Back Home again in Indiana...

I have now been home for almost 3 weeks and I am just getting to this adjusting back blog. I got home on April 19th 8 O' clock on the dot. Teddi, Sam, and I could hardly hold in our excitement as we walked toward where we left our families 3.5 months before. When we got close enough, the first thing I saw was my dad's white head. Then Paul and my mom! I wish I could've seen our faces. I was holding onto Sam and Teddi until I got to hug everyone waiting. Mom was holding a fiesta balloon. Then Chris and John walked up with a Welcome Home sign and my favorite gum from John. And Paul brought me my favorite salad from a dining hall at Ball State and a PBJ with all the right ingredients! It was a wonderful welcome home.

That week I got to go up to Ball State with Sam and see some old friends. It was great, but overwhelming at the same time. I knew just kept going back home, but it was weird to come home and actually see all the change and a lot that just stays the same. I remember being anxious about coming home after my mom left Spain and my sister told me not to be missing home too much because they weren't going anywhere. That helped me a lot. It was totally true. Now that I'm home, I've fallen into a lot of the same summer routine.

It is great to be with my family especially to help out and feel needed. (My dad broke his right leg and I am so glad I can be here to help him out.) It's also fun to see old friends. However, it has been weird to be home before my friends are out of school. Most of my friends have been really busy studying for finals and such. When I went to BSU I just wanted to hang out, but I also didn't want to get in the way. I can't wait to for my friends to come home. Most of them are finished with finals by tomorrow!

I do miss a lot about Spain, like I knew I would. A lot of my friends are going to Segovia to study this summer: Amy, Leanne, Chelsea, Morgan, Beka, Caleb, and Nate. I wish I could jump in one of their suitcases. My friend Amy might be living with Julia, so I hope to be able to skype with her at least once this summer. I am so thankful for the opportunity to study abroad and I am still looking learning lessons and thinking of reasons for my trip. I don't start my summer camp job, Springhill, until June 4th so I have some free time to spend doing things I normally can't. I have really enjoyed being with my family in this time. I also know it has helped me have a more open mind about other cultures and I will benefit from this experience for the rest of my life! If you ever get the change to live amongst another culture for some time I would definitely recommend it. It's totally worth it!


What I miss the most about Segovia?:
I miss seeing everyone out walking and walking along with them on the narrow streets. Also, running into people I knew each day and just taking time to sit down and talk with them. I miss the sites while walking: mountains, aqueduct, quaint shops. In that sense, the town reminded me of Beauty and the Beast, my favorite Disney movie.

What did I miss most about home?:
Of course my family and friends. But I also missed the comfort of my own home the most. I felt very welcomed and happy living with Julia. However, I never wanted to step on her feet. She would make the food and do my laundry so I was on her schedule. I never felt like I could relax like I can at home.

What would I do differently if I could go back?:
I would explore more. I would've loved to get to know the people more than I did. I felt like the only way for me to do that was to go out and party at night and I wasn't very comfortable with that. However, I wish now that I would've found one cafe to spend some more time in and get to know the workers and the regulars more from the beginning. I started doing that towards the end when it was kinda late.
(This helps me even now realize that I want to reach out more even at home, school, work. It's not too late to do that right where I am!)