Molly in Barcelona: Back in America

Now that I have been back in the United States for almost three weeks, I have had some time to reflect on my four months spent in Europe. There is no doubt in my mind that I just had the most amazing four months of my entire life and learned more than I could have ever imagined. For most of my life, I have been so centered around the USA and thought that the world revolved around our country. After all, America plays such an important role in the global economy and almost every popular song, television show, and movie comes out of this country. However, I have now learned that there is so much more to the world beyond America.

I was fortunate enough to live with an incredible family (despite having a crazy host mom at some times :) ) and really see life from a different perspective. For once, I couldn't control what I was eating or when we ate. I couldn't control when the air conditioning came on. I had to turn off the lights whenever I left a room, even if that meant running into a table or banging against a wall. I shared a wall with a family who had a baby who woke me up screaming at 7 am every morning (but they had the NERVE to knock on my wall if I was on the phone at 10 pm). I shared a bunk bed with Mimi and we lived in a room the size of my cube at Wofford. I even had to speak a language the majority of the time that completely intimidated me. Although I had a lot of adapting to do once I got to Barcelona, I wouldn't change a thing. It doesn't matter how big your house is or how great your food is. It doesn't matter if you have to sleep in a hot room or speak in a foreign language at the dinner table. What really matters is the experiences you have in life and what you can learn from them. It's the beautiful beach in Barcelona that matters. It's the lifelong friends that you make. It's realizing that there is a whole world outside of the United States full of history and culture.

Mom and Dad, I thank you so very much for sacrificing so much for me to be able to make this trip. My life would have been great without having gone, but my life is so much richer and complete after having traveled around Europe. My life back in the United States has picked up right where I left off. I went to Wofford on my first full weekend back and had a wonderful 3 days. I also signed up for a pre-licensing class as the first step in obtaining my real estate license. I even landed an internship with Cottingham Chalk Hayes in Charlotte where I will hopefully work several days a week. I am looking forward to my internship and class this summer followed by a wonderful senior year, but I will forever hold the memories of Barcelona and the rest of Europe in my head and encourage anyone who is able to take a similar trip.

Thanks for following my blog everyone! Below are some pictures from my last days in Barcelona. Enjoy :)