So, its been a while since my last update.
Life hasn’t really changed. I can’t really think of that many awesome
interesting things to write down, because I think all of those awesome
interesting things that I would like to write about, have become my normal
everyday life, and they don’t really seem that amazing to me anymore. It would
be like writing a blog still living in the place you have for the majority of
your life, writing down the things that have happened to you: I WENT TO SCHOOL
AHH! Or: OMG I WENT TO THE BEACH
TODAY. Or maybe, TODAY, I ATE
FOOD. Well, maybe things aren’t that boring here, but you can definitely tell
life has slowed down a bit.
One thing that happened was that my family
came to visit me! It was unreal. Being able to see the faces of the people you
love the most, being able to hug them, to show them this new life that you’ve
created for yourself… it’s the best feeling ever. The first night they were
here, I had this horrible nightmare that they weren’t really here, and that I
woke up and they were gone. It was awful. But, thankfully, they were all there
when I woke up (: we spent a few days in Denia, my little beach town, and then
we went to Madrid, and then Toledo. I had already been to those places a few
times, so it was fun to be able to kind of show off my knowledge about all the
history that I knew, that they maybe didn’t. My family visiting me, really was
the highlight of my exchange. I didn’t think that it was possible to love my
family even more than I did, but I was happier to see them than any other time,
ever. I consider that day the happiest day of my life. It’s proof that distance
really does make the heart grow fonder. The entire trip with them, I could not
get enough hugs, not enough conversations, and not enough smiles from them. The
hard part of seeing your family after not seeing them for a really long time is
seeing how they have changed. It’s hard when you really have to get it in your
head that no matter if you’re gone, people’s lives move on. They change, and
they grow. Whether it’s in a good way or a bad way, there’s nothing you can do
to stop it.
One piece of that trip was missing! My sister. She wasn’t
able to come. I honestly don’t remember why she couldn’t, but all I know is
that I miss her more than anything, and was crushed to find out she couldn’t
come see me. But I have good news! She’s coming (: She’s going to come next
month, with my grandma. I’m so excited to see her. Were going to have nine
months worth of conversations to catch up on, so watch out grandma, you may not
get any silent, relaxing, calming time like you might want. We’re going to go
to Barcelona. I’ve only been there once, so it will be really cool being able
to learn more and see more with two women I love very very muchhh (:
Another thing that happened, was that I
switched families for the third time. I wasn’t really looking forward to it,
because I was really happy with my last family, but this family that I’m with
now, is nothing like I expected them to be. They’re amazing, and I’m really
looking forward to getting closer to them these last two months of my exchange.
They live up on the mountain so it’s a little bit more difficult to get into
town, about a forty minute walk, but it’s a really nice change. Living where there
isn’t noise all night long, where darkness actually exists because of the lack
of city lights is really nice. It reminds me more of home.
Summer is coming! There have been a couple
days that have actually been warm enough to go tanning! It’s still too cold to
go in the ocean though, because the ocean is freezing all year long. But
regardless, if you walk by the beach you will definitely see a fair share of
British/German tourists enjoying the “warmth”, while the normal people, or
locals, are walking around wearing parkas boots and scarves. Tourist season is
beginning, which I don’t really appreciate. Because at least in the winter,
without tourists, it isn’t obvious that I’m not from here. But now, that there
are thousands, (Literally, thousands. The population of Denia in the winter is
seventy thousand people. Then, with all the tourists coming here, with their
little beach apartments and all, the population jumps three hundred thousand
people.) people just group my in with all the other light skinned, light eyed,
and light haired people, which are all tourists. UGH. And I’m not a tourist! I
live here! It frustrates me. I hate sticking out so much.
I don’t have to say much about this, and I
don’t want to either. Two months. Those two words are the most terrifying words
I have ever thought. Don’t get me wrong, I’m excited to come home, to see
everyone again. But the thought of leaving here… leaving this life behind me,
forever. Nothing will ever be the same. There are parts of my life here, or one
part, that I know and hope doesn’t change. Hope that it will be with me
forever. But I guess that is just a part of doing an exchange. Finding things
you love, and never letting them go, even though they might not exist in the
country you have to go back to.
So, my life has slowed down. Things have
become really regular, almost scheduled. But it’s alright. I love my life here,
and will be sad to have to leave it. Also, if you’re reading this, and you’re
thinking of doing an exchange, and have questions, whether its how to get
started, or more personal questions like about what it’s been like, please,
ask. I’m more than happy to help, because I think that every single teenager
should get the chance to do this. It matures you, opens your mind, and gives
you an amazing experience you won’t ever forget. So please, ask.
