Cosas bonitas y triste

You know what I absolutely love about the spanish language? By simply adding -ita or -ito to the end of any word, you suddenly make it a cute, and far more appealing word. Like when I'm trying to convince Tomas it's bath time, a bañito sounds so much easier then a blunt baño. Pajaritos are much cuter then the ugly pajaros that are running around the street. Even food can be made "cute;" un poco de carnita, sounds much more appetizing, and for less engordado (fattening) the a hunk of carne (meat.) The fact that I can turn a plain old object into something fun and adorable with the addition of three little letters never fails to make be happier.

The thing I hate about leaving: I've been memorizing streets, making mental notes of the good stores and restaurants, making connections with photographers and art galleries, and Tomas's little friends finally are brave enough to not just talk, but actually play with me. It feel so counterintuitive to be making bonds, with "my family," school friends and town friends, the other mothers at Tomas's school, the random neighbor and the bakery owner. And now, vaya, I'm gone. I finally now my way around olesa, even the tiny little back streets. I know the shortest route to the train station, the metro now gives me no fear, and my guide book now stays at home when I go on my day adventures in Barcelona. It's sad, not in the sense that I'm not itching to get back, and that I'm more then excited to see my family, but sad in the sense that i'm leaving the home that I've made the last 6 months, and probably wont return, nor see the people that i've came to know in this half of a year.

Bueno, that all sounds so dreary, because in reality, I've had an amazing, indescribable time year. Not all of it was easy, sometimes, it wore on me, but the experience is one that (for lack of better words) is irreplaceable. And estoy tan excited to see my family, my little town, sit in my coffee shop with the people I know, and just be home <3

My goodness, how this quote sums up my predicament...

“When you're safe at home you wish you were having an adventure; when you're having an adventure you wish you were safe at home” -Thornton Wilder