It’s easy, after living somewhere for a few weeks, to become naturally desensitised to your surroundings. Londoners often forget they were born in a city that millions dream of visiting. At Cambridge, it’s easy to get buried in the workload and lose sight of how awe-inspiring and coveted a place it is. The same is true for a year abroad: of course you have a few “pinch me” moments when you momentarily realise you’re living somewhere others long to be, but most days, it’s not difficult for it to just become the backdrop to this specific chapter of your life, something you get used to after a while and perhaps something you will only come to fully appreciate once it’s over.

This mostly stands until you have visitors on your year abroad. The weather is finally getting warmer, which, in Madrid, is arguably well deserved after months of consecutive rainfall, which naturally calls for a flurry of friends and family visiting. It’s clear that seeing the city through their eyes has really made me appreciate it even more in these final few months. Taking them to the main sights and eating at my favourite restaurants with them makes it feel like I am on a mini holiday in my own city. When you see how others are impressed by where you live and work, you are reminded of just how fortunate you are. I think it’s easy, and normal, for home sickness and FOMO to have you sometimes longing for home, but it is in times like this where we should be reminded not to wish our time abroad, and by extension our youth, away.

“When you see how others are impressed by where you live and work, you are reminded of just how fortunate you are”

I’m also realising how lucky I am to live in such a green city. Once you have become accustomed to your new home, it’s easy to forget the positive effect that a wealth of green spaces can have on your mental health and mood. When I was working in Barcelona, I found myself feeling slightly more claustrophobic at the time - the lack of greenery, despite the sea, made the city feel more enclosed. Madrid, by contrast, has a fresh aspect that pulls you outdoors and makes for the perfect place to reconnect with nature in times of reflection, or more frequently, during hangovers. The city has been the perfect place for running, too. I’ve stuck to my New Year’s resolution to push myself further with my long-distance running, as I aim for the Cambridge half in final year. Having the space and time to switch off from work, explore the city, and run to a good playlist has been one of my favourite parts so far.

Returning home from day trips also serves as a reminder of how fortunate I am to live here. It’s a rather strange feeling, going away, visiting new places, only to return “home” to a place that is merely a temporary home itself. I’ve been reflecting on this after completing a trip around Andalusia during my week off for ‘Semana Santa’. Since I’ll be returning back to the UK soon for a long weekend, I wanted to make the most of my time off by exploring more of Spain. I organised a trip with friends to Málaga, Marbella, and Granada, all during Holy Week. Making the most of travelling around your year abroad country or countries is something I would highly recommend, if possible, especially because I realise now that I will never be able to return to these places as cheaply as I did this time round.

“Having grown up Catholic, it has been meaningful to watch the variety of traditions played out in the streets of different Spanish cities”

While I am revising for my exams, it has been refreshing to experience the first Easter in my academic career where I am not chained to my desk for hours on end. It has given me the time and space to actually appreciate Easter in Madrid, as well as around Spain, as a religious festival. Having grown up Catholic, it has been meaningful to watch the variety of traditions played out in the streets of different Spanish cities. I watched the Palm Sunday processions in Madrid, and after returning from Andalusia where I also saw local traditions, I managed to catch the Easter Sunday customs as well. As we look forward to summer, I’ve also made a point of enjoying one of Madrid’s greatest offerings: its shopping. Picking up pieces abroad will always be exciting: you find things you simply can’t get at home, and they in turn become physical reminders of your time abroad. Best of all, when someone asks where you bought something, you can have the quiet satisfaction of answering, somewhat smugly, that you got it on your year abroad!

Writing these pieces so far has helped me to keep track of the time here. I can’t quite believe the end is in sight already. For now, while I will be sad to go, I can say for sure that I won’t leave kicking and screaming. I’ve somewhat made peace that this chapter is soon coming to an end, although not over yet, and have decided that it is best to look at it with nostalgia, rather than regret or upset.