The End.

Today I woke up early, took a bus into the city, and walked through the crowded streets of Madrid one last time. I bought a few last minute souvenirs and went to "San Gines" for one more order of chocolate con churros. I spent some time in Puerta del Sol and Plaza Mayor, where Christmas vendors and decorations are now set up. And I thought about how strange it was that I'll probably never be back here again.

I don't even know what to write right now. Reflecting back on the last two months there are so many things that I think and feel. There are good things, and there are bad things. There are exciting things, and embarrassing things, and amazing things. How does one begin to sum up an experience like this?




The tutoring thing didn't quite live up to my expectations. I only
tutored one of the children, and only helped him with homework five or six times during the entire ten weeks spent in Madrid. We had a few  tutoring sessions where we played games in English or he taught me how to play a game giving me instructions in English. Yet there were also many days where I sat downstairs, waiting to see if I'd be tutoring today, and the three hour time slot would come and go. Or there was one week when Santi didn't have school, and so I had the whole week off. I simply didn't do a whole lot of tutoring, and even when I did, there was never any consistency.

But I got to travel. That was why I'd chosen to sign up for this program in the first place, and that made it all worth it. London, Oxford, Madrid, Segovia, Barcelona, Toledo, Dublin, Granada, Bilbao, San Sebastian, Hendaia, El Escorial, Rome, Brussels, Brugges, Munich, and Austria. I can't believe I made it to all those places. It's unreal. Even after all this time it still feels like a dream.

Madrid has been nice, but I honestly don't think I'll ever come back. Maybe once you live in a city for an extended period of time, it loses its charm. Or maybe Madrid just isn't for me. I've been here. I've seen it. But I haven't fallen in love with the city like I have so many other places. I love London. And Rome. And Ireland. I'll definitely be back to all of those places someday. And there are still so many places I didn't get to see: Paris, Prague, Edinburgh, Oslo, Copenhagen, Amsterdam....all were on my list, just didn't work out this time around. But being here has shown me that the world isn't all that scary and travel really isn't that difficult. If you make it a priority, you can make it happen. My first adventure to Europe will not be my last :)

While it's sad to leave this life of travel, I am so anxious to be home. I miss it. I miss family. I miss coaching. I miss the trees and the mountain, and clean air that isn't filled with the smoke of a hundred cigarettes. I miss being able to cook my own meals, and drive a car. I miss being able to understand everyone. I appreciate all those little things so much more after being without them for so long.

This trip has been absolutely incredible. I've seen WAY more cities and countries and sights than I'd ever dreamed I would. There have been some difficult and confusing moments, and I've gotten lost more times than I can count, but everything I've experienced has taught me something about the world or about myself. The memories I've made over the last eighty days are ones that I will cherish for the rest of my life. It's been an amazing ride, and I wouldn't trade this experience for anything.



My suitcases are packed, my room is clean, and I'm all checked in for my flight. My plane leaves Madrid tomorrow morning at 11am. I'll change planes in London and take off at 2:15pm London time, getting into Seattle at 4:30pm Seattle time. If only the flight really was only two hours long!

And...that's it! At last, the end. I've loved writing these blogs about my many adventures to various cities and countries. I'm going to miss it. But like I said before, there are so many places I'm going to go back to. And there are, of course, the many, many places I haven't yet seen. Which means I'll eventually have more adventures to write about. Until then, adios blog readers! And to everyone back home...see you soon :)


The end.