The saying goes “collect memories not things” …. but sometimes when you’re living abroad it’s very difficult to not wind up doing both.

As I prepare to move back to America after living in Barcelona for 2 years, I am realizing how much random crap I’ve accumulated. But along with all this random crap comes some amazing and unforgettable memories.

I have tons of clothes that remind me of certain places I’ve been, people I met and things I’ve done. A pair of boots I bought in Berlin because my shoes broke during a walking tour and the ground was covered in snow and I wouldn’t survive the day in my broken shoes. A purse I bought in Italy at one of the leather markets. A sweater I bought in Salamanca because the nights were colder than I expected. A red nail polish (that’s the perfect shade of red) given…