Chandan Gill
October 27, 2023
As I sit in my now empty Madrid apartment surrounded by packed suitcases, I’m realizing that it is time to head home. These past two months in Madrid have been the experience of a lifetime. Today I took some time to walk around the city one last time, I can’t help but feel a little emotional. However, I know it is important to cherish the memories I’ve created and focus on the positive. Today, I choose to celebrate the adventures I’ve had, the friendships I’ve made, and the incredible journey that Madrid has been.
Some highlights from the past 2 weeks included going on a solo trip to Albufeira, Portugal. This coastal town is a true gem, with its stunning beaches and picturesque cliffs. Embracing the idea of traveling on my own, I took every opportunity to enjoy myself. I even went out for steak dinner, because the steak looked too good to resist. It was a liberating experience, one that taught me the value of enjoying my own company and stepping out of my comfort zone.
The following weekend, quite the opposite of solo travelling, I went on a memorable trip to Mallorca with the whole Madrid TAB crew. This was a great way to celebrate our experience and relax before heading home shortly. My favourite part was playing cards all day at the beach.
Back in Madrid, I had to say goodbye to the year one students and the wonderful mentor teachers who had made my time at the school so worthwhile. Shout out to Caitlin for the UofC thank you cards as they came in handy to leave an appreciative message for the teachers. I promised the students I would send their teacher a video of the snow in Canada, and I even pinky swore to make it official. I can’t let them down!
I also got to watch “The Lion King” musical, where the costume and set design left me in awe. Compared to my first musical “Matilda” that I watched earlier on my trip, I definitely understood and reconginzed a lot more Spanish words this time around.
Again, I am not quite ready to say goodbye, but I know that this is just one chapter in the book of my life. There’s another adventure waiting for me around the corner, and I’m excited to see where it will take me. As I head off to enjoy paella as a goodbye dinner with my newfound friends, I am reminded that I am lucky enough to be able to stay in touch with them through the click of a button.
So, Adios Madrid. Thank you for the exploration, lifelong friends and unforgettable memories.
