Barcelona Blues

It has been about 6 months since my month-long excursion to Barcelona, Spain and the post-traveling depression has officially hit. There is no simpler way to put it: I miss Spain. 

There was more to the trip than the unique food and incredible views, the astonishingly cheap and delicious wine, the thrill of being abroad. Relationships were formed, with people from all over the world. Relationships that I will cherish forever, with friends that I truly believe I was destined to meet. 

The length of the trip: 30 days. It seemed daunting, especially for someone like me who had never left the US before. But little did I know, the trip would change me. See, there was a reason for this long haul across the Atlantic. I was studying Public Health through Northeastern University, with Northeastern professors and Northeastern students, just at a university in Barcelona. It was a great opportunity to fulfill some graduation requirements and travel at the same time. 

I didn't know anyone of the thirty other students going on the trip, but somehow the universe brought me to my best friend, Emma. We were roommates on the trip and I feel the need to bring her up because she was an essential character in this chapter of my life. 

We land in Spain just in time for the Spain v. Russia game. Naturally, we headed to the nearest sports bar, running on less than 2 hours of sleep and feeling the intense effects of the jet lag. Little did we know, that at this bar, there was a boy who would introduce us to another boy and another and another, until it became clear that we had found our people. 

Now, this boy, Jack, was from Australia and his friend on the trip, Joe, was from England. This duo was hilarious and rowdy, and they put a smile on our faces every day. Coincidentally they were staying at the same hotel as us and that led to an instant friendship. 

Being away from home for a month, in a country where you don't speak the language, can get lonely. With them, I felt at home. It still amazes me that four people, on completely different paths in life, from all corners of the planet, happened to meet. But not just meet, bond and forge an eternal friendship. 

As I write this, it has me thinking. Do I really miss Spain, or do I miss them, the ones who brought me the truest form of happiness in the shortest amount of time?