4 months later... I'm going home. The beginning and end of this journey is filled with a mix of different goodbyes and hellos. Leaving Rhode Island in January was pretty filled with goodbyes, especially nervous ones because I didn't have the biggest idea of what living in Spain was going to be like. The hellos, new people and first encounters in Granada were both welcoming but also frightening. My beginning struggles with the language let me tell you, not smooth AT ALL. And meeting everyone almost reminded me of when I moved to Vermont for my freshman year, making new friends and being in a new environment. Yea I was a little spooked because I went out of my comfort zone. Looking at it now, when I think about the person I was coming into the Granada and being the person subtly venting her "leaving her abroad experience" feelings to you via blog, it’s absolutely bizarre.
I came to Granada with hardly any Spanish, a stupidly weak ankle
and as much of an open mind as I tried. And in 4 months, like anyone who has
spent a semester abroad would say, Granada became my home. Obviously I can say
that from living here but it’s more than that. It’s the routine I had here, my
classes where even one of my professors called us her "ninos"
(children) and was where they goodbyes were harder than I thought. Any place
whether it be Rhode Island or Vermont that I have called home I have always
been surrounded by a beach or mountain, being able to explore. Granada is no
different. I have been to some of the most beautiful beaches I have seen here and
even this past Sunday my friends and I went on a longer hike through the
mountains (my ankle was not a fan of that one but so worth it!). For Granada
being a city, and having some beautiful parts within it, it’s amazing how much
nature is around it. I've gotten to explore a decent amount of Europe while
having the opportunity to be over here but getting to explore around Granada is
by far the most breathtaking part. My friends and I joked around while having a
lunch break on the hike about how it almost looks like we got green-screened
into the scene because it was that pretty.
Home can be a lot of different definitions. In different places I
have gotten to see, my definition of home mainly refers to one thing: the
people. This was more than true in Granada. Not the older ladies who would
call me out on the street if my hair was wet or tell me "que es ropa de
verano?!" when I was wearing shorts. Not all the gypsies, who after 4
months of seeing me walk by them on the street still every morning persistently
tried to give me rosemary and tell me my fortune. But rather the people I met
here. My roommates who without a doubt had some of the biggest hearts and were
some of the most down to earth people I have come to meet. Who didn't mind that
we would forget our keys, would never turn down an opportunity to go on crazy
hikes and wholly accepted our love to chocolate and supported each other’s
relationship with it.
Coming from Rhode Island, Washington, Mexico and Belgium,
a tri-lingual household with wonderful friends I will never forget. Hopefully I
will be able to see your cities someday. And also in my group of friends, who
explored and got cultured together wandering through Barcelona and Belgium, who
still hung out with me after my 21st birthday and on a long boat ride back from
Morocco were able to make each other laugh so much we prevented any of us from
getting sick during the bumpy ride. You ladies are amazing in your own way, and even
though I keep catching myself saying "y'all" and I didn't feel my
feet after our walking ventures sometimes, I am more than grateful to have met
you and cannot wait to see you again.
If you have the opportunity and the chance to go
abroad, I’m not going to be tough and say you’re a goon for not taking it.
Things happen, but there is nothing and will never be anything quite like it.
And for that, I’m grateful for the last 4 months. As bittersweet as it is
leaving, there are some people and my pretty adorable puppies I can’t wait to
see. Hasta luego Granada y muchas gracias por todo!
Facebook: Candice Kalil
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