Compass Comforts.

The Love Language. record stores. Locopops. Hanging out in downtown Raleigh. summer time. Kooley High. REAL breakfasts. concerts. the NC Art Museum. Noodles & Co. Umstead park. crab ragoon. Weaver Street. Tar Heel Basketball. cupcakes

These are a few of my favorite things, things that are currently absent from my life. And things that I can't wait to hopefully fill my July and August with, when I return to sweet Carolina.

Don't get me wrong. I LOVE SPAIN. Currently, I am sitting in a former cow shed turned newspaper office in the middle of the outskirts of small Arriate, Andalucia (about 15 minutes outside of Ronda), doing a little bit of a trial run with an English-speaking newspaper (more about this in another post). And it is absolutely beautiful--mid 70s outside, Carolina blue sky and a generally relaxed atmosphere. There is no denying that I fell in love with Ronda the first time I came here in February and if I can arrange to make a month long stint with this newspaper at the end of my semester, it would be phenomenal. But that being said, as I move further into my semester, my longing for all things NC grows ever so slowly. I am convinced it must be this fantastic weather that spurs my desire to listen to my favorite local bands, check the lineups at all of my favorite Triangle venues, dream of the tantalizing pomegranate-tangerine and ache just the slightest for the dog days of the NC summer.

Last night over drinks I was talking to the fellow reporters about what I miss most from home, but also how much of a perspective change it is to be looking back at your home country from the outside. It has been good for me--it makes me realize the things I took for granted, but also allows me to be humbled and not so absorbed with AMERICA (though from time to time, it comes up in comparison, but I guess that happens to anyone who knows one thing more or less all his life).

I'm taking this weekend to relax and re-group, doing some solo traveling and looking to find some treasures without any barriers from the outside or from companions. So far it has been good to me, a nice recharge despite my longing for a few "compass comforts." I'm excited to discover some more incredible things in this European country of olive oil and warmth.

So, in the words of The Decemberists (who also happen to be playing a show in Raleigh while I'm still overseas), July, July! Until then, let the adventures continue!