Tag Archives: Arrival home

There’s No Place Like Home

Posted on by
1

Arriving in London was hectic and exciting and I was buzzing with nerves. Even though I had been awake all night traveling, unable to sleep on the plane, when we landed I felt wide awake. Everything was new and exciting. When we got off the plane it was like running a gauntlet. We had to race to immigration and get our passports stamped then we had to run and get our bags and then we met up with people from different schools and all gathered for the coach that would take us to our home for the next month. All of it was energizing and scary and new and exciting and I was filled with energy and ready to see everything. I was ready for an adventure!!

Coming home was different. I still was unable to sleep on the plane and the gauntlet was basically the same, but instead of being exciting it was more aggravating because I wanted to be home and with my family.

I was very excited to be home and it was great to see my family again. I was filled with a different kind of excitement though. The adventure was coming to a close, I traveled for 25 hours without sleep and I really wanted a pillow. But it was wonderful to see the trees that they didn’t have in London and to recognize the roads I was on, and to see the Space Needle and to know that I was home. Though needless to say I did feel better and was more excited after I slept because then I got to pass out presents.

Both journey’s were wonderful, they were both part of the same adventure, this one was more bitter sweet because it felt more like an ending. Though every ending is a beginning, so the next adventure has already begun!!

Angela

Back in the USA

Posted on by
Reply

I’ve been home for a week now and it’s been really nice in a lot of ways – but I’m starting to miss my adventures.

Getting home has been a lot easier than arriving in Spain. I really struggled with jet lag in Barcelona, a lot more than most people. It didn’t help that I had to adjust to a new place and culture, use a foreign language, and start a new job the day after I got there. It was all just too much for me to handle all at once. If I had known how much of a problem I’d have with jet lag, I would have gotten there a few days early so I’d have time to adjust before I started work.

I felt like this, basically.

In Oregon, everything is already familiar, so I don’t have the same problems adjusting or dealing with culture shock. I’ve also heard that you recover from jet lag faster when you travel west. Even still, I slept for 12 hours straight after I got back, and then kept accidentally falling asleep on the couch.

There were a lot of things I’m glad to have back: my family and friends, peanut butter, TV, being able to go outside without getting sunburned, the clothes I didn’t bring with me, my cat, texting, Pandora, speaking English, American money, etc.

Unlike American coins, Euro coins are good for more than change and parking meters, so you have to carry them around.

But I really, really miss the metro. It was so fast and convenient. Driving is fine, but I have to deal with things like finding a parking space. The public transportation system in Corvallis is fine, but not nearly as good.

There also aren’t as many places to go, or as much stuff within walking distance. I got used to having a grocery store right down the street. I never really thought of myself as being a big city person before, but now I miss being in a city. Maybe a trip to Portland is in order?

I had to leave as soon as I learned to ride the metro without clinging to the bars for dear life.

I’ve been through a lot of emotions over the past few days: happiness, sadness, emptiness, relief, frustration, exhaustion, restlessness. I want to be home but at the same time, I don’t want to be. It’s complicated and I’m not exactly sure how to put it into words.

All I know is, going to Barcelona was a great experience and I learned a lot from it. I hope I get the chance to travel again sometime soon! There are so many places I want to see, and not nearly enough time (or money) to visit them all!

First: Spain. Next: the entire world.

This is my last post here. It’s been nice sharing my thoughts and photos on the blog and reading about other people’s experiences. Safe travels!

Cicely

Due to problems…

Aside

3

Due to problems with the internet in my apartment building, I wasn’t able to post during my last week in Spain, so here I am back in America.

My last week in Oviedo I attended a futbol game, and saw Real Oviedo play Real Madrid.

Image

Even though Oviedo lost 4-0, it was a great experience to cheer on my town. The other Oviedo fans were exuberant even when Madrid scored, singing, clapping, and waving flags. Although I’m usually not much of a sports fan, I enjoyed the game, and I felt a sense of belonging supporting Oviedo; even though I lived there for only a few weeks, it began to feel like home to me.

Image

I spent my last day there saying goodbye to the town by taking in for the last time some of the sights I had grown accustomed to seeing every day. I visited the open air market, and a couple of my favorite parks, and admired some of the plazas, fountains, and statues that can be found all around Oviedo.

ImageImageImage

I didn’t expect to experience much culture shock upon arriving back in the US, but I did expect everything to feel very easy. I expected it to feel strange to go about everyday life with such ease; being able to speak English, and understanding cultural expectations.

While at first it was a little disconcerting to have everyone speak English, in general it hasn’t felt like much of an adjustment. Even in the short time that I was in Spain, I got used to how things are done there, and I was very comfortable, so being in the US does not feel “easy” by comparison the way I expected it to. I haven’t experienced much culture shock, but I have had a couple small instances of it. On my first day home I went out to dinner with family and I was surprised for a second when the waiter brought the check without being asked. In Spain it is considered rude to bring the check before it is asked for, and I am used to staying in a restaurants for much more time than we do here. However, in general my transition back has been pretty smooth.

Annelise