Reflections on a Barcelona Experience

Today is my last day in Spain.

The last 3 months have been some of the best times of my entire life. When I got here, I expected that I would have some difficulties, a few small successes and a healthy dose of homesickness. It didn't work that way. Instead, I accomplished more than I even thought possible -- both professionally and personally.

Ever since I realized that I was leaving the city, I've been living like I was 20 years old -- staying up most of the night and stumbling into work in the morning. I decided to set aside any decision-making and truly enjoy the time I had left in the city. And enjoy it I did -- to the fullest.





In the last week I've been hyper-aware of how much I have actually settled into this city. In the last week, 4 strangers have asked me for directions on the street, and I was able to answer all of them. I've come to love the spontaneous nature of a neighbourhood festival (when a dragon, fireworks and a marching band pass below your window unexpectedly, you just look, smile, and go back to your lunch.) I've found a local bar where I feel at home (sadly, I just found it in the last two weeks). I've met enough people that I coincidentally run into them on the street or at concerts. I've seen contemporary classical concerts in auditoriums and jazz or flamenco bands in smokey back rooms (sometimes all in one night).

I've met some amazing people, from amazing places (Italy, Germany, Argentina, Catalunya, Cadiz, New Zealand, to name a few...). I've had incredible students who truly made me feel like a great teacher. I've laughed and clapped and toasted, and maybe even loved a tiny bit.

But there are still a lot of things that I never did. Below, a shortlist:
- I never went into Sagrada Familia
- I never stayed up past sunrise (almost, but the time change saved me...)
- I never stepped in dogshit (this isn't something I wanted to do, but it's nothing short of a miracle that it never happened)
- I never learned Catalan
- I never stepped into the sea
- I never went up Mont Juic
- I never learned enough about the local politics

All of this to say that I need to come back. And I will. Somehow.

It's been raining in Barcelona for the last few days, and I have joked that Barcelona is crying about my departure. It's a joke, but it keeps me from having waterworks of my own...

Tonight, I board an overnight train to Zurich with no idea of where I will be next week or what I'll be doing. It's a strange feeling, but I've been pretty calm about the whole thing (at least so far). But the melancholy is starting to sink in, and will likely increase the further away I get. I expect at least a few tearful Swiss days...