I’ve always preferred to travel alone. Traveling with others just makes things move slow and when I am traveling to a new place I like to make the most of my surroundings. After starting to understand the Korean language and being used to the culture I decided to start all over and go to Japan one weekend. I booked plane tickets and a few nights at a hostel and made no other plans.

I always felt that making friends in a semester was hard. You never know how relationships are going to evolve and how you are going to grow and change. Within the first two weeks of my semester in Seoul I had planned a trip to Busan with some people from my program. This trip was to take place during midterms. Little did I know that a lot can change in the two months between the beginning of a semester and midterms.

So, here we are, at the final chapter of my Madrid adventure. I had these grand plans of posting regularly about my time here, but I’ve always been better at pouring out my emotions at once after letting them simmer and marinate. And here I am, in the midst of my writing groove, penning down the final reflections on my time.

As my time in Madrid comes to an end, I’ve been thinking a lot about my time here, and some of the initial thoughts and fears. I feared above else, not finding a place for myself, and the opportunities I was leaving behind. In my head, I was scared I was going to end up stuck for four months, in a country where I didn’t speak the language, starting afresh.

Traveling has been a really integral part of my study abroad experience, as my posts have probably revealed. And as I sit on a flight back from Paris Orly, at the conclusion of my last weekend trip, I can’t help but meditate on some of my favorite experiences. I know a more universal approach would suggest I rank places or destinations, but as I’ve come to learn through this semester, my ideal vacations must revolve around some sort of highlight moment. In no particular order, because I simply cannot pick, this is my highlights reel:

As I approach the conclusion of my study abroad experience, I've realized that I've spent more time exploring the outskirts of the city than actually within its heart. It's about time I dedicate a piece solely to my time in Madrid. So, here's a collection and reflection, of course, on some of my favorite spots in this vibrant city. Well, "favorite" might be a bit of a stretch, but these are certainly the places where I've chosen to spend my time.

Cafes:

Christmas is one of those rare holidays universally recognized for its cheer and charm. As Mariah Carey's melodic "All I Want for Christmas Is You" sets the festive tone in the background, a scene of hot chocolate, presents, twinkling lights, and cozy movies is carefully crafted. Personally, my go-to films are "Home Alone" and the first three "Harry Potter" movies, which I religiously watch on every flight home. 

How do you begin to say goodbye when a place has just become home. I knew that it would be hard but I didn't imagine feeling this nostalgic and I haven’t even touched American soil yet. I’m excited to go home, of course, to have all the comfort and luxuries I had before getting to Spain. But now the thought of leaving is the harder burden to bear. I’ve traveled a lot for my mere 24 years of living and I make it a priority in my life. I love Europe and come back every year to explore and maintain relationships. But this experience was something completely different.