Tuesday, September 9, 2008

Como si fuera un sueño...

July 15th. Yes, our friends have superior photography skills...

I don't know who, if anyone, still checks this, but I figured I could give the little bugger some closure (especially on the eve of a term paper being due, ahem)...

So. July 15th turned out to be infinitely more grand than I spent months imagining it would be. The second the plane wheels thudded on the LAX runway, there was no sign of a disappearing act for the nutty grin that had plastered itself on my face. I'm sure the airport maintenance lady thought I was completely off my rocker when I excitedly asked her where the nearest bathroom was and practically sprint-skipped in the direction she pointed. The next thing I knew, familiar chums were popping out from under towels in the back seats of Mrs. Olson's beast of a car chattering nonstop nonsense, and before I could even catch my breath, old times slipped in as if I had never left.

I've been back for about a month and a half now, and I'm still working it out in my head slowly, very slowly that Spain wasn't just a figment of my oft unruly mental capacities. Although many of my previously study-abroaded friends cited difficult transitions, I have been exceedingly blessed with a readjustment smoother than premium Chinese silk on the black (pun intended) market. Absurd but such is my glorious life. Oh, 'tis SO good to be home.


Here are some thoughts regarding life in the States:

FOOD.
Mexican food is delicious. So is pretty much everything else edible here. American coffee is rather lacking though; I do miss me some cafe con leche.


FAMILY. I get to see them more than just once every 11 months. That's certainly a perk if I ever saw one.

NIGHTLIFE
. So far San Diego gets a boo hiss, but being 21 does help a tad.

SOCIAL LIFE.
I have been reunited with my friends, and boy, are they the best ever! ...who am I kidding? It's just nice to have any friends again. (But they really are great.)

LANGUAGE.
Woah. I can ask for help slash explain something and be understood on the first try. Weird. (P.S. For those considering abroad study, Barcelona is not the place to learn Spanish...)

ACADEMIA.
I'm back at UCSD and for the first time in my life, I declare that I love Geisel. (I just caused at least eight people fall over in shock just now. My apologies.) And I'm a senior?! When did this happen?

TRANSPORTATION.
Poop on gas and its exorbitant prices that make me woozy every time I step near a car. I take back all the flak I gave the metro...

PERSONAL SPACE.
It exists! And there's lots of it. Mmmmm. I can finally sweat in peace.

And finally, NO CATCALLING. I can run, I can jump, I can even puke all over the place and for the most part, people will not obscenely throw snide remarks and just leave me be. I'm back to being invisible and it's amazing.

THIS IS INDEED THE LAND OF HEAVEN.