Pit Stop in Madrid

My mini-vacation in Madrid was a breath of fresh air. I mean, of course there was pollution, its Madrid, but I was lucky enough to get to rest in the company of my good friend Breanne and the comfort of her family/employer's house for a weekend. After being surrounded by new language, people, experiences, food, music and social norms for a month it was a welcome relief to share some quality time with a friend who knows and cares about me. Not only does Breanne speak English, but she speaks Kaeli, so we had some really good conversations. As fun as it is to communicate in a new language, it was refreshing to be able to express exactly what I wanted to express and to be able to understand one hundred percent of what was being said to me as well. Also, the family was friendly and the house was warm, things I had been missing for a month. Breanne showed me around her city, we visited her favorite little European coffee shop during the day and some happening clubs at night. I was so thankful to have a guide to help me with the elaborate Metro system, and a friend to share and compare my experiences thus far.
Although my visit with Breanne served as a pep-talk before I braved Spain for another 5 months, it also made me a bit homesick. The excitement of all the new wore off and I realized how much I value and miss the old. One thing is for sure, Spain is helping me appreciate my life in the States with a new intensity. The most notable so far is the friendships and relationships I am blessed with. I am searching the world for people like them, and finding that they are more unique and rare than I had given them credit for before!