“How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard”_ diario di Elche

20/06/24
Today is my last day here in Elche, a city where I’ve left my heart and soul. I’ve loved this experience completely, and even the negative things that happened contributed to making it a very formative and important experience for who I am now. I think I will carry this experience and all the people I met with me forever, whether it was a different way of thinking, a word I didn’t know, or a random thought during a lesson. Now, I have to pack my bags and realise that tomorrow won’t be just another day; I will see my parents and my brother again after two months and will have to say goodbye to my classmates and friends, hopefully not forever. Saying goodbye to my Spanish family will also be very difficult because I have gotten used to their routines and their peculiarities, just like every family has. Thanks to this diary, I have come to understand how much I have benefited from this experience. I will miss you a lot, Elche…

Leonardo Dilda 3E

 

Tonight I am particularly emotional, and I think this state will be a constant during my last days here. Recently I read a phrase that describes exactly my situation and manages to make me see goodbye in a positive way: “How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.”
But now enough thinking about goodbyes; the only thing I want is to enjoy these last days to the fullest with gratitude and peace of mind.I am truly grateful to have found that “something,” and I know it will stay with me forever.


Today I started packing. It is one of the moments I dread most in any trip. This is because packing means realizing that the magic of the journey is about to fade, and it is time to put in a small space everything that has been built and brought to return to normality.
Until now, I had never allowed myself to think about my return, both because it scared me and because it represented a distant date. But now that I am packing? This is inevitable.
So, what do I pack? What do I bring besides clothes and objects?
I bring adaptability, knowledge of a new language, empathy, patience, many new friendships, and the sense of belonging to a second family. I carry much more wealth with me than I had two months ago.
I am convinced that this experience changes lives, and it has done so with me: I feel like a new person, more independent and mature.Several times I have thought about how my life would be if I had not chosen to leave in December, but looking back, I would make this choice a million times over. The time has now come to go, but a part of me will always remain in Elche ❤️

I summarized my journey in a poem:

C’è una strana bellezza nel lasciare tutto quanto.
Chiudere la porta della camera quasi salutandola,
abbandonando dentro ciò che si era,
guardandolo per un’ultima volta.

C’è una strana bellezza nello svegliarsi in un letto che non è il proprio,
cercando con la mano la sveglia nel buio
per accorgersi che non è più lì,
sopra il comodino in cui era sempre stata.

C’è una strana bellezza persino nel percorrere nuove strade
non riuscendo a rubare i discorsi dei passanti,
rispondendo con un sorriso
a quella che in realtà era una domanda.

C’è una strana bellezza nel trovare lentamente un posto in tutto questo.
Imboccare di nuovo quella via,
ricordare la strada che prima sembrava un labirinto
e saper tornare a casa.

C’è una strana bellezza nel compiere le stesse azioni tutte le mattine,
uscire di casa e incontrare volti conosciuti
e scoprire, con soddisfazione,
che alzano il braccio in segno di saluto

C’è una strana bellezza nel potersi costruire da capo,
accorgersi che è così facile cambiare
lontano dalle aspettative di chi mi conosce,
come se la vita iniziasse di nuovo.

C’è una strana bellezza nel dimenticarsi che non sarà per sempre,
riaprire la porta di quella camera
che ora sembra più piccola

Viola Copelli 3E

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