The goodbye to the best year of my life.

I couldn't finish this blog that took me so much time like this so I decided to write a last but first post from my  bedroom in Spain.  

June went by so fast. Daddy came to visit, I graduated from Vero, I went in an awesome trip to the Keys, Chiara and  I visited, saw and took thousands of pics of California (SF) and we had a very sad and emotional Goodbye Party. 

I decided to talk about the emotions I was expiriencing during the last days to try and help all the new exchange students to get those days throw as good as it can be.

(The trips and the graduation were awesome and I would have so much to tell about them that I just prefer to let you think and make up your own story)

Chiara and I thought of doing a last thing together by ourselves. She has been the big discovery of my exchange and the idea of saying goodbye hurt so much. We booked our tickets to San Francisco on March so we always had something to look forward to when the days were finishing. When we came back from the trip everything started to hit me so freakin fast.

My family and Chiara's Mom and Dad planned a Goodbye Party for us. Tons of people came and I had a blast although the Goodbye was starting to become a reality. That day I had tons of sad goodbyes to say but the hardest was the one I had to say to Anna. Anna was such a great friend and a wonderful gal that helped me so much to get throw each phase of my exchange. She was going to the University of Hawaii the day after that party so she was literally going to be on the other side of the world from me. I know I will see you soon and If you are reading this just know I miss you like crazy. 

The day after the party Chiara and I had the last sleep-over at Taylor's house. On Saturday my family and I did our last "thing" or adventure together and they decided to take me to the Zoo. At first the idea was not very exciting for me but when I think about that day now, I wish I was there with them so bad. 

We also had a last dinner at my absolute favorite place. We saw the sunset and took last Vero pics. Another bad and sad goodbye also came. I had to say Goodbye to Taylor, my absolute soul sister and best american friend. The tears were just falling from my face like crazy.

What I want to express by telling all this sad stuff is that you guys should enjoy every last minute you have during your exchange because when you go back home you will miss this last days so bad and you will want to go back to them. 

After 345 days, the D-day came. On Sunday I had to say goodbye to Vero, to my dogs, my house, the great Atlantic beach and least but of course not least my awesome host family that put up with me for six amazing months. Saying goodbye to Mary, Dave and Maddy was one of the hardest things I've ever done. I couldn't stop crying for such a long time. 

On Monday our plane left to NYC. We stayed there in a collage with tons of exchange students form all over the East coast. It was the last night with my Exchange friends. The Floridian group was breaking down into twenty-eight little peaces and spreading all over the world. 

Tuesday was the last day in America. The exchange students were leaving to go to the JFK airport. It was sad seeing Jenny leave. Claudia leave. Mint leave. Henrik and Chris leave. It was actually sad seeing last hugs between people you didn't even know but you were feeling the emotions they were holding and expressing.

That day I expirienced the worst goodbye I ever faced. I had to say a "see ya later" to my partner in crime, best friend, sister and twin.  

I think the thing that makes me feel so close to Chiara is that I have shared with her moments and adventures that no one could ever imagine or understand. She is the one who I shared my whole exchange with and that year has also been the best year of my life. She is the only one who can understand the feeling that right now I'm feeling. 

Saying goodye to her was by far the hardest and I tried to hold it in but It hurt too much. 

That day I also saw all the Spanish exchange students after a whole year. That was very exciting and I really enjoyed talking with them about our year abroad. 

The Spanish bus left at two and we landed in Madrid at six in the morning the day after. 

You can't imagine how excited I was when I landed. I think I was even more excited that when I first arrived to Orlando. I had so many emotions going throw me. Sadness but also happiness. I remember when I went throw that door and saw my mom and my two best friends with a enormous sign that my artistic friend Irene drew. 

I will finish here because I won't write about my life in Spain but I will tell you that It's also been an amazing summer.

After almost two months I still miss Vero and my friends and family very much. It's not a feeling that goes away quick. I think you just have to try and live with it. Now I have twice the things I had a year ago and It's hard to have something that you love so much so far away. I will tell you that the "going back home" it's by far the hardest thing I faced during my exchange even though I had a change of families. I missed Spain a lot but It was no this feeling of emptiness I am still feeling. I think it's because I knew I was going to come back here and although I know I will go back to Florida I still don't know when and who I will see there. 

Also seeing people start their adventure makes me so happy but so jealous at the same time. I recall every emotion I was leaving during the first days of my american life and I know how everything built in together to become the best experience I've ever had. 

The AFS effect and the traveling bug hit me and I can say I'm infected by it. I hope all the exchange students enjoy their experience as much as I did. It will for sure be a year that you will never forget. 

I hope everyone enjoyed reading as much I did writing this blog. 

I encourage everyone to write during their year abroad because It helps you during your exchange to think about how lucky you are and it helps you after to recall moments and to go throw it when your life back home gets boring and you miss the good'all USA. 

BTW: I'm being a liaison this year and I think it will also help be get back to reality. If I have the time I'll write about it and tell you how is it. It's another way to live AFS. Now as a Volunteer maybe next year as a host sister? 

Best wishes to all of you and thanks for putting up with my exchange memories.