This is my third week in Valencia, and while there are many great things about this fantastic city, there are times when I find myself feeling just a little homesick. I'm not about to pack up my bags and catch the next flight back to Dulles, but I have had to find ways of coping. Luckily for me and anyone else who dares to study abroad for a semester there are lots of them.
First, it helps to have an awesome family supporting you. I Skype my mom at least twice a week to let her know that everything's okay and to talk about home. In our hour-long sessions, we cover everything from family gossip to international news. Last week, we spent at least ten minutes talking about how they're not going to make Twinkies anymore. She promised to freeze me a box. Getting mail from home is also amazing; it was great to get it when I was at Longwood, but it seems to mean even more when it's sent from across the Atlantic Ocean.
Writing about my experiences is a great way to deal with culture shock and homesickness. Knowing that I get to share the happenings of my life with everyone back at Longwood gives me a sense of purpose, and sharing pictures and stories via Facebook, Twitter and a blog makes me feel very connected. Sending postcards is also a really great way to keep in touch with loved ones and let them know that you haven't forgotten about them.
Of course, there are a lot of things to miss about the U.S.: peanut butter, super-long showers, bacon, central heating, wide-open spaces, Dr. Pepper, the list goes on and on. Sometimes, it can seem that being so far away from home has left a sort of void in my life. I try my best to fill it, and I find that the best way to do that is to find people who miss these things too and commiserate with them.
This Sunday was a prime example. As an avid football fan, I came to Spain terribly worried that I would miss Super Bowl Sunday. Here, football is soccer, and no one seems to know much about "fútbol americano," except that it is not soccer. I thought that I would be forced to simply watch the highlight reels and top ten commercials on Monday. I was wrong. It turns out Ashton, my roommate, and I are not the only Americans in Valencia.
A fellow Longwood student at the institute for her second semester in a row showed us a wonderful place. Portland Ale House in Valencia is an American-themed bar frequented by English speakers. They sell American food, including what many have dubbed the best hamburgers in Spain. This Sunday, Portland hosted a Super Bowl Party with an all you can eat buffet of American food. For a few hours, it almost felt like I was back in the U.S.
It is very nice to have reminders of how wonderful the U.S. is, but the most important thing I'm doing to cope with homesickness is trying new things. It's hard to be homesick when you're incredibly busy and having an amazing time. This is why Ashton and I frequently venture out and explore what Valencia has to offer. We've gone shopping in the city center, stumbled upon a military history museum, explored in a park and so much more. I'm meeting new people, Americans and Spaniards, and trying things that I never thought I would like, like paella with "conejo," which is Spanish for rabbit.
It might be hard at times, but at this point, I'm glad I decided to come to Spain. I know that my four months in Spain will be some of the most memorable times of my life. Priceless memories and new experiences are certainly well worth a few months without the comforts of home.
Want to know more about what I'm doing in Spain? You can follow me on Twitter @Jamie_Clift or read my blog, which is done in collaboration with my roommate, Ashton, at jamieyashton.blogspot.com.
