And then there was only one week left...

Where the heck did the time go??  I feel like I just arrived in Spain, and now I'm packing to leave.  Talk about the fastest year of my life.  Sheesh.  And like with most big life changes, I'm procrastinating.  To be fair, my weeks to-do list is made.  And on it outlines what I need to get done each day being that it will be the last possible day for me to do said thing.  You would think after living in a place for such a long period of time, I would be ready to come home.  While this is partly true, I'm extremely sad to leave this country and life behind.  At the present moment, I'm ready for some good American food and life that is easy.  And by easy I mean that I can finally be able to speak my native language.  This year of speaking Spanish has put a big damper on my usually talkative self.  As for Spain, I compiled a list below of the things I will miss:

1. Everyone in Spain dresses beautifully.  You get shunned if you step outside in sweats, a gym shirt, and sneakers.  I thought this aspect of Spain would be tiring and I would be craving the need to dress comfortably in public.  But I've grown to love always looking presentable.  The fact is, in both Spain and the U.S., when out in public (especially moments when you're looking your worse), you are inevitably going to run into someone you know.  But when you're always dressed presentable, running into people isn't something to hide from.  (Granted it's virtually impossible to avoid running into people in Priego; hence the ten minutes extra walking time I always give myself because you have to stop and talk to them.)  And also ladies, seeing nicely dressed men daily is an added bonus to this cultural norm.

2. The cost of groceries is awesomely cheap.  In the U.S., I run into the store with $10.00 and walk out with two or three things.  In Spain, I run into the store with the euro equivalent of $10.00 and walk out with eight to ten things. 

3. The cost of wine.  Remember how about five seconds ago I said the cost of groceries was cheap... In the U.S. a cheap bottle of wine (if I remember correctly) ia around $10.00.  In Spain, a cheap bottle of wine is $1.40.  Yes you read right.  One freakin euro.  I usually "splurge" and opt for the four euro wine.  But still, why can't wine be this cheap (and good) in the U.S.

99cent wine

4. Tapas.  What more can be said for that fact that with every drink you order you get free food.  Heaven.

5. My school, the students, and the teachers. All of them have been amazing.  And I learned that no matter what country, background, story, a person has, a kid will always be a kid.  They're the same in every part of the world.  And I appreciate and love Spain more for teaching me that.

6. Except for the winter, the weather in Spain is AMAZING.  Yes the rain everyday in the winter and the bitter coldness sucked.  But, it's completely worth it because Spring comes early here and once that happens it is sunny and blue skies every single day!.   

7. Braseros.  The only reason why I survived the winter here.  You may or may not see my running my own brasero business in the future. 

8.  Olive oil.  I have become an olive oil snob thanks to living in a town surrounded by thousands of olive trees.  This is great now.  But I have a feeling once I return this is going to suck and olive oil will never be as good as the stuff made in Spain.

9.  Priego.  This beautiful town will always hold a special place in my heart.

10. Lastly, the lifestyle.  Americans live to work; the Spanish work to live.  I've said it before, and I'll say it again: the spanish know how to live their lives and live them really good.  It's going to be a hardddd transition back to the American way of life now that I've experienced this one.