My time here in Málaga, Spain will soon come to an end tomorrow. I am both sad and excited. Sad because I am leaving a city and country I have enjoyed very much for the past 3 months. Happy because I really do miss the USA: the food, the lifestyle, the culture, daily life, and the people. This summer has created some of the best and unforgettable moments in my life. I have met some amazing people from the USA, England, South Korea, China, Japan, Germany, Spain, Belgium, Austria, Norway, Ukraine, France, Turkey, and Russia. I have formed some bonds with people I will consider lifetime friends. I have witnessed firsthand amazing scenery and explored ancient man-made structures and ruins that have endured the rise and fall of many great kingdoms and peoples. Over a year ago, I sat in my bedroom gazing at a poster of the world map on my wall, imagining what life was like and how people lived outside of the USA. Often times I sat there, and at work, wondering about the impact living in Spain would have upon my life. I can now say with confidence that my life has changed significantly and will never be the same. While I love and appreciate some of the spoils of the American culture, I have come to realize how beautiful and uniquely diverse the world is outside of the box I once lived in. Encountering people from many countries and backgrounds was the most enriching part of my experience in Spain. Because of this experience, my perspective and cultural awareness of the world has completely shifted. No longer do I see the world through the looking glass as an American citizen, worker, or student, but as a person that is a part of a very diverse and complex race of people that are connected by unique experiences and cultural differences. Traveling outside of the USA has always been a dream of mine; and I have always earnestly desired it with deep anticipation. When the dream became a living reality and I found myself living among people that shared an alternate cultural, perspective and language, I became amazed and realized how blessed I was to be seeing the things I saw and doing the things I did. One of the most repeated phrases I often spoke to myself and other people back in my country before I left was, “I am going to Spain.” And one of the most repeated phrases I spoke here was, “I can’t believe I am in Spain”. I can’t believe I spent the entire summer of 2013 living in another country. Who would have thought? Without God and very special people in my life helping me along the way, this life experience would still have been a dream lying dormant in thoughts with deep and earnest anticipation. Spain will not be the first nor last country I will ever visit. Spain marked the beginning of my pursuit to travel to as many places or countries I can before I pass on to the next life. I encourage people who are reading this post in the USA and who have never been outside the country, or even their own city or state, to save up the money (if you can) and make the sacrifice to take a trip some place different in order to see how beautiful and unique the world God has created is outside of your daily norm. There is more in life to experience than the materialistic and gluttonous norms of our culture. You would be amazed to see how different life is on the other side of the world. For now, I won’t say good bye to Spain, but I will say see you again one day. To all of the friends I have made here, I say thanks, good luck, and perhaps one day we will meet again. Matt Loomis George Luis Martinez Bridget Mullins Marcos Gutierrez Garcia Armando Ghekiere Edgar Delagrange Johannes Kunze Gene Halverson Quentin Lucas Hande Gül Küçükkaya
Posted on: Fri, 30 Aug 2013 16:25:04 +0000
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