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| And he didn't even die! |
Here's what else is on my mind:
Thing I Miss From The United States (Apart From The People, Who Are Of Course At The Top Of My List):
Driving
Driving over Missionary Ridge on I-24 at night and seeing all the downtown Chattanooga lights burst into view
Driving through the Appalachians on my way home from school
Being in the thick of South Carolina politics
Reading/writing for the Daily Gamecock
Netflix
Columbia sunsets, the most beautiful in the world
Reliving high school at Rembrandt's when I come home for breaks
Dryers, and the feeling of my jeans being a little too tight the first time I wear them after they've been dried
Eating when I want, what I want and in the amounts I want
Going to Strom in the mornings so I can catch the Today Show while working out
Turkey sandwiches
Wheat bread
Being able to go over to my friends' houses and apartments
Hearing English
Included university services and amenities – gym, free food, student center, clubs, a campus commons, division sports, etc.
Watching Friends and Gilmore Girls daily with Ashleigh Schaefer
3G
The sound of my text alert tone
Target
Football
American movies
T-shirts, shorts and Chacos
Cereal
Spaghetti
Fresh vegetables
Chick-fil-a
Late-night milkshake runs to Cookout and late-night waffle runs to...where else? Waffle House
Ketchup, salad dressing and basically any condiment besides olive oil and vinegar
Running into people I know
Publix
Peanut butter
Mass at OLPH
The social norm of it being rude to stare at people for extended periods of time
Standardization of public works and civil/legal issues
Vertical surfaces without graffiti on them
Free water and refills in restaurants, no questions asked
The American dollar
Normal trees
Things I Will Miss From Spain (Apart From The People, Who Are Of Course At The Top Of My List):
Waffle Thursdays at Rua Mayor, where we are now officially regulars
Being able to walk everywhere
Being willing to walk everywhere
Exploring a new part of Salamanca on foot after classes most days
Fiestas for every possible event in church history that might be construed as a holiday
Being legally able to drink
Cheap European beers
Tapas
No cover charges at clubs
My Latin American Literature class
Breakfast waiting for me when I get up
The cheapest, most delicious citrus fruits I have ever tasted
Cheap flights
Lack of humidity
Living in such a surprisingly international city - meeting people from all over the world in my classes and in the streets and cafes
Conversations like "Hey, you guys want to go to Barcelona/Leon/Brussels/[insert any European city here] this weekend?" "Sure, let's book some plane/train/bus tickets."
The disappearance of my seasonal allergies (so far)
Good-quality coffee
Cafes every twenty feet
The ISA office
Long walks along el rio Tormes. They've been good for the soul.
Random ancient stuff casually tucked away between newer buildings
Bars and clubs being open far into the wee hours of the morning
Little to no homework
Not only the lower drinking age, but the fact that alcohol just isn’t a big deal – it’s simply an integral yet casual part of the culture, as it has been for hundreds of years
Dos besos as a greeting
THE. SHOPP. ING.
Trying to decide which Irish pub to go to for tonight's futbol game
Being surrounded by people who put effort into how they look and thus motivate you to do the same
Dogs in sweaters all over the place
Stylish toddlers
The man with the beard who sits on the front steps of la Universidad Pontificia every morning, playing his guitar and smoking a cigarette
