So here I sit in my apartment in Norman and I have finally found the time to sit down and get one last (maybe) update in on this thing. It has been nearly a month since I've been home and every day I move more and more rapidly away from my time in Spain. It's weird, actually. My whole time abroad has this weird dream-like state in mind. Like maybe I made it all up. Very surreal and it almost seems like I was never really there. If it wasn't for me missing it so much, I probably wouldn't even believe that I ever went. :)
It's also kind of funny. I always said that I would never be one of those weirdos who goes over to Europe and then comes back to the US all changed and different. And I would definitely say that I lived up to that....to an extent. There are definitely a lot of things that are different about me now, but deep down, I'm still the same ole' me.
Basically I just learned a lot. Of course, there are those cliches about how study abroad isn't about what you learn in the classroom but what you learn about the world. I know, I know. Cheesy, right? But it's so true! I learned so much about life, and about the world, and about myself. I learned how to live outside of my comfort zone. (about as far out of my comfort zone as I could ever imagine, actually) I learned how to appreciate, and I mean truly and fully appreciate, other cultures. Not to just look at them like an animal in a zoo, but to really put some effort into understanding them. I learned that I can stand a lot of things that I would have never thought possible. Most of all I learned that the world is an incredible, amazing, wonderful place that has SO much goodness in it. Sometimes we have to take off our blinders to see it, but it's there.
And I can honestly say that I accomplished everything I wanted to.
I met incredible people. In abundance.
I made new friendships.
I travelled. A lot.
I tried new things. With both good and bad outcomes.
I kept trying.
I overcame fears.
I loved.
Looking back on it all still gives me those old pangs in the chest that are a mixture of sadness, happiness, and unbelieving-ness. (I never said I wouldn't make up new words to tell my story) But I would never, ever, ever trade anything in the world for the experience I had. What an incredible adventure.
And now re-adjusting to life back in Norman has been different. Not in a bad way at all. Just different. It's been great for me in a lot of ways. I've reignited some old friendships that needed reigniting and I've cut off some old friendships that needed to be trimmed away. (I promise it's not as harsh as it sounds) I'm no longer involved in anything at all on campus, which in all honesty hasn't been nearly as bad as I thought it would be. Basically I've had a new beginning here at OU, which is interesting since this is my last semester here. But it's been therapeutic and I've had a great time so far.
Most of my time has been spent in a mixture of hanging out with old friends, like the guys from my pledge class, Erin, etc., but also hanging out with new friends, which primarily consist of foreign kids. Honestly I can't get enough of them. haha I just know how much I loved hanging out with Spanish people while I was abroad and how I wish someone would have done this for me.
Anyway, in closing, because in true Jordan fashion this is getting WAY too long, just know that I'm back to life as usual with a few tweaks and twists here and there. Different but not bad. And I'm loving it.
As to this blog, I still haven't decided if I'm going to keep it up. I mean, it's main purpose was for study abroad and nothing more, and really I don't think my life is all that interesting to keep up with it. I guess we'll just see what happens. But as for me, for now, I'm off to hang out with my favorite group of foreigners tonight. Life is good. :)
