Back to Black

Welcome to the US - once again.

I must say - the reason it took me so long to write here again was that I needed to face the fact that I am back to the US. The land of dreams that brings me back to reality.

This Starbucks with windows that face the IU Sample Gates takes me back to the one on Atocha with the marvelous view of the Reina Sofia. As much as this thought brings me extreme nostalgia and a bit of depression; it brings me the infinite gratitute for having this opportunity. I lived the dream.

I wish my grandpa was still alive. I remember him saying that after he came back from Spain he was ready to die: he had done everything he ever wished for. Since then, I keep searching for these moments that makes my life so worth to live. Being in Madrid was one of those - maybe the most important till now.

I will never forget the long walks down Gran Via, alone, at night. As much as Spaniards would piss me off and Complutense people at the cafeteria were rude; and as much as I wanted to kill my neighbor - Spain gave me something that no one will ever take away from me.

The best friends I ever made in my entire life were the ones I had in Madrid. The best roomates I ever had, were Katie and Christian. The best Napolitana was the Mallorquina one. And the best tortilla for sure was the one at the Edificio B.

The nostalgia of sitting in the metro and walking around Sol are priceless.

I wouldn't say that I am ready to die. Much the contrary. Spain was that little spark that opened my eyes to what's ahead in the world. That people are people no matter where - even crazy Moroccans or annoying Italians with their roses on fountains! - and that we all feel the same way. We express ourselves differently, and this causes so much conflict in the world.
Travelling and living in a place with a different culture (for the second time!) taught me that conflict only happens when we close ourselves to the unexpected. To the strange and to unfamiliar.
When we open our eyes to the world, we are able to see that behind all that expression and habits, lays a person that feels happy the same way we do and that cries the same tears we do.

So - back to Starbucks - I feel happy that I was able to learn that. As much as I want to cry because I miss Madrid, I can always say a part of my heart lays in the streets of Madrid, right around the Paseo del Prado.

With love,

Ana Livia