Looking back at my time in Spain… In the back of my head I knew this semester would not just be about learning Spanish and traveling. Even though I had no idea what to expect, I knew that throughout my semester I would be learning about myself. I was thrown into a lot of unfamiliar situations that undoubtedly provided me with some very valuable lessons regarding life, myself, and how to find my way in the world. I got to see some of the most traveled places in the world, that others only dream of visiting. It was my dream to live and study abroad and I am so thankful for this wonderful experience to see the world. I have just barely scraped the surface in my travels, but there are so many destinations and adventures I want to discover. Seeing all the diversity in these different cultures and learning the rich history has inspired me to embrace every facet of life and explore the world openly. The three countries I visited this semester opened my eyes to the splendor of different cultures, the value of sacred traditions, and the beauty of diversity around the world. Every place I visited had a story to tell and an adventure to be had.
First off, I don’t want to sound too prophetic, but most of things I gained from this experience kind of fall into that life-long lessons category with meaning messages. Anyways I have decided that it's fine that I don’t know what I want to do with the rest of my life. I have no idea where I will be in five years or even in one year, and I embrace this uncertainty.
Uncertainty is a little overwhelming and stressful at times, but without the unpredictability we face each day where would the excitement in life be. Like when we got in a random snowball war with the Spaniards on top of a mountain in Cantabria, or when my camera broke just days before I left for Italy and I ended up in a tearful embrace with a lady in a camera shop, or perhaps when I wore a pink feather wig all day at Carnivales during the bull fights. Well, I could go on but I have come to believe that you can plan all you want but even the greatest plans don’t always come to fruition. Things often turn out differently than expected, but there is always something to be gained. No, I did not become fluent in Spanish while in Spain, but I did learn a ton about myself, and what’s more important that knowing yourself.
I have come to learn that it is perfectly okay to be lost, literally or figuratively for that matter. I know I have been lost more than a few times in Spain and Italy this past semester, whether it was in the Gothic Barrier in Barcelona, or looking for Park Guell with my parents, or maybe wandering around the dark and winding allies in Venice. Its that process of finding your way out that’s so crucial to gaining confidence and having faith in yourself and your unique abilities. Strength to find your way out comes from your inner confidence. It's such a valuable treasure and it is sad to think that others will unrelentingly try to take this inner strength away. Over the past semester my strength was definitely tested in more ways than one. At times I felt like I did not know why I was in Spain or what I doing, but it was my inner strength that let me see the purpose of this past semester.
Being lost is just part of the process, so embrace those dark allies and endless wooded trails, because eventually they will lead you somewhere spectacular. I am not saying you should aimlessly wander through life, but making a few wrong turns usually helps you find the right path. Just like I said before it's perfectly okay if you don’t know exactly where you are going to end up.
One last prophetic thing I would like to touch on before I finish these life lessons is happiness. Along my travels I found happiness in the smallest and simplest things, whether it was writing post cards to people back home, walking through endless grocery stores looking at the different varieties of fiber cookies, taking a spin class every Tuesday night with crazy Spanish instructor who told me “necesitas sudar mas”.
I found so many things that just put a smile on my face. I found that there is beauty in just about everything. It could be a great fountain or a magnificent palace, but then again maybe it’s just the kilo of apples you bought at the market in the morning. Recognizing these simple pleasures is so incredibly necessary to finding sustainable happiness in life.
A wise woman told me that you are responsible for your own happiness. This principle is without a doubt the most important guideline I will live my life by. Life can be so beautiful and filled with so much happiness. I don’t believe for one-minute life is just to be endured and sacrificed. We were not given all these wonderful senses and feelings to live unfulfilled and discontented. So find what makes you happy and do it!
I have learned a tremendous amount about myself over the past semester. I am an individual and I don’t have to go along with the masses. I do what makes me happy in that moment and life in general, even though I don’t really know what that is yet. I do know that I will be able to make myself laugh along the way while figuring out all these puzzle pieces of life. Exploring is wonderful. Spontaneity is fantastic and adventure keeps me alive. I will always keep these beliefs with me as I continue my travels, and yes I plan to take many more wonderful and fabulous travels in my lifetime.
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