Twelve Things

I have put together twelve photos to sum up the year 2008 & my time here in Spain. It's cool looking back at everything that I've done/accomplished/experienced in these 12 months.

1.DUBLIN-My first Guinness and my first 30 days consecutively with the boyfriend. Crazy, huh?

2.First New Years with Joan-Having a great night out and meeting all of Joan's best friends.

3. Joan's Family. Without them living abroad would be so much harder. They are my family now I love them so much!

4.The day Joan and I "signed the papers" so that I could work in Spain! That changed our life in so many ways. I could stay here and live and have this incredible experience!

5.My grandmothers first visit to Europe! it was so incredible to show her Spain and for her to experience life on the other side of the world. It's an experience I hope she can have more than once!

6. My first trip to PARIS! This was an experience that left me speechless. To be in a city that I heard about all my life and wished to go to for so long-incredibly amazing. Joan did a great job surprising me with this trip!

7. My 21st Birthday and My friend's visit to Spain! August was a great month, busy, but great. I had a fantastic birthday and it was wonderful having girl time after so many months! 8.Living in Lloret. Joan and I were so fortunate to have a beautiful flat with incredible views. That was our first place together and we will never forget all the great times there.

9.Barney. Our first pet together. We saved him from being Rabbit Stew and eventually we set him free in the wild (Joan's property in Lloret) to live and have little Barney's of his own. He was a good guy.

10.The nights out with Joan and his friends have been some of the best nights I've ever had. So many laughs and great Spanish lessons! Joan is so lucky to have such great people around him. I guess I am lucky now too. :) And a shout out to Kindra,( pictured below) one of the sweetest and funniest girls I met thanks to Spanish classes in Girona.

11.The Cuisine. I've eaten more Lobster this year than ever in my life. Paella, Gambas, Calamaris, Champagne, Cava, Vino. I've dined like a Queen in Spain-love it! I've also learned how to cook many new dishes, from mi suegra and from cooking dinner for Joan and I each night. I can say I've become quite a chef!

12.Barcelona. I'm pictured below with a "King" one of the three for the festivities Jan 6th here in Spain. Barcelona has been such a great place, I have so many memories there. It's brought me together with Alison, my grandmother, my friends, Joan, Maribel, friends here in Spain, and numerous others. I've spent New Years there, my 21st birthday, weekends with the boyfriend, shopping. It's a wonderful city that has been a major part of my life here in Spain.However, I do need to include Girona. Joan and I live here now and it is definetly a place to call home. Pictures is the bridge Joan and I take each day when we go to work. Girona is a small but metropolitan city that we really love.