Estrella, I found you!

I thought this would feel more strange- sitting on the bed that was once mine, in the room that I lived in for a year and a half, in my old apartment. But it's all slightly detached from me, I feel absolutely no sadness at being back here, or anything like that.
This whole week since I've been back has been a sheer whirlwind- some good, some bad. Friday was overwhelming to the max. 9 hours in 2 planes, going through US Customs, hearing English all around me, attempting to stay awake and alternating between getting teary eyed the farther away I got from Barcelona, and twinges of excitement at being back in Boston and seeing so many people I love.

Friday Mack picked me up at the airport, and I was a bit of an emotional mess. We went to my favourite diner for dinner and I tried to pay in Euros, and said "gracias" about 45 times. Saturday was really kind of nice- took the T into the city and spent some time at the Boston Library (my favourite place) where of course there was a vintage travel poster exhibit, thanks so much. Met up with my friend Julia for a bit then ended up the day with sushi and mostly relaxing. Sunday I went with Mack to a scuba diving picnic, where I rotted on the beach for a good while and felt somewhat lost. I know it's all "part of the transition" and reverse culture shock, but I feel like I lack a community right now, having come from one. It's also mostly that everyone has their own things going on here in Boston and I get back, and I feel like I'm in the way a bit. So many emotions.

Monday I was able to come here to my old apartment as the guy I subletted my place to is out of town for the week (such good luck). Spent the week driving to CT to pick up my friend Meg who is moving to Hungary next week, and she and I hung out in Cambridge on Wednesday and I even found a place that stocks my favourite Barcelona beer, Estrella!! epic find. Drove her back to CT on Thursday, and went to check out an apartment which is going to work out, on my first try! Just a sublease through December but it comes furnished, near BC and in a really awesome big Victorian house.
I'm not going to be homeless!! Finally my life is starting to come together, albeit slowly. I just hate having to rely on other people to let me crash at their places, or help me move stuff, or give me rides, all of that. I'm so excited to head back to Chicago next Tuesday to see the fam, my friends, and to just really enjoy being home in the summer, I think it'll be really good.

Yesterday marked a week that I've been home, and while things have become a bit easier, I still feel very unsettled. I know it will pass but its just rough at times. I'm glad the weather is gorgeous today as I'm going to go to a used bookstore and a long stroll, I think.

from Barcelona to Boston, I've come full circle

Writing this on my last night in Barcelona, trying to ignore the rumblings in my tummy as my "roommates" shooed me out of the house while they make me a goodbye dinner. Today could not have been a better last day. Slept in a bit, headed to the Mar Bella which is the nude/gay/awesome beach where there were HUGE waves and loads of sun, and my friend Lauren trekked out there just to say goodbye to me which meant the world to me. We must have spent 4 hours on the beach, eating bocadillos and drinking Estrella, and stopped for wine and patatas bravas on the way home. I have to still pack and figure out stuff for tomorrow but otherwise, I feel physically ready to go. Emotionally is kind of another story.
Last night I went to a bbq at my TEFL friend Josh's place, and there was about 11 of us there- people that I met through previous TEFL programs and my friends, and it was wonderful. We hung out on a rooftop in Gracia, eating delicious chicken, mashed potatoes and corn on the cob, and drinking loads of wine, and then hit up a Gracia bar called Ehh..? Gracia, and got drinks for free since Josh is such a regular. Very surreal saying goodbye to people, letting go, realizing that at this time tomorrow, I will be on a plane bound for Boston, and meeting Mack at the airport.
I feel ready, i really do. I wasn't before, but finally felt the stirrings yesterday during the barbeque and they've stuck with me. I know I have so much to look forward to going home. I booked my ticket to come home to Chicago from August 17-24, to see my family and friends and to just be at home for the first time in 8 months, and I couldn't be more grateful for that! Plus it will allow me to stop sucking up to my Boston friends so they will let me stay on their couches.
I have to get off this computer, but this will not be my last entry. I think I will need this to work out the transition from my Barcelona life to my new one in Boston, whatever that ends up meaning for me. I'm sad, I'm devastated, I'm excited, I'm nervous, I'm every emotion under the sun, but mostly, I'm grateful for this experience, for the love I've felt here, for having had the courage to come here, and for how I'm already looking forward to my next adventure stateside.

Adios Barcelona, hola Boston!

More San Sebastian fun times- late entry

Ah. Finally sitting in one place, eternally grateful once again for my friend Carolyn allowing Sari and me to crash at her apartment until I leave on Friday. I leave Barcelona for Boston on FRIDAY. Surreal doesn´t even begin to describe it.

I had such an amazing last weekend in Spain, though. Sari and I took a night bus to Zaragoza on Friday and stayed at my friend Nate´s place, and we all valliantly tried to stay awake until our bus ride at 7 AM which was probably a terrible idea as I was super crabby. We then took a bus that stopped in Pamplona (didn´t see any bulls, sadly) and brought us into San Sebastian around 12 on Saturday, and it was gorgeous almost immediately! Our hostal was 2 blocks from the beach, and I think every single other traveler was Australian, with 2 Canadians thrown in. Those Australians are the biggest travelers I have ever met, taking off for 8 month stretches just to see the world, it´s really kind of awesome.

We immediately ran to the beach, which was nestled at the foot of 2 huge mountains, with sweeping views of rolling hills, gorgeous buildings, and a very large Jesus statue, which I didn´´t really figure out. We spent a few hours at the beach which was jam packed and really lovely, and then ended up going pinxos hopping. Every bar has their own pinxos, which are basically little pieces of salmon on a piece of bread, or my favourite- red peppers stuffed with crab or cod MMM. They are always different and always delicious, so that was wonderful. We sampled the nightlife which was filled with dancing to Lady Gaga and Shakira in every single bar we went to, it was a total blast!

Sunday was disgusting, in terms of weather. Cloudy skies, brisk winds, and of course Shannon forgot anything remotely warm, because silly me was expecting SUNSHINE. We ended up stumbling upon a funicular that creakily took us up a mountain to this giant castle that was surrounded by trashy arcade games (why do I always find these places?) We took a random boat ride around the mountain, and otherwise just basked in the lovely landscape that made me want to start singing the Sound of Music soundtrack. The rest of the day was spent roaming more around the city, making dinner and generally chilling out.

Monday was another gross rainy day, but we salvaged it by having coffee and reading, hunting for bracelets, going pinxos hopping, making dinner, playing cards, and eventually somehow ended up going out and dancing again. Really an awesome last weekend in Spain with two of my favourite people. The only downside was the 2 4 hour bus rides from San Sebastian to Zaragoza, and then from Zaragoza to Barcelona. Barcelona is always so ridiculously wonderful to come home to, can't even begin to describe that feeling.