Sunday, July 3, 2011

Bittersweet Goodbyes

Well, today was the start to the end for my time here abroad.  I grabbed a coffee with Leah, who was the first person that I met in Pamplona.  (Complete angel!  I met her by reading her blog! We exchanged emails, and the saint met me at the bus station and helped me get to my host family's house. Then, showed me the bus station to get to my university and let me use her internet! I would not have survived the first day without her!)  Seeing as that she was my first hello here, it was really surreal to say goodbye.  We reminisced about my first day and how overwhelmed I was.  Looking back now, I cannot believe how I felt those first days.  As much as I hate to admit it, I had a hard time adjusting the first few days.  Even though I never would have actually done it, I really did think about getting on the next flight back to the states.  Needless to say, I'm glad that thought never became an action!

I also packed up most of things today and did little odds and ends that needed to be finished.  I never ever ever ever thought packing my bags would be so depressing!  I had been dreading it for weeks, and now that time is finally here.  I honestly almost cried when I pulled down the maps and pictures from my walls.

As sad as today was for me, it also has been filled with excitement.  I am actually leaving in one short hour to travel to Barcelona to pick up my dad and his friend from the airport.  We will spend one day in Barcelona, then head back to Pamplona for SAN FERMIN!  ahhhhhhh!  I feel like my whole semester abroad has been preparing me for this week, and I just can't believe that it is here already!  

The goodbyes are just starting.  And I'm sure that there will be PLENTY of tears shed in this next week (along with WONDERFUL times from San Fermin, of course!)  I am definitely not looking forward to my final goodbye to Spain; however, I am looking forward to many things from back home.  But there is a top ten that has stuck in my head these last few days:

1. Family and friends.  This just goes without saying.  I am absolutely ready to see everyone I love!
2. My wonderful, amazing, fantastic, comfy, super, perfect, QUEEN SIZED bed.  I am pretty much over this tiny, flat, single mattress on a wire platform.
3. carpet (This is not a joke.)
4. air conditioner
5. Dr. Pepper
6. Grilling and bbq
7. Runza and Chinese and corn on the cob and sour cream
8. Seeing the stars every night.  The sounds of the country.
9. Doors that are not confusing and people can actually open them without making a fool of themselves. Seriously, can't even count the number of times that I've walked into the doors here.
10. My car and being able to drive!

Looking forward to these 10 things are making the final days to my dreadful final goodbye a little more bearable.  But even as I look towards the end, I can't help but think about all the amazing things that I am going to miss about Spain, especially about Pamplona.  We're just not gonna even think about that quite yet.  I still have 8 more days!