I needed to spend with these wonderful people. But there is a time for everything - a time to plant and a time to uproot (Ecclesiastes somewhere...). I know this is true. But I wish it just didn't have to hurt so bad to uproot. I am excited for the next chapters of my life but when you enjoy one chapter of your life as much as I did in Spain, turning the page is about the most unbareable thing. I am so blessed to have had this experience and to have grown so close with my friends here and host family. I am also incredibly lucky to have the wonderful friends and family back in the States. I cannot wait to see you all!!!!!!
I love you all a ton. Thank you for being here for me through the thick and the thin. You are amazing.
Tomorrow - Vienna, Austria.
Dos Besos,
Sarah
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