Hoping on the flight the excitement began. I remember this feeling so long ago. The excitement, the nervousness, and the wonder. Getting on the plane at gate A 14 in Logan airport reminded me of the feelings I had going to San Sebastian. The only difference here was I was alone. Which for me was far less than a scary thought and rather comforting. For me, taking a step by myself just adds to the overall excitement.
Overall the flight was quite interesting. I had a window seat and just sat watching Evan Hansen. For what reason I do not know. The woman next to me was flying to Italy with the connection in Amsterdam, She was also studying abroad and had never flown before. We spent a solid hour talking about the wonders of the world and what we had hoped life would bring us. The simplistic excitement of the unknown kept me awake the entire flight.
I was beyond excited to fly, I was ready for this adventure and was excited to move forward with my life. Spain has become a place of safety and wonder for me. The sounds on the streets, the hospitality and most importantly the food. The reception at the airport was quite typical and we all got onto the bus. The ride was rather short to the hotel and I was slightly concerned about getting there.
The highways getting there were lined with graffiti. While I appreciate the artistic expression this set me off on a bad foot. I began to wonder if I had made a mistake in traveling to Madrid. I was mentally preparing myself to be stuck in the NYC equivalent. Once we had arrived in the city I truly realized that there was no other place like Madrid.
Pulling into the city the wonders began to appear and true beauty started to come through. The city was vibrant and lively. Bars seemed to line the streets. People were out and about, smiling and laughing. Once I checked into the hotel and in my room, a second wind had hit me. I was ready for the exploration of the world. With a symbols text half the group and including I went and explored the city. Taking steps in unknown directions and tours down unknown streets. We ended up in plaza day sol and stood at the center of Madrid. Excited, tired, and with wonder.
After a while, we all came back to the hotel and got ready for exploration. Tired and at this point manic, I met two great new friends. We went out and explored the wonders of the world. We took turns down unknown streets and went to a delicious place called Rosi la Loca. Obviously, with the minimal Spanish we had, we somehow managed to order without error.
On day one there was a major takeaway for me. I learned how to let go and be myself. I made some great friends and continued to step out of my comfort zone. Madrid has a special feeling to it. It is comparable to the magic I felt in San Sebastian so long ago. I never realized how much I missed that feeling of being lost in the wonder. I missed the feeling of getting lost and exploring. San Sebastian was my first step and personal freedom. Here in Madrid is where I get to spread my wings. Being pushed out of my comfort zone is something I will forever be grateful for. This experience has already been like none other and I’m ready to see the world around us. Nothing could have prepared me for the experiences I have had and the wonderful people I have met. I can not wait to see exactly what the future brings me here in Madrid. I don’t think I will ever want to leave.