I have officially moved out. I’ve given back my keys, gathered all my remaining things, received my deposit back and have exchanged niceties with my landlord (who has been nothing but wonderful to me this entire year). Now I’m sitting at my kitchen table, bags packed and waiting for my shuttle to pick me up to take me away to Aeropuerto Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas one last time. I’m not too sure what I’m feeling to be completely honest.
Okay, scratch that. I am now currently on my first flight – Madrid to Dubai. After a little hiccup with my luggage (of course I was over the weight limit.. but we all knew this was going to happen) and losing my neck pillow while waiting to board, I am here, sitting in an emergency exit seat with as much leg room as I want, next to a cute old lady decked out in polka-dots (my kind of woman). Now, I’d be lying if I said that a tear or two didn’t roll down my cheek as we took off. So I’m saying, they did. It happened*. And it was a sad moment. But let’s move past that. Let’s be positive.
My year away has been nothing short of life-changing. Legitimately life-changing. In every aspect. Madrid has been my home away from home. My apartment has been more than just a place I sleep and eat. I made it mine. I bought picture frames, burnt scented candles and got excited about buying a new spatula for the kitchen. It has been my safe-haven, my own little bubble in the hectic city that is Madrid. It hasn’t always been easy, and I haven’t always loved it the way I do now, but I hold so many dear memories of it, and so many people have come and gone through that flat, all touching my life one way or another. It will always hold a special place in my heart. Madrid will always hold a special place in my heart.
But now it is time for me to return to my real home. And honestly, I’m still in utter disbelief that it’s come to this. That this much time has already passed. That what I’d been waiting to experience for three years.. is over. Just like that. I guess it is true; the older you get, the faster time goes. I promised I’d keep this positive and I will stand by what I said. So rather than focus on what I am leaving behind, I will focus on what I have to look forward to. I cannot wait for the moment I step out of those gates at Sydney International Airport, and finally see the people who mean most to me waiting to shower me with love. And really, that right there overrides any negative feelings that I’m experiencing. I am blessed. I am grateful. I am loved.
In saying this, I want to say thank you to everyone who has helped make 2015 happen. Thank you to all those who I have met along the way and shared their friendship and hospitality. You guys have changed my life. Thank you to everyone who has supported me with my decision to go overseas and have allowed me to do this for me. Thank you to everyone who kept in contact with me and stayed interested in what I’ve been doing. Thank you to everyone who sent me something throughout the year. You have no idea how much that meant to me. Forreal, muchísimas gracias a todos.
… Well that didn’t take up much time of my flight. Let’s see how I go on flight number 2!
See you soon, Sydney!
*I may have also cried when the song, See you Again by Wiz Khalifa started playing on the playlist I was listening to
angelica la viajera 