Disconnecting from the familiar

My move to Madrid was not something I planned lightly for before my departure. At home I foresaw myself becoming homesick during the holidays and transpiring events that I would be forced to miss because of the distance. In the last two weeks here I have had both filled days of endless activities and a few days of down time where I could move at a slower pace and recharge my batteries.

I have found myself asking myself more frequently than I expected what my family and friends would be doing at home while I was here in Madrid. My days pass full of new events and experiences. It is still a foreign idea to know that as I might be winding down my day the people closest to me are just beginning theirs. The time change (and a few moments of shaky internet) has made it difficult to communicate with family and friends the last week or so.

After consciously acknowledging my feelings of being disconnected I realize that longing for a comfortable conversation is only natural. I should miss the things I left at home: my family, friends, home, and a routine. I came to Spain looking for a break from a schedule that felt almost suffocating and now, as I am altering every aspect of my daily life, I realize that in my heart this is what I have longed for.

I know that my time here is forcing me to look at life through a new lense and for that I am continuously grateful. As a person who wants to work with students and people from cultures drastically different from my familiar I know this process will leave me in a better place to help them with their needs. Though Europe might be a lifestyle closest to the U.S.’s, the separation from what I know will give me insight into the barriers that many experience on a more drastic level. The two weeks here, thus far, have forced me to acknowledge that my time gone will not only improve my understanding of the world but also drastically change my understanding of myself.

Un beso, Rachel