May 5th, 2005 | The lowdown by Erica Sin

Coming Back

I was SO happy to leave Norwich for winter break. As much as I enjoyed being in England, I was definitely getting antsy in this relatively small town and ready to go and see some more of Europe. I was prepared to party and experience the joys of Spain and France for a good month.
I had never really travelled before then (except in coming to England), so I packed WAY too much stuff, which automatically put a damper on getting around. Let's just say that I was incredibly relieved to arrive in Madrid, where my friend met me and my friends. I proceeded to spend the next week in Spain sleeping all day and going out all night (I don't know how these Spanish people do it, they're like Energizer bunnies or something!). I did get to see a museum and walk around the city a bit, but I mostly got to experience the nightlife.

France was wonderful too and a bit more laidback because I was staying with a friend and her family there. I was still sleeping until about noon everyday, but I did a lot more sightseeing since my friend actually knew where to go and she had a car. Skiing in the Pyrenees had to be the highlight of the trip (besides the obscene amount of food that her family fed us during the holidays).
When we left our friend, we travelled to Montpelier and made a bunch of day trips out to small southern cities in France: Arles, Avignon, and Carcasonne. They were all breathtaking (even though it was freezing). Many rolls of film were used up to document our trip.
At the end of it all though, I was so ready to come back to England. Travelling is great, but the comfort of having my own bed and all my own things surrounding me is something that cannot be replaced by anything. And then I realized that I wanted to go home. Not home home as in Los Angeles, but home as in England. I longed for the soup from my fave soup place in town, for a BLT waffle from the Waffle House, and tea and scones from the Gallery Cafe on campus at UEA. I wanted to see the lake outside my window and play cards and board games with my flatmates again. I realized that for the first time, I actually considered England home. And I love it here, goshdarnit.