It's the Final Countdown!

Right now is a whirlwind of emotions. I want to go home. I want to stay in Valencia. I’m freaking out, because we’ve been here for so long now. But I am officially done with class and the realization that we are leaving is starting to hit me a bit. It’s not going to be easy to see this chapter of my life come to an end… while I want to go home, I want this to go on for just a few pages more…

I think one of the things I’m going to miss the most is the fact that I have Spanish all around me. I know I’ve improved a lot here… Someone will say something to me, and I honestly don’t know what language they’re speaking sometimes. It’s the same in my head. I don’t have to think about it anymore, it just happens and I respond without thinking in Spanish now- same as English. I don’t have to make an effort to practice my Spanish here, it’s all around me. When I go home… that’s a different story.

Don’t get me wrong, I have a whole list of things I want to do at my homes:

Mosinee:

-There’s a whole list of foods I miss and will be eating within due time of my arrival:
•Real milk that doesn’t come from a freakish box and doesn’t need to be refrigerated
•Carrots and dip
•Spaghetti
•Marinated chicken with peppers and pineapple on the grill
•(It’s about to get American on you now) Hamburgers!
•Steak
•Spinach salad
•Cottage cheese
•Normal cheese (for example Mild Cheddar or Wisconsin cheese curds)
-I think you understand now… haha. I’ve basically been living on white bread and oranges here… I could honestly go without eating white bread for the rest of my life now. Give me the 7 Whole Grain bread I know and love! And my first meal upon arrival in the United States will be at the Olive Garden in Eau Claire, Wisconsin where I will be eating chicken marsala with many of their tasty breaksticks! : ) And oh wait, I can try the free wine samples there now too…
-Other things… going for nature walks.
-Going running on the back roads on the farm
-Brewers games!?
-Family gatherings, like my brother’s graduation party where we will be playing kick ball.
-The Wisconsin Valley Fair
-Nordic Fest in Decorah
-Being able to curl up on the couch and watch TV/movies with my fuzzy blanket
-Whoa! Driving my car!
-Reading all of the Harry Potter books as usual this summer…
-Going to church at home

Then Luther:

-Nature adventure walks
-Tubing in the Upper Iowa
-Whippy Walks
-Walmart runs that turn into not Walmart runs. Sword fights in the toy section. Emily Rixen pretending to have a gimp leg and limping around the entire store for an hour. ..
-Choir!
-And many other things…


It’s been a blast, and I love traveling soooo much. But I think after backpacking for 3 weeks in Europe and basically starving myself, I will be ready to come home. To enjoy the simple things in life. : )