I can not fully describe in words the warmth and love I was received into when I went with my husband back to visit our friends and family in Spain. A woman in Cadiques, Spain once told me that Catalans can seem a little standoff-ish at first meeting, but once you become a part of each other's lives it is a bond of friendship that is never broken.
As we prepared for our trip out to Spain I began to feel the ever familiar pangs and tingling of anxiety and fear. Not of anything in particular, but more of a fear of being afraid, especially in a slightly unfamiliar place. I lived in Sant Andreu de la Barca for 2 years, and Barcelona for a year before that, but I always had a home base - a familiar place that I knew I would feel safe and comfortable. Unfortunately I have had this anxiety and fear building up inside and it has been at times debilitating. Even flying out to visit my parents at our family home in Michigan for the Christmas holiday inspired anxiety. So I was prepared for a difficult time for our 3 weeks away from home in another country.
When we arrived at the airport Pepe, my suegro/father-in-law, was waiting impatiently to greet us with a wide smile and strong hugs (and the pinching of my chubby cheeks). I started to feel a gentle wave a calm come over me. Then two of our friends, Sandra and Francis, came to help carry luggage and have a coffee. We were all so excited and talking about a mile a minute. They drove us to the place we were staying. My cuñados/brother and sister-in-laws' home is in the process of renting or selling, hopefully, and is empty at the moment so they invited us to stay there. There was no detail that they hadn't thought of. There was plenty of food and drink in the fridge and cupboards, shower gel and sponges in the shower, flannel sheets for chilly nights, not to mention a CAR lent to Alex by his brother! And it isn't the detail that really matter, so much as the thought process behind it all. It is not as a chore or necessity but more like a second nature to make those that you love feel as happy and comfortable as you can.
There were so many moments, like being invited into everyones' homes for meals and games, meeting out for dinner or coffee, calçotada and antikaraoke, or just watching tv on the sofa with friends; where I really felt so warm and fuzzy that the anxiety and fear felt like a distant memory. I could be on here all week describing every little detail, but all that needs to be said is that the bond of friendship is one of the most powerful drugs in the world. Love really does conquer all. If it were not for the amazing people I am privileged to know I might still be cowering in my living room in Eugene wondering what it would be like to go back to Spain.
