Throughout my time here and throughout learning about Spanish culture, I have (as mentioned before) come across the saying “no pasa nada”. I was actually utterly annoyed by this phrase because I know of SO many people who, after studying abroad in Spain, use this phrase as something to describe themselves and deck it out all over their profiles. Aside from that, I was annoyed by this phrase because Spaniards don’t even abide by it. Frankly their lives are completely juxtaposing and hypocritical.

As I’ve mentioned before, from Spain’s conception there has been a constant reminder of the battle between Roman “centralization” of government, language, and lifestyle versus the African Arabic “decentralization” of life. Battles were fought over the lines of succession to the crown, example the Carlist wars. Continuing through history, there were conflicts between Jesuits and Masons during the Enlightenment which supposedly over time formed the huge political parties of anarchists fighting against nationalists during the Second Republic. And still today, all of these sentiments from the birth of Spain until most recently are embedded in the Spaniard’s mind. So how can a Spaniard say “no pasa nada” (like nothing matters, don’t worry about it) when really, everything means something to them. Everything since the beginning of Spain means something important and relevant in their minds. They are still struggling amongst autonomies today!

I will admit that even though I disagree with the whole idea because I think it is a bit hypocritical, Spaniards do have a way with just “no pasa nada”-ing the day away with their three hour lunches and discotecas all night, waiting until the next day to form a plan or get something done. In this attitude, they are just living for the day and in the present.

Since I’ve been here, I have come to realize even more that I too could be quite similar to “Spain”. I harp on my past and things that have happened to me a lot. They affect who I am and what I’ve done in my life and that’s certainly not anything to regret however, it is something from which I should move on. Up until this point I have planned my entire life out and had every month organized of what I was going to do next. As of now, I have no plan except to finish college and hopefully get a job (that may sound like a plan to some of you but to me that’s incredibly vague and not a plan at all).

And while the Spaniards are everyday trying to forget their past and keep going forward, I too will keep moving onward except instead of forgetting – embracing and accepting what I have done and where I have come from. In these next couple of months (or years!) I will have to try to use the “no pasa nada” mentality with the current job crisis and unpredictable outcome of my future.

Yet I’m okay with it. Completely okay with it actually. And I think that is attributed to my time here and how I’ve learned to just live in the day. Because once all of your plans have been accomplished, what more can you do?

It’s like what Elsy just told me this past weekend (Elsy is a 92 year old Swiss lady living in Interlaken for her whole life who sat down on a bench next to Lauren and I): don’t look back, you can’t change anything in the past so you must always move forward, that’s what has kept me alive.

So with my mind set on going back home, I am thankful to know that I have people ready to hold me wherever I go. I know now more than I ever have before that I have people who love me across the United States and in Europe…possibly in Central America too hahaha.

“You have friends here, Kim. Be Happy” – Kike

I feel like I’ve heard that phrase numerous times before and I never really believed it. But I’m glad I do now.

THINGS I WILL MISS ABOUT SPAIN(not in any order, + I’ll forget something)
- Speaking Spanish constantly
- Line 10
- Bus 27
- Paseo Castellana
- Elena and Kike
- Everyone at the office at Hablar en Arte
- Ima, Almu, and Almu’s friends
- Being with the girls on this program 24/7
- Retiro park
- Walking

And…I will not miss chorizo.

I have traversed across Swiss Germany and now I’m in the French speaking part, well…more specifically I am in Geneva. Before I was in Interlaken. Interlaken was like a toy town…I felt like I was in a dream.

Well, now I’m off to explore Geneva. I’ll update more when I get back to Madrid.

I’ve posted photos for you to be able to visualize who I’ve been talking about for so long!

http://picasaweb.google.com/kimberly.bryden/LovesOfMyLifeForThePast4Months?feat=directlink

I’m off to Switzerland tonight, skydiving tomorrow. Wish me luck!

This says it all. North of Spain was glorious and phenomenal. And…ONE WEEK!

I also can’t believe there are only eight days til I’m back and I don’t have a job! This is the first time in my life where I don’t have a plan…crazy.

Besos y Abrazos del Norte de España.

OFF TO SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA, VIGO, AND PLAYA DE LAS CATEDRALES.