Goodbyes are always bittersweet. At the end of five months here, I've grown a little attached to the people and places of Granada, but at the same time it's a little hard to feel sad when there are such great things ahead. That's the beauty of it though, in every ending there is a new beginning. I may be saying goodbye to Spain but I'm starting an exciting month of travel through Europe.
At the end of each day last semester, I would invade Lisa's bed before we went to sleep and we would share our hi/lo of the day. It may not be end of day here, but it is an ending sure enough. Lisa, I dedicate this to you:

Highs of Granada:
-Spanish, while frustrating at times it's a beautiful language and I can now speak proficiently
-European culture, I've come to love the slower pace of life and just sitting in a cafe for hours talking with friends
-history-everything is so darn old! The church outside my window is turning 250 this year (older than our country!) yet no one really cares because the church down the street is turning 450
-coming to class late, it doesn't really matter when you pass your prof smoking outside on your way in anyway
-the little disgusted feeling I get when I see my host sister put olive oil on something new and equally odd. Including but not limited to: bread, eggs, vegetables, soups, french fries, and, my personal favorite, macoroni
-housing, staying with host family and living with Melissa, even through all of the ups and downs
-walking everywhere, I have the holes in my shoes to prove it

Lows of Granada:
-not having control of what, when, or how much I eat
-ALL OF THE RAIN
-school. hey, it's tough enough as it is, make it in another language and it's a little awful
-getting sick all of the time
-clothes getting killed
-purple hamburgers, I was a little afraid to ask but I think she said it had goat meat in there...

I could go on, but I'll limit myself a bit. It's a beautiful Friday, my last Friday in Spain, and I still have a bunch to do. Like packing. Ouch. Try fitting five months of stuff into ONE backpack. ONE. Even Mary Poppins would have problems with that. But tomorrow I start my adventure!!! I'll be heading off to a beach in Spain for the weekend and then....drumrole please...to MOROCCO!! Best five dollars I've ever spent in my life for that ticket. Goodness. Switzerland, Germany, Holland, Belgium, and Paris are also in the plans, as are chocolate tastings, a visit to a concentration camp, some arab baths, some castles, couchsurfing, the Eiffel Tower, and a heck of a lot of train rides. It's 8 countries, 3 continents, and 1 heck of an adventure. Catch ya stateside! I'm off into the sunset and couldn't be happier.

Peace out.


p.s. I'll try to update while traveling but it's not looking very promising