Thank you. Words alone could never be enough to express my gratitude and adoration for you, and I have dreaded writing this out of fear of not having the adequate words to express this crazy, incredible, whirlwind of I journey I just partook in.
Thank you for the best, happiest, most challenging, exciting, thought provoking, and incredible three months of my life.
Sevilla, you have changed me in more ways than I could have ever imagined. I had come to Spain with the hopes of changing for the better, but I never really understood what that meant. You have refreshed my soul, opened my eyes, and completely changed the way in which I see the world. You have shown me what truly matters, and for all of these things, I will forever be in debt to you.
Thank you for the countless times where I felt so overcome with happiness that I honestly thought I was going to cry. Most of these moments were unbelievably simple, and the beauty in that is one in itself.
Sevilla, your people have such a passion for living life, and this is certainly what I will miss the most. Every single day here is treated as a day to enjoy, and the Sevillano way of life has been so refreshing. I will miss walking by bars and restaurants, filled with people spilling out onto the street, laughing and having a beer with friends at 2 p.m. on a Tuesday - for no reason other than to enjoy one another’s company. I’ll miss lunches that last for two hours, filled with conversation and good food. I'll miss the fact that everyone makes enjoying life a priority. Your people don’t live for the weekend, and they don’t live to work. They live to enjoy their family, their friends, and the beautiful city that surrounds them. This is such a beautiful concept that I hope to hold with me in every step of life.
Thank you for allowing me to travel the world. With every weekend came a new city to explore, new sights to see, foods to try, and people to meet. It was on these adventures where I met so many kind people from all around the world, all with their own thoughts and beliefs. The people encountered along the way helped to show me how vast the world truly is, and they confirmed the notion that I so firmly wanted to believe – that most people truly are good.
Thank you for challenging me, forcing me to take risks, and for making me step outside my comfort zone. Through all of the frustrations and scary times, I have learned so much.
Thank you for showing me that language isn’t that much of a barrier and thank you for all of the incredibly meaningful, thought-provoking conversations had along the way.
If we’re being honest Sevilla, thank you for letting me be almost entirely carefree for three months. I haven’t been so carefree since I was little, and there’s a good change I never will be again.
Thank you for teaching me to go with the flow. Thank you for teaching me to be spontaneous.
Thank you for the sunsets.
Thank you for being ridiculously beautiful. Every stroll around the city was a chance to find some hidden little treasure. My walks here have taken me back in time, allowed me to reflect, and to search, and to think about everything and nothing all at once.
Thank you for the friends that turned into family. Though we’ve only known each other for three months, I feel like I’ve known you all for years. Thank you for adventuring with me, teaching me so much about life, for the long conversations, the different perspectives, shoulders to cry on, and for all the laughs we’ve shared.
Thank you for all the fun; it’s been one hell of a journey.
As I sit here looking at my suitcase packed to the brim with souvenirs and memories, and shoes that have walked hundreds of miles, I’m realizing just how much I am going to miss this place. I’ll miss walking under the orange trees and crossing the bridge to and from Los Remedios every day. I’ll miss late afternoons on Calle Asuncion packed with families and impeccably dressed little kids. I’ll miss the nights that turned into mornings at torre the ablility to go “adventuring” at any given moment. I’ll miss siestas and the fact that the city becomes even more alive at night. I’ll miss trying new foods and looking forward the sound of my host mom calling our names to come eat. I'll miss my host mom. I’ll miss speaking in Spanish and the fact that every day was another opportunity to learn something new.
I traveled 3,381 miles to you Sevilla, and it was here where I found myself. For that I will be forever grateful. And as I prepare to leave this place in less than 24 hours, I’ll be leaving a piece of my heart here too. No me ha dejado.
All my love forever,
Alex