You didn’t just make a dream come true, you changed our lives forever.

Dear 2011 Anu,

There’s so much I can tell you about the Spain trip and how it transformed us, but I’ll start off by saying. Good job, you! You made our dream come true!

The idea of visiting Spain had been floating in your mind since 2009. But it was only in 2011, after dad’s passing, quitting journalism, and a whole lot of research, that it became a reality. That one month in Spain, between October and November, was a month we’ll always remember, even 14 years later.

Remember when you reached Madrid, all nervous and excited to board the train to Sevilla? That’s when you realised you had printed out the receipt and not the train ticket. Opps! First lesson learnt right there at the Madrid Estación de Atocha. Well, you did what you had to, to get to Sevilla that evening.

A little lighter in the pockets, but already a little wiser for it.

Staying with a single mom and her two school-going sons was an adventure on its own. With your limited Spanish and the landlady’s zero English skills, it was tough at first, but at the end of the stay, she told you your Spanish had improved, and that felt like a mini achievement.

While it was fun to study Spanish for half a day at Babylon Idiomas, you couldn’t wait to get out there and explore the city – with the help of El Mapa, the map.

And wander you did. Through the Royal Palace, the Alcázar Real de Sevilla, the graceful Plaza de España, the grand Catedral de Santa María de la Sede, and the bullfighting arena of Plaza de Toros de la Real Maestranza. You discovered the city, its cobbled stone streets, and age-old wonders on foot. If you’d had a smartwatch, then you’d have easily clocked in 20,000 steps a day.

No wonder you lost weight by the end of the trip. It was all that walking and petite meals, thanks to the steep exchange rate between the Ringgit and the Euro. Yet, you still indulged in your share of tapas – croquetas de hamon, patatas bravas, tortilla española, and a glass of wine that made the meal complete.

One of the most unforgettable moments was how many times you got lost -like that time in Córdoba, wandering narrow lanes that all looked the same, or in Granada, as you tried finding your way to the Alhambra. But each time, someone kind appeared, guiding you back with gestures, smiles, and a mix of your broken Spanish.

Somehow, you always found your way.

When you said hasta luego to Sevilla, you didn’t realise how much you’d miss it. Madrid and Barcelona brought you a different set of adventures – walking tours, discovering local spots, and trying your best not to get mugged!

Four weeks in Spain passed life four days. You went through a lot –
homesickness on Day 2, losing your sense of direction (something you’d always been good at), and getting unwanted attention from older men. (We can both laugh about it now.)

Challenges aside, the solo trip was truly an adventure of a lifetime. By making that bold decision to travel more than 11,000 kilometers across the world, you met people from different countries — some of whom are still in our lives today.

You learned that you could make things happen for yourself. You learned how to say “estoy perdido” and laugh along when the locals laughed. You also learned that independence was wonderful and terrifying at the same time. Every decision, every detour, every response was yours — and yours alone.

That, you learnt, was the ultimate taste of freedom.

It was an experience that leveled you up in life — proof that you could do things on your own, connect with people from different cultures you might never have met otherwise, and see the world through new eyes.

I’m thankful for your adventurous spirit, your resilience, and your can-do attitude in making this dream of ours come true.

¡Vamos a España!

Love,
2025 Anu