Time to Feel Nostalgic

During my last week in Madrid, I felt very nostalgic. I spent all week thinking about my “last” time doing all of my favorite activities in Madrid, like my last time going to Templo de Debod or my last time having a 99-cent slice of cheesecake from 99cheesecake. All of these "lasts" did not compare to the goodbyes I had to give to all of the amazing people I had met in this program. These goodbyes were especially sad as I had no idea when we would be able to meet again since we live all over the world. 

It has now been a week since I got back from Madrid, and it has been a strange feeling, to say the least. My flight from Madrid to Chicago lasted about 8 hours, and I had a great seat and a delicious meal. The night before my flight, I stayed up packing because I think some part of me thought that if I had not packed yet, I could stay a couple more days. I was obviously wrong. The next day, 8 am rolled around, and I had to get in a taxi and go through the new EU exit/entry system. During my flight, it never hit me that I was leaving Madrid and that studying abroad was officially over. In my mind, I was going to come back to my residential hall and see the same residents in a couple of weeks. In a way, I still feel this way. 

Once I landed, my friend picked me up from the airport, and we had tortas de tapiquena, one of the many meals that I had missed. During my meal, I became a believer in jet lag yet again as I felt exhausted even though it was only 3 pm. I went home and showered before going to bed at 7 pm. Just yesterday, about a week after arriving home, I finally felt like I had a good night's sleep, and my body naturally woke up past 7 am. 

Besides jet lag and eating many foods that I have missed while abroad. It has been peculiar to be back and speak English wherever I go and drive (yes, I remember how to drive!). There are moments when I look at my camera roll and get very nostalgic. This is why I think that "Landslide" by Fleetwood Mac will be my top song this year. I just reminisce on my routine in Madrid, the small things like talking to the security guard in my residential hall or walking to campus from the metro stop. 

Madrid will always be with me. It taught me a lot about myself and widened my worldview on individuals, art, politics, music, sports, leisure, and more. I would not change anything about my experience. Living in a different country and being so far away from home showed me that there is so much more life to live. In the words of Candi Staton, young hearts truly do run free.