A month ago, I was half way through a journey that definitely changed my life. Although I am very happy to be back home, as I sit here today in the comfort of my room, with my own bed, desk, English television set, working WiFi network and blasting air condition, I miss my hostel room, annoying internet connection and sketchy continental breakfast. I miss my new friends, my professors, my roommates… I miss the locals, the gypsies, and the horse and carriage drivers who loved yelling “guapa!” I miss trying to walk on cobblestone streets in heels, and tracking down cabs at 3 a.m. when my feet hurt too much to walk home.

I miss the cuisine: the croquetas de jamon, the manchego cheese, the papas con aioli, all served with a glass of vino blanco. I miss being the only non-Spanish speaker in the group and laughing with my friends at my attempts to mingle with the locals. I miss being on my own, responsible for myself and feeling like an adult. I miss the history, the culture, the cathedral and my beautiful walk to school every morning as opposed to my I-95 commute full of traffic to Biscayne Bay. But most importantly, I miss the fact that my amazing experience is now an unbelievable memory, one that I will surely never forget.

Words and pictures alone cannot describe the experience of my study abroad trip to Spain. I had imagined that it would be incredible, but I didn’t realize it would this incredible. In my past few weeks being home, I have shared stories and pictures with my friends and family back home. I even invited my closest friends over for a tapas night, where I attempted to make croquetas de jamon, papas con alioli, and manchego with pestos and fresh bread, all from scratch. Everything came out delicious if I do say so myself, but nothing like the local tapas bars from Sevilla.

I’ve been shopping at my local mall, and swimming at the Florida beaches, but nothing compares to the shops down narrow alleys and cobblestone roads, or the coastline of the Mediterranean with mountains on one side and the white homes that line the freezing cold water on the other. I am beyond happy that I decided to embark on this amazing journey. Thanks to my professors and my amazing fellow FIU Communication classmates, it is these memories that already have me planning my next study abroad trip to Europe. =]