Being back in Tennessee has been sweet in its own way, comfort food, familiar faces, and hearing “y’all” again on a daily basis. But there are these little things about Spain and Europe that sneak up on me and make me go, “Dang, I miss that.” It’s not always the big flashy stuff like beaches or tapas (though, yes, please), but these small, everyday things that make life feel different.
Walkability & Accessibility
Before Spain, I loved driving. I was that person who would take the long way home just to blast music and pretend I was in a movie montage. But after 10 months of being a passenger princess: trains, trams, metros, and my own two feet, it’s hard to go back. Walking everywhere just makes life… easier. In Spain, I could get groceries, grab a coffee, and meet a friend all within a 15-minute radius. Here? If I want to see a friend, I need a tank of gas and three podcasts for the ride. And don’t even get me started on traffic. It’s hard to “enjoy the ride” when you’re between an 18-wheeler and someone who forgot their blinker exists.
Bottle Caps That Actually Stay On
Okay, this one sounds ridiculously niche, but hear me out. In Spain, most plastic bottles have this genius design where the cap stays attached even after you open it. That means you’re not fumbling around with a rogue cap or, worse, dropping it between the seats while you’re driving. The US needs to get on board with this. Do you know how many caps I’ve already lost in my car cupholder vortex since being back? Let’s just say enough to make me miss Spain’s “we thought this through” approach to hydration.
Community Everything
This is the one that hits me the hardest. In Spain, life felt more community-oriented. People gather. They eat together. There are festivals, street events, and neighbors who actually talk to each other instead of just waving politely from their driveways. I miss long dinners that lasted until midnight, people showing up just because, and the general sense that life is better when it’s shared. Here in the States, it’s easy to slip back into “everybody does their own thing,” and honestly, it feels a little isolating after being wrapped up in Spain’s “we’re all in this together” vibe.
So yeah, those are the random things tugging at me while I’m back home. Walking everywhere, bottle caps that don’t play hide-and-seek, and a sense of community that feels bigger than yourself. Funny how it’s the little details you miss the most, right?
Love always,
American Girl Meets World
