Hasta Luego Espana

My final weeks in Spain, so bittersweet.

Cow statue and sign during La Ascension

As my final days in Oviedo came to an end, it really began to set in how much I have grown to love this city. For the last five months, Spain has been my home and my friends abroad have been my family. It seems cliché to say it, but I can’t believe it’s already over; it seems like yesterday I arrived. But rather than mourning the end our journey, my friends and I celebrated Asturias in all its glory.

_{Drawing by my site director of the students in my program}

At the end of the term, AHA hosted an “Espincha” for all the students, their host families, the professors, and all the AHA staff. Everyone gathered around to eat and drink and reminisce on the fun had over the past semester.

_{The girls posing for a picture at the Espincha}

_{University professors posing for a picture at the Espincha}

During my final weekend in Oviedo, there was a huge cultural celebration called “La Ascension” to celebrate all that is Asturias. The streets were filled with tents, parades, bagpipers, and markets. We tasted cheese and wine from around the province and spent hours playing with farm animals. The festival was great timing to pick up my last minute gifts for my friends and family back home too.  

_{Sitting in front of the festival sign with friend Kellie}

_{Trying some of the cheese at the Ascension Festival}

_{Taking a picture with the "traditional Asturian" cut-out}

We even gave a little back with a run for breast cancer (cancer de mama in Spanish) along the beach in Gijon. Although it was a cold, we had fun with the other 3500 women, running for a good cause.

_{Post-Run: 5k Run for Breast Cancer with friends Allye, Kellie, and Jordan}

Other than that, I spent my final days hanging with my host mom and my three best friends, milking every last minute we had together. My host mom made me my favorite meals and packed my suitcase with goodies for my family. My friends and I hung out, playing cards and drinking sidra like the Asturians we had become.

_{Taking a picture with my host mom in the living room}

It’s unbelievable to think five months have gone by so quickly and how great of an impact the time has had on my life. I have made friends I know I will have for years to come and I have fell in love with a country I will be back to visit soon. On the day I left, I think I cried just as much as the day I left home in Oregon. It was very bittersweet; although I was ready to see my family and friends I hadn’t seen in months, I was not ready to end my adventures and good times with friends. So we decided not to call it and end, but the good times were just put on pause, to be continued again someday soon.

 All I can say to anyone who is considering studying abroad is: DO IT!