Surviving Homesickness in Madrid

I may love living in Madrid, but that doesn't mean that I'm immune to homesickness. About a month ago I got mono, and four lethargic weeks later, I'm still sick. Inevitably, with sickness comes the longing for mom's cooking, the comfort of my own bed, cuddling with my cats during movie marathons, and simply being taken care of. I'm a long ways from home, and homesickness has decidedly hit.

For six months I avoided homesickness by constantly staying busy. "The busier I am," I thought to myself, "the less time I have to think about home!" My strategy was serving me well until I got sick, and then I finally had to sit still with my thoughts.

That's not to say that I don't love Spain - no, that would be crazy talk. I'm obsessed with this place. Being homesick surely isn't the most pleasant feeling in the world, but it's definitely a manageable one. All expats are susceptible to it, but we're also perfectly capable of overcoming it. Here's how I deal with homesickness in Madrid:

If I'm exceptionally homesick on any given day, you can find me hightailing it to the nearest Starbucks and seeking refuge there, consoling myself with chai tea lattes and pretending that I’m back in Seattle. This little sanctuary of mine was particularly revitalizing around Thanksgiving, when I was heartbroken over the fact that I couldn’t feast upon turkey and gluten-free stuffing with my family. When I was holed up there on Thanksgiving Day, missing my parents and moping over the sweet potatoes and pumpkin pie that I couldn't eat, the store started playing Death Cab for Cutie as if it knew exactly how to comfort me.

At first I avoided using Skype because I thought that it would make being far away from my family and friends that much harder. I tried not to think about the need for Skype in hopes that avoiding it would help me acclimate to life in Madrid faster. Now I know that I was being delusional. I've since come to realize that Skype is in fact a huge (and necessary) blessing, because you know what? Face to face contact is crucial when it comes to relationships. You don't get that kind of closeness via email or texting. Here's my reality check: you actually miss people less when you are able to see their faces every once in a while.

I also just learned how to FaceTime (welcome to 2014, Courtney...) and I finally chatted face to face with my best friend for the first time since Christmas. I was surprised by how much less homesick I was after FaceTiming her, and I felt cheerful and revitalized for the rest of the week.

My point being: don't distance yourself because you think seeing your loved ones' faces will just make it harder. At the end of the day, Skype is a huge mood booster and homesickness reducer. Embrace it.

No offense Spain, but when I’m missing my mom’s home cooked meals and my favorite restaurants back in Seattle, the last things I crave are patatas bravas or jamón. No, no, tortilla española and huevos rotos just won’t do. Instead, I seek out American comfort food, whether that be cooking gluten-free Mac & Cheese at my apartment (thanks for the care package, dad!) or going to Carmencita Bar for brunch – where there’s actually real bacon, hash browns and mimosas.

Sometimes I’ll head over to Taste of America, a small chain of stores here in Spain that import goodies from the States. If I wanted to, I could buy peanut butter and Betty Crocker cake mixes there, although it would probably cost me a small fortune. (A box of Fruit Loops costs almost 10 euros!) While I'm allergic to most of the foods sold there (and I probably couldn't afford them anyways), just wandering through the store feels oddly comforting.

Nevertheless, what I miss the most about Seattle is Whole Foods, in all of its organic kale-and-quinoa-loving glory. It’s taken me awhile, but I’ve finally found some healthy restaurants that mimic the Pacific Northwest's health-crazed, alternative spirit. My new go-to place is Federal, which uses mostly fresh, organic ingredients and even serves a killer green juice. Not to mention, their breakfast dishes are reminiscent of my favorite brunch locales in Seattle.

Baked eggs with spinach, goat cheese and caramelized onions alongside green juice at Federal. The closest thing I can get to real brunch on this side of the Atlantic!

Printing out pictures and bringing them to Spain with me was arguably one of the best decisions I made when I left. They're now hanging on my walls and residing in frames on my desk, reminding me of how rich my life is no matter where in the world I am. Every day I look at them and realize how grateful I am to have these amazing people in my life. Being surrounded by such pleasant memories brings good vibes into my living space. And besides, looking at blank white walls is just depressing.

Adorning my room with pictures from back home has made my apartment that much more of a 

happy space.

The key to overcoming homesickness is simple: get out of the house and explore. Having mono and all, every day I'm tempted to come home from work and just sleep for a few hours, further toying with the possibility of not leaving my house for the rest of the day. I mean, even without mono I love a nice siesta just as much as any Spaniard, but giving in to my natural instinct to hibernate all day isn't going to help me.

As soon as I get over my languid sloth-like state and step out the door, I'm overwhelmed by how gorgeous Madrid is. A simple walk around the block does wonders for reducing my homesickness, so you can imagine how great it feels to squeeze in an entire day of adventures around the city.

Not only does getting out and exploring cause me to fall more & more in love with Madrid, but it also makes it feel more like home. Every new restaurant, café and plaza I discover makes the city feel a bit more like my own. The more I feel at home in Madrid, the less I focus on missing the States.

A moment captured on one of my random photo walks through Madrid. I fall in love with the buildings and colors of every street I walk down.

While I still struggle with missing my parents and the comforts of home, I love Madrid too much to let homesickness define my experience here. Such feelings of nostalgia and rootlessness are a natural part of moving to a foreign country, but I believe that they are manageable when you implement the right survival tactics.

Have you ever dealt with homesickness abroad? 
What helped you overcome it? 

Shea McGrath Photography

Last month I had the pleasure of tagging along with lifestyle photographer Shea McGrath on one of her photo shoots as she gave me a lesson in portrait photography. Shea is a wedding and lifestyle photographer, specializing in natural light photography. She first fell in love with photography as a young girl, when she received her first film SLR camera as a gift from her Godmother. Shea says,

"I didn't really think about doing photography for a living until my study abroad experience in college; I created and captured so many wonderful moments which turned into unforgettable memories." 

When she came home from studying abroad in Spain, she purchased her first digital SLR camera and started taking her friends' engagement photos. She then began working with D&orfs Photography in Ames, Iowa as she finished her college career at Iowa State University.

"This hobby of mine has quickly turned into a passion and it is something that I truly love doing. Being a part of those special moments in peoples' lives brings me pure joy and happiness!"

As Shea showed me the ropes of portrait photography, it became clear to me how fun and easygoing she is to work with. She does an incredible job of listening to her clients' wishes and making them feel comfortable. She is full of innovative ideas, and has the ability to intuitively capture a person's essence in her shots.

During my photography lesson with Shea, I jumped in a picture with my friend Jennifer from Food, Love, & Life. Jennifer writes a fantastic lifestyle blog filled with fun photos of her adventures in Spain and a myriad of mouthwatering recipes! Check it out here!

I had such a great time learning about portrait photography with Shea, and I seriously hope that one day I'll be able to take photos as well as she can! If you are ever in need of a photographer in Madrid or Iowa, I can't recommend her enough. Check out more of her work on her website, blog and Facebook page.

Budapest's Great Market Hall

It's no secret that I love markets. I try to visit local marketplaces wherever I go, and exploring different markets around the world has undoubtedly become one of my favorite parts about traveling. Great Market Hall, or Nagyvásárcsarnok in Budapest is certainly no exception. Great Market Hall comes in second place for my favorite spot in the city, closely behind the extraordinary Széchenyi thermal baths.

This sprawling indoor marketplace is brimming with food stalls, eateries and vendors selling traditional Hungarian goods like paprika and embroidered tablecloths. Although there are many souvenir shops, I was surprised by how few tourists there were, seeing as most of the market was dominated by locals. 

I was mesmerized by the vibrant colors of the old fashioned stalls, especially the signs with vintage fonts that made me feel as if I had stepped back into Budapest's intriguing past. I could have spent hours wandering through the market, watching the bustling locals buy their groceries and listening to the strange yet enthralling Hungarian language.

The market itself is visually stunning, but what makes it truly remarkable is the personality found inside of it. If you are planning a trip to Budapest, I highly recommend visiting Great Market Hall for a distinct taste of Hungary.

Where are some of your favorite markets abroad?