7/21: Home for a Week
Coming back home felt familiar at first—English signs, the foods I know, the usual routines I had missed. But after a little while, I started noticing subtle things that felt unexpectedly different and new. For example, I found myself getting frustrated over losing bottle caps all the time. Where I was living, the caps stayed securely attached to the bottles, so I never had to worry about dropping or misplacing them accidentally. Here, I’m constantly fumbling and losing them, which annoys me more than I expected.
One habit that’s stuck with me is carrying a manual fan everywhere I go, without thinking twice. In Spain, these handheld fans are huge and a cultural staple, especially for keeping cool during hot, sunny days. Even now, I reach for one out of habit, which definitely surprises people around me and sometimes sparks interesting conversations about different cultures.
And my wardrobe has shifted too, reflecting the lifestyle and climate I embraced while abroad. Instead of cozy sweats, I’m reaching for linen clothes and lighter fabrics almost every day during warmer afternoons. That breezy, relaxed style just feels more natural after months abroad—even if it stands out a bit back home among friends and family.
These little differences constantly remind me how much living in another culture truly changes the way you see everyday things around you. It’s strange to be back in a familiar place, but it’s also a valuable chance to appreciate the new habits and fresh perspectives I’ve brought with me from abroad. Sometimes the smallest things highlight the biggest changes in how I think and live now.