I truly could not have asked for a better travel experience, and it was exactly what I needed to make the trip home enjoyable and make me even more excited to see everyone I’ve been missing.
Got up around 7 and did the whole morning thing – brushed teeth, put on makeup, etc. The hotel breakfast started at 7:30, so we headed down there around that time, and I had a gigantic blueberry muffin and my last legitimate Spanish tortilla EVER L Sad day.
The rest of the group decided to take the Metro to the bus, and I just was not feelin that. After our WONDERFUL experiences in Barcelona, I was quite over the Metro. So, I had the hotel receptionist call me a cab, and I ended up getting the sweetest driver ever! I asked him if he was from Madrid, and we talked for quite awhile. He dropped me off right where I needed to be, but I was just slightly confused as to the direction of the United check-in, so I stopped at the information desk and they gave me the right number. Our flight didn’t depart until 11:05, and I got there around 8:30. Had a pretty short line to wait for check-in, and the attendant asked if I wanted to speak in English or Spanish…I chose Spanish, of course J My VERY last chance to speak Spanish in Spain…I had to take it!
There were three different security points, but they all went really quickly, I guess because I got there so early. By the time I was through it all, it was about 9:45. Headed to the duty-free shop because I only had a few Euros left, and it wouldn’t be worth changing them to American dollars, so luckily I found a REALLY cute orange scarf with rhinestones on it! I love it!
Grabbed a juice box from a vending machine and texted Mom and Sean about the morning. Got on Facebook, even!
Then boarded the plane, and it’s been a great flight. Watched Tenderness with Russell Crowe…it was a little strange, but I liked it. Then watched The Last Song, yes the one with Miley Cyrus. I just decided to start it to see how bad the acting was, but the movie itself was actually pretty good. And all the other actors were awesome.
Listened to The Cream of Clapton after watching the movies and dozed off for a bit. Watched some music videos (“Hard,” “Bad Romance,” “Russian Roulette,” “Hey, Soul Sister,” etc.), and now I’m just listening to streaming radio.
SO CLOSE TO HOME!!!
P.S. I love Michael Buble.
And I have a really bad feeling that I’m going to miss Spanish incredibly. I don’t want to speak English J
CONTINUED
The Aer Lingus flight gave us a pretty legit meal – beef, potatoes, and vegetables with a roll, salad, and brownie!
The flight back was so much easier than the one TO Spain. I guess it was because I kept myself entertained pretty much the whole time and didn’t try to fight to make myself sleep.
Basically ran off the plane when it landed in Washington DC because I know I’d have to go through customs and all that fun stuff, and I am not a huge fan of lines. The less time I have to spend waiting in lines, the happier I am. So, I ended up getting pretty close to the front and talking to a younger woman who was from Michigan and studying in Spain, as well. She teaches elementary and middle school Spanish. I think that would be great fun.
Made it through customs, and the officer talked to me about my trip and then said, “Welcome home,” and I got all emotional. I absolutely love Spain, but there’s just something about being “home.” Made me tear up.
Picked up my bags, threw them on a belt to “re-check” them, then went through security again. Ended up taking a wrong turn out of security, so on the way back, I ran into Stephanie, and we took the airport’s underground metro to a different terminal to catch our flights. She had been talking about how much her boyfriend likes Five Guys, so I ended up getting a hot dog and fries and a LARGE Coke with free refills. Boy, was I happy to be back in ‘Merka.
We had the cutest flight attendant ever. He was trying to re-arrange all the passengers so that people could sit by their friends and family. It was one of those tiny planes that had one seat on the left side and two seats on the right side. He ended up moving me next to Alee, which was quite sweet of him. He was a riot.
Basically ran off the plane because I was so excited to see Sean, and he was nowhere to be found. I ended up just trying to find my luggage, but it hadn’t reached any of the belts yet. So, I stood around, then Sean called me, and he was whispering. Then he tackled me. I started crying instantaneously. Thirty-some odd days is a long time to be away from someone you love.
He carried my luggage like a gentleman, and we hopped in Freddy and headed for good ol’ J-Town. We stopped at a gas station and I got my reverse-culture shock. Loud, window rattling rap music. I didn’t hear a word of rap in Spain. Weird.
We decided on El Jimmy’s for dinner, and I spoke Spanish the whole time. Then four of the waiters came around and started talking to me. It was a CF, but I loved it. I think they like that I speak Spanish.
Finally got home, and Mom and Dad had it all decorated for me…Proud to Be American themed. Haha…red, white, and blue star decorations, hats, and even a cake! I gave them their souvenirs, and Sean gave me a David Villa jersey and matching shorts. I was SO excited because I’d been looking for a jersey EVERYWHERE in Spain, and of course, it was nowhere to be found.
Hung out and talked to the rents for a while, then hit the hay. What a way to end the trip of a lifetime J
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