Last last Thursday night was the perfect way to say goodbye and we all went to Colonealus for tapas with Mal’s family, then the International Beer Bar, and then we headed to Buddha. On Friday morning, Mal, Brian, Amir, Daniela and I got up early to have breakfast together and say our last goodbyes because Mal was leaving at noon with her family for Granada. We met at Coliseo and had traditional Spanish breakfast (toast with olive oil & tomatoes, and café con leche ofcourse) and spend our remaining time together. And Friday was just one of those hardest days to live through kind of days, so it even started rough. Mal told me she woke up crying that morning, which is exactly how I felt too. so of course when she walked up upset, I couldn’t help but cry too. In true Daniela fashion, she was 30 minutes late and but we all had a good laugh about it, while we sat and reminisced about what an amazing semester it’s been. after we were done with breakfast, amir and brian went to go run a few errands because amir was leaving that afternoon. And Daniela and I went to climb up the Giralda tower, as our last adventure together.
After we were done with our Giralda adventure, Daniela went home to pack and I went over to Amir’s to hangout before lunch and before he had to leave for the airport. I didn’t cry when saying goodbye to Amir because I’m going to see him in like a month. But during lunch, was a different story. Mer’s parents were in town and Manoli invited them to lunch. And when I came home I was already upset so when Traci and Mer said that it was there last meal at Manoli’s the flood of tears came. and we all sat at lunch and cried as Manoli said “no lloras, no lloras’ (don’t cry, don’t cry). Because lunch was so hard, I decided it would be the best idea to leave for isla magica before merillat said goodbye to Manoli because if I stayed around for that I would have been a mess.
So Brian and I took autobus C2 to isla magica to go on some rides before the UPO farewell reception. It was fun and we got to go on three rides – one of which being the log ride where brian sat in front and got real wet. The reception was at 7pm and all our teachers were there. it was good because we got to have drinks and tapas with our friends and professors as our last goodbye. I chatted with Ana about jumping off the bridge into the river with some friends and she strongly advised me not to. Christine, Amer, and I talked to Penelope about her wedding this coming Saturday and how she was super stressed about it. It was a nice way to end things with UPO. As people trickled home to leave for dinner, I was avoiding leaving because that meant saying goodbye for good. But all good things must come an end, and so I hugged Ana and told I’d miss her sooo soooo much. Then Jacob, Matt, and I walked off to go catch the bus home. Of course, as we walked out the park, I started bawling because I was so upset.
Later that night, after dinner, a bunch of us met up at Phoenix to have drinks. We sat on the patio and talked until it got late and people with early morning flights had to go home. Daniela and Brian walked home with me and we hugged, promised to call each other all the time, and talked about the next time we would see one another.
Because I really couldn’t bear one more goodbye on Friday, I woke up early on Saturday morning and walked to the airport bus with Brian. We met on Niebla (the street he lives on) and took the metro from Plaza de Cuba to Prado. I gave him a big hug as he hopped on the airport bus and waved goodbye.
Sunday night, djAmer and Jeffrey left for Madrid with some friends and so again, we all met for drinks and goodbyes at Phoenix to reminisce and give abrazos y besitos por la ultima vez (hugs & kisses for the last time).
This week has definitely gone by fast. I have been packing, hanging out with Christine, going out with Mal and Rob, spending more time with Manoli, said goodbye to Clara, exploring more of Sevilla for the last time, and trying to wrap up my life here in my final days. It is most definitely full of bitter sweet feelings. It’s incredibly hard to fathom that after 36 hours of traveling, I am not only in a different place, but in a different life and different world. I was devastated to say goodbye to Manoli and Mal. There were lots of tears and hugs and all of the above. But Mal got up early came to my house, met Manoli, and help me lug my bags to the airport bus in tears. On my last walk down Febo, we laughed at talked about all the amazing memories we’ve had over the past four months and it was a wonderful way to say goodbye.
My entire four months here has been a roller coaster ride of ups and downs and adventures along the way, and I’m not sure I’m ready to get off yet. But this adventure is clearly coming to an end and my life will resume as normal in the coming weeks, because I’m back in fort worth and start summer school this morning.
pictures: Amir, Mal, Daniela, Brian, and I at the International Beer bar, 2. Melissa, Alison, Brian and I at Isla Magica, 3. Clara (my intercambio) and I 4. Ana Claudio and I at the UPO farewell reception
