Closing time

hola hola!

My time here in Salamanca, Spain is coming to an end. It's definitely bitter sweet. I feel like I am ready to live my real life, but at the same time I am just so sad. The life I have lived here for the past 4 months has been more than incredible and I am sure going to miss this beautiful place. A couple weeks ago I was very homesick and all I could think about was the US. We all have those down times, right? But now that I only have a couple more days left I wish it didn't creep up on me. It's insane how time flies.

This whole experience in Europe has been amazing. I wouldn't change it for anything. The people I have met will always leave a lasting impression, the language I have perfected has been more than interesting, the lifestyle has given me the opportunity to learn and experience something extremely diverse from the US, and the family I have encountered will always be something special to me. I know for a fact that I will ALWAYS be in touch with my roommate Daryl. This past semester I have learned so much from her. From how to be patient to embracing every minute in life. Daryl has helped me open my eyes to things I needed help seeing. We've grown together the past 4 months and it has been nothing but a wonderful experience. I am definitely going to miss her. My host family is what is going to be the hardest to say goodbye to. Victoria has been a mother, a friend, and roommate who has helped me better myself in speaking Spanish, introducing me to the Spanish cuisine, caring for me, and understanding me as well. Everything she has done for us has helped the experience be more than great! Today at lunch she had asked us when we leave for good and she had the saddest face and we all started to tear up. I didn't think it was going to be this hard for me to say goodbye. I still have one more week to live here so I am trying to save the tears for the airport.

Life lately...

Well.. I am done with all my courses here in Spain and believe I did well. The three Spanish courses that I was taking are going to transfer to NAU so when I go back I only have one more Spanish course to take and I will be done with my Spanish minor. In my international Marketing class I received an A, so that's good. Finals were actually pretty easy, no complaints with those. I loved learning from each and every professor at San Boal. The school was great and am glad I got to attend. When and if I return to Salamanca I will definitely make a visit to the professors I had. They were outstanding teachers.

The last couple days we have just been walking around Salamanca for the last few times and taking as many pictures as possible for memories. I still go running around the river and track. We have been going souvenir shopping for everyone back home and just living it up. My friend Eva, from NAU, came to visit last week because she is traveling around Europe. She made a stop in Salmanca and I showed her around and she stayed with my in my home. She got to eat the Spanish cuisine and experience the lifestyle, which was so much fun to show. The other weekend Daryl and I went for out last tapas night by ourselves and it was a great night. We reminisced on all the memories and good times we have had here. We always mentioned what we have learned and what we wish we could have done or changed. All in all it was once again a bitter-sweet ordeal.

Before I go back to Chicago I am making a trip to Santiago, which is in the North, close to the border of Spain. Daryls best friend Alexis just got into Salamanca today and is staying a couple nights. On Tuesday all three of us are heading to Santiago for 2 nights and than I have to catch a bus back to Salamanca that Friday because my flight home leaves the 28th! :) CRAZY! I am excited to be making one last trip around Spain. Santiago should be a great time and hopefully not raining. When I head back to Chicago it is going to be a long, long, long traveling day. I leave Salamanca at 9 am and get into Madrid at about 11:30 and have to hang around because my flight doesnt leave till 7pm.. baha i know.. than i head to germany and get there at about 11pm and than have to sleep at the airport for an overnight layover.. hopefully they have free wifi, if not I got a book I am reading in Spanish that I look forward to finishing there! So my flight leaves the next morning from germany straight to chicago at about 8am.. after a 9 hour flight I will be landing in Chicago!! It is going to be sooo weird.

After living here I have adjusted my life so differently. I haven't had a phone and texted, so it will be so weird receiving that first text when landing, or driving! I have not driven or been in a car for the past 4 months so that is going to something I will have to pick up again. It's going to be sooo different and the culture shock will hit me immensely. I can't wait. I JUST CANT WAIT to share every single story, experience, and detail with everyone back home.

I am going to grab a coffee and go walk around town. I will definitely be writing right before I leave Salamanca so keep your eyes peeled family and friends.

Much Love!

Manda.

El hogar es donde está el corazón.