RUN: Glad I Came

Have you ever seen the movie Midnight in Paris? It's about Gil, an American writer, who visits Paris with his fiancé and her parents. One night Gil decides to walk home alone and happens upon a totally different world; he is transported to Paris in the 1920's. As the movie develops we watch as Gil becomes entranced with his new world and begrudgingly returns to present day and his real life.

This movie really struck me; not because it was particularly spectacular, but because I often feel like I'm acting out this plot in my own life. I have often felt as though I'm in a totally different era --sometimes life in Spain feels sooo very different that it's almost as if it couldn't possibly be 2012. I’ll admit that I definitely romanticized my time in Granada, but it’s hard not to romanticize places like Paris or Spain when we know we have to go back to our normal lives in the U.S. However, I think we romanticize places and times because we can look back at them and remember the good things; all the surprises, changes, and disappointments have already taken place-the fear factor is gone. And while I am sad to be leaving Spain, I am thankful that over the last year I have been able to see Spain for what it truly is, and not just my romanticized version. Now I see its faults, shortcomings, and true character, and honestly... I still love it.

Last week I went to see a movie (in Spanish of course) with a Spanish friend, and during my walk home something clicked for me. It was around 9:15pm so it wasn’t quite dinner time and I decided to take the long way home. As I walked by the park, the museum, and through the plaza I ran into a different friend at each place. With each stop I hugged, kissed, and tried to catch up a friend that I knew I could possibly never see again. For the first time in a long time, I felt as though I really belonged; like I was actually living out a real life here in Spain, rather than the fantasy I so often play out in my head.
However, there is one big difference between Gil and myself. Although I am sad that I am leaving my new home, amazing new friends, and a great job-I know that it is my time to move on. I have a little more than a month before I return home but I won’t be doing it reluctantly. This has been an amazing experience, but I’m ready for the next chapter of my life; the next round of surprises, changes, and even some disappointments.
There is a song that I constantly play on repeat and a line from the chorus perfectly describes how I felt as I walked around Zaragoza that night: The sun goes down. The stars come out. And all that counts. Is here and now. My universe will never be the same. I’m glad [I] came I’m glad [I] came!