As I stood and waited for the taxi to come down the winding road I stared at the same mountains and the same fog that I spoke of two months ago. Something was distinctly different this morning. Today marked the day that I return back to the States. My stomach decided that it wanted to practice its Olympic gymnastics routines just as the taxi came down the road. I wont lie I was nervous, not with the fear of getting lost, but with the fear that I may never see some of the people I met during the past two months.
It is an eerie feeling standing in the fog by yourself knowing that your new friends have either left already or are catching their last hours of sleep before they embark on the same journey as I. It is nice to know that I will see one good new friend of mine in Dallas at the airport. We just so happened to be landing in Dallas around the same time with similar layovers. We shall share some laughs and drinks as he prepares to head back to San Diego for his brother’s bachelor party.
As I peered into what seemed like an endless grey mass of mist this morning I reflected on what this experience had really meant to me. I was terrified when I walked away from my mother and aunt after going through the security gates in Cleveland but now I have a feeling that nothing can stop me. This was the test trip to see how I would survive living abroad before I live in Spain for three months. I would say I passed. I successfully taught English, achieved high marks in both of my classes and had a damn great time while doing it. The nights clubbing that turned a regular Sunday into an hibernation period seemed like a mistake at the time, but looking back those very nights gave me the best memories. Getting back at seven in the morning beats sleeping in every time.
I learned that my life goals of teaching abroad are very attainable and if I continue to work hard more unbelievable experiences will come my way. My love for teaching has been even more cemented after this trip. My students will now be my life long friends and I could not be any happier.
The most important thing I learned throughout my time abroad is that you should never be afraid to try something new or learn something you otherwise would have never known. Being timid is not and never will be in my vocabulary.
I’m certainly happy to be on the way home but will be counting the days until the next adventure.
Until then,
Trey
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