by Evan, Tufts 1+4 Participant
As I glanced out the plane window, the sun hit me full on right in the face. I winced, shutting my eyes, but as the plane turned, the left wing blocked the sun and I could again see the scenes below. The deep blue water rippled slightly, touched by a breeze coming off of the endless open ocean. A small cargo ship plowed calmly through the chop headed towards the sunset. The sky was crystal clear, (as it is every day in Madrid) except for a few clouds on the horizon reflecting the sun’s orange tint. I put my face against the window and looked down as we passed over the coast of Italy, giving me my first view of the outskirts of Rome. I saw a soccer field in barely playable condition, nestled next to an ancient crumbling amphitheater. Large yachts lined a canal that wound its way from the Mediterranean into Italy.
Air Europa had neglected to feed us anything on the flight from Madrid (at least not while I was awake), and we had spent around an hour and a half waiting on the tarmac before takeoff, so I was famished. Usually on trips like these, I pack way more snacks than I need as I end up sleeping the majority of the time, but this time I had not bought anything in the airport as I was too caught up in reading the first Harry Potter book in Spanish. As I waited in the passport control line in Rome talking to both of my moms (American and Spanish), my real mom pointed out the irony of being in Italy for the first time and not being able to find any food.
After traveling almost exclusively with my family in my childhood, I find it refreshing to travel alone with no rush and no plans on my arrival. On this particular voyage, my final destination was Belgrade, Serbia to visit a friend from high school. I had no idea what he had planned for the weekend and I thoroughly enjoyed the uncertainty.
Although my daily routine in Madrid is very structured, with classes from 9-4:30 and a lunch break in the middle, Spanish classes Monday and Wednesday evenings, and chorus on Friday, the overall direction of my year – despite the fact that it has already been over a month – is largely a mystery. I still have no idea what else I will experience and who I will become by the end of May. And it feels wonderful.