As you might know (and let’s be honest, ya’ll do), I’m currently in Barcelona, extending the list of the countries where I’ve studied. And as per usual, the process of moving abroad has not been the easiest.
Let’s go on a little tangent and talk about feelings, because, man, the stress from moving abroad doesn’t get better. One would think (and that one being me) that with so much experience of packing up my life into 2 suitcases and taking a plane wherever, it would get eventually easier, but it’s quite the opposite! Not only did I struggle with the packing itself, but I also was quite nervous, especially the last few days before going. So nervous that I kind of detached myself from the fact that I was going. Saying goodbye to everyone at home didn’t feel like I was going away across the continent, it felt like I was just going out to see my friends for the afternoon. Moreover, before I felt like I had support from the university, whether it was moving to Newcastle for the first time (you might want to remind yourself of the adventure here), or to Japan. But this time, I was completely by myself, going to a city I’d never been to without anyone in the city that I knew.
And now I’m here (and there are palm trees!! I LOVE palm trees!!!). I’m sure I’ll have much more say about how I find it here, but for now, let’s just focus on my journeyand the first few moments because ugh, it tried to test me. And just saying, it might be a bit of TMI. So here we go~
You know what you should take into consideration when moving abroad as a woman – your period. I didn’t and it was a mistake. Perhaps it was from all the stress leading up to the big day, or just Murphy’s law, but of course, my period started the night before and it was much heavier than usual. Which would be fine, you know, I’m very lucky that my periods aren’t painful *knock on wood*, so that would’t be a problem, but as I was on the bus on my way to the airport, I must’ve sat wrong because when I got to the airport, I realised that my pad was folded weirdly and well… I bled through all the way through my jean and I had to change at the toilet, in the cubicle that was barely big enough for me to open my suitcase in. I managed though, because I’m a strong, independent woman and I can drag my suitcases with other bags all over me even when bleeding.
My second stain was made by propolis. It’s become my medicine for everything, so obviously, I had to take it with me. However, somehow those tiny bottles can’t be closed properly once they’re open, so when I packed everything back after changing, I must’ve turned the propolis upside down or to the side and it leaked. Not completely, don’t worry, I still have some, but enough to stain everything in the “liquids bag” and some things outside it too. (*Note to self: close the liquids bag better, it’s meant to be leakproof if closed properly, c’mon Lenka) Fortunately, we have another fighter and propolis will be facing the almighty Alpa!! I love Alpa. I take it everywhere too. So I knew that if something could get rid of the propolis stains, it’d be Alpa and she did a great job. Not perfect, but good enough, so that nothing is sticky anymore.
But wait, nothing was sticky only for a short while. Third time’s a charm, eh. So my third time wasn’t actually on the way to Barcelona, but still during the move-in process. I went to find an Asian supermarket, because I can’t live without curry. I found one, so I bought my curry and some other things, among them dark soy sauce. Very dark. Very sticky. Very pungent. And well, after my Asian supermarket visit, I went to an ordinary supermarket and went overboard and because I’m the type of person that would take the whole shopping from the car at once, that’s what I tried to do on foot as well. I could have done it, had I not stopped to take out my keys and forgetting that the soy sauce in a glass bottle is in my bag, I let it fall to the ground. Well, and it just poured out. My beautiful tote bag decorated by Yours truly was soaked with the sauce and full of broken glass. Good thing I’d just bought paper towels so that I could wipe the other food and move it to another bag. But what about the huge soy sauce puddle in front of the shop?? I felt awful. I didn’t want to use up all of my newly bought paper towels, but I also didn’t want to leave it. People were looking at me, but I guess I’ve lost the sense of embarrassment. I was just hoping someone would tell me what to do. And soon enough, they did. The security man looked at me and told me not to worry, that the market would take care of it. Mind you, not his supermarket, but the market on whose grounds the supermarket is. It was abit unexpected because he told me not to worry about something I cause but still he wouldn’t take care of it becuaase it wasn’ his problem either. But then I realised that I was in Spain and people here are quite chill and relaxed and I really didn’t have to worry. That’s something to get used to.
So, as you can see, I’ve made my mark 😉 (except that I didn’t because all the stains, including the supermarket one – I checked, are gone. But my phone still smells of soy sauce.). So I wanted to share. Because there are bumps in our roads and an imperfect beginning doesn’t mean a terrible end. And because the title is hilarious… Thank you very much.
