The trip I didn't mind. The lack of meeting or having any friends to hang out with on the trip? Less appealing.
I'll be real, sometimes I'm a giant pain in the neck to handle. I talk too loud, too fast, and too much. I'm apparently bossy (Have NO idea where that came from), Stubborn (Am NOT!), and well weird (I'm okay with this last one). So to say I hadn't found my niche yet was kinda an understatement. I had all but two friends back home. One very awesome Julia Watson to my Sophia Holmes and the other well was off to college in another state. I'm a private person and prefer my couple friends to a group.
I'll admit this philosophy was giving me some backlash. We had taken a day trip to the roman city of Tarragona and to the beaches of Sitges two weeks back, that's when I met Anavi. Let me tell you she is one of the coolest people you will ever meet and will probably be this country's UN Ambassador someday (No I don't care if that is the correct title). Anyways met this awesome person and the idea that I might actually become friends with someone from this program had me scared. So I backed away slowly from the situation with my walls rising and hackles raised. Stupid.
But as luck would have it, Life gave me another chance. I was on the wait list for San Sebastian as was Anavi, when two boys backed out quite suddenly and we got their room. She would be my roommate for the next three days. Excited and hoping not to blow this, I decided to make it my mission impossible to let my guard down and have some fun with this new friend I'd made.
We got there quite late the first night. I think about 1am was when we finally rolled into town. We made it to our room quickly and with a couple words and a few well placed grunts (mostly on my half) we fell face first into our beds and slept as soundly as we could before the 9am walking tour that morning.
Exploring the city with a very kind tour guide was just what we needed. We discussed things we wanted to see and with a wonderful surprise we realized our interests were aligned. Not only in travel ideas, but also, well, life. We talked about aspirations, dreams we wanted to accomplish, and television shows we were dying without.
The first day there we went up to this old children's theme park (was so freaking creepy) on top of the hills of San Sebastian. In order to get there you had to take this hundred year old gondola thing that creaked and groaned pulling you to the top of the hill. Once we made it to the top though we would have gladly ridden it another hundred feet with just how beautiful the views were. Absolutely breathtaking.
A cafe was situated at the top that sold hot chocolate, it was perfect. Wonderful company and gorgeous views I figured my luck had finally turned around.
But of course...
Ah who am I kidding it really did!
We spent quite a bit of time up in the hills until we realized that it was getting late and dinner was rolling closer. We decided to go back to hotel one, so I could grab a shower, and two, we could look for a place to eat.
We ended up choosing a restaurant that was situated on the beach in a building that used to belong to the queen of Spain. She would use it when she came to beach to relax away from the royal court. Hey, you wanna know something cool? I'm gonna tell you anyway. Do you know why royals would try and stay as pale as possible? Because they wanted people to see their veins, their blue veins. Because then everyone would know they were royal because of their blue blood that was so prominent. Yep.
So FYI to my little sister when ever you say I'm too pale and laugh just know I'm of royal blood. Better watch out before I have you thrown in the dungeon.
The restaurant was gorgeous and the food was delicious. We had come to San Sebastian during a thunder storm and because we were able to get to the restaurant before the dinner rush, Anavi and I got to sit by the window. We would look out across the water and see lightning periodically strike the horizon. Incredible.
The rest of the weekend went just as well, through Anavi I met her totally awesome roommates including a super adorable young woman named Marylyles. This chick is awesome. She is like Wonder Woman and Mother Teresa wrapped into one person. Then Jen and Krista, I personally like to consider them the real life, kick ass female version of Fred and George Weasley except they're both alive! Maddy, an artistic game of thrones fan, who is planning on joining me in NaNoWriMo (Yes!). I even got to know two boys who live in a apartment above mine, Brett and Daniel.
The next two days flew by in laughter, gelato, new experiences, and new friendships forged for a lifetime which I'm very proud to admit. I think it goes to show you really do learn something new everyday and most of the time it's about yourself. I've learned I still talk too loud, too fast, and too much, BUT that's okay. Because the right people were waiting just around the corner to take me in.
So okay I'm gonna go a little mushy and give you all a piece of advice that took me a very long time to learn, hell it took me leaving for Europe to even understand it. Be yourself, no matter how obnoxious you are or sweet, or sarcastic because being fake is such a fucking turn off. Sorry about my french guys but it needs to be said. I've made a group of friends in this crazy adventure that I never thought would happen. My own little party wandering around Europe each searching the yellow brick road for the wizard who will tell us where home is or who we are.
Chick flick moment aside, San Sebastian is gorgeous guys. They have a film festival there that we sadly missed (Dang it) where people from all over the world come to visit and talk shop. The beaches are incredible, the town is small and adorable, and I would give a lot to go back.
While we were there we took a day trip to Bilbao where we went to an art museum called the Guggenheim. The architecture is cooler than the artwork in my opinion but yeah was interesting. Overall the trip was great. I couldn't have asked for a better weekend away. I made new friends and made an even bigger ally within myself, because after all at the end of the day you're all you got. So enjoy yourself (No not that way!... or that way if you prefer? I DON'T WANNA KNOW!), enjoy learning about who you are and notice the small things that show you've grown.
Because before you know it, you're going to change again, we never stop. I think it was the perfect break from school but alas all things must end. And so Monday rolled around quickly enough and it was back to work. Which I'll tell you all about in my next chapter.
Until Then,
Sophia
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