The Homesick Blues

This past week, I have been feeling pretty homesick.  I think it officially hit when I realized I had to work on Thanksgiving.  You see, they don't celebrate Thanksgiving here in Spain.  (You would be surprised at how many people don't know that.)  To them, next Thursday is just a regular day.  For me, it is a day where I spend the entire day with family, stuffing my face with DELICIOUS food, watching football, and giving thanks for everything I have.  As you can see, Spain and I vary incredibly on how we view November 28.  Spain (or at least Priego) also doesn't have turkeys.  So for Thanksgiving, the only potential/similiar option available is maybe a small chicken?  Cranberry sauce is also an item not to be found.  Along with brown sugar.  So our after work, freezing cold (did I mention its freezing here currently?), no football, Thanksgiving meal is looking pretty grim.  That's definitly the homesickness talking. 

Homesickness is hard to describe to anyone who has not experienced it.  The only comparison I have is, "that time of the month."  At some point in each month, almost every lady will randomly hate the world for absolutely no rational reason.  Homesickness is very similiar in that it happens randomly, and I find fault with everything around me for no reason at all.  It also makes you think irrationally.  For example, when you're homesick, you question yourself in why you would move to Spain like a crazy person?  Or if you can afford a plane ticket home right now.?  Or why are there no dryers in Spain to shrink your pants so they're not always falling down?!  Homesickness is also weird in that I don't think it would happen if I lived in Florida or somewhere else in the United States.  I think it only happens now because the option of going home isn't available.  Always knowing in the back of your mind that you can go home or that there is an end in sight prevents the homesickness from happening.  And of course, the holidays aren't helping the situation.

I do have to be grateful for the fact that Sara's family has kind of adopted me.    And that I adore each student I work with this year.  Today was "el dia de los ninos".  It was a very nice celebration my school put together for this international holiday.  (...An international holiday I've never heard of.)  Each grade level read a poem and then as a whole, everyone sang a song in Spanish and then in English.  They also made a collage of pictures of children which is hanging up in the school hallways as we speak. 

Bah I love Spain.  I also sometimes dislike Spain.  And at this very moment, I am already sick of the cold and it's only been five days.  Who knew Spain could be so cold??

P.S. I'm expecting Christmas Cards this year.  If Thanksgiving is this rough, I can only imagine Christmas.  Being surprised with mail will be greatly appreciated.  I thank you in advance.

(Calle Enmedio Huerta Palacio, 42
Priego de Cordoba, Cordoba 14800)