Sunday, December 25, 2011

Feliz Navidad!~End of semester festivities

Feliz Navidad!

Hola readers,
         Finals are over and I am home with my family in good old Massachusetts! Despite being sick for the past week, (perils of traveling) I have managed to see everyone in my immediate family and my close friends. It is so bizarre to feel culture shock from your own culture! I drove again for the first time in 4 months and I can't say I missed it too much!
       Over the course of the semester I have kept in touch with my family in Europe. My Grandfather in Wales, U.K. said I could spend the three week break at his house, but as much as I would have liked to have a holiday in the United Kingdom, it was important for me to come home to the United States. The first year away from home is tough for any college student and I knew coming to Spain meant that I would be thousands of miles away from my family. I never anticipated how much I would miss my relatives and the quirks of my hometown. I am never sentimental and I have never been homesick before, but in Spain I found myself being reminded of my family and friends everywhere I went. When I saw an old tapas bar in Granada, with driftwood tables, I thought of my father's driftwood table. When I went to El Rastro (the infamous flea market) I reminisced times spent at Todd Farm, the flea market in Rowley, MA, where I dutifully spent my Sunday mornings in search of trinkets and lost treasures. I could not walk into a pharmacy in Madrid without conjuring images of my part-time job at Rite Aid Pharmacy and my friendly co-workers. Those who stayed in Madrid while the majority of us at SUMC went home are very brave and lucky to have time to travel Europe commitment-free.
         While it is nice to be back with my family and reconnecting with friends, I do miss Madrid. Coming home was a relief for me; I believe it reaffirmed that coming to Spain was the best decision I made. Instead of Skyping with friends from Boston, I am now Skyping the friends I made at SUMC! I have bought tickets to Lithuania for March 22nd-25th and have confirmed a trip to Paris, France with my friend Caitlin Cataldo in February to celebrate her birthday. Traveling is important to me, and I intend on visiting as many places as I can next semester. I am so excited to see the new faces of students in January and the adventures the new year will bring.

Feliz Navidad, Happy Christmas, Linksmų Kalėdų!!!
Have a great holiday season!!
Adios, 


Jenny Usovicz