The Year of A Life Time

Fa la la la la la la one year!

Yesterday marked ONE YEAR that I've been living abroad in Spain. This time last year I was in Dublin, Ireland with Joan and about to board a plane to meet his family for the first time. I'll never forget the first moments in the city of Dublin, my first cocktail in Hard Rock Cafe and certainly not the first words my new family said to me, "Welcome to your home".

The first days with Joan's family were difficult. I'm sure any girlfriend meeting the parents is an experience but not speaking the same language and in a whole new country, well it makes the stakes a little higher.

Since living here, I've learned so much. Someone asked me the other day, how I would describe my experience here. All I could think to say was "across the board" Any emotion you can think of, I've probably felt it and then some. Overall-it has been incredible. I see people that have now become my friends and think that if I never would have met Joan or even decided to come here, I wouldn't have ever known about these people and their lives. I look at Joan's friends who have treated me with nothing but kindness and I wonder how I could have gone my life without meeting them. Not to disregard the wonderful people I met at Northwest. I know when I go to visit them next month I will feel that same way all over again. I see Joan's mother, how she has treated me like her own daughter, she and Joan's dad have learned English for me! They have progressed so much in fact I'm embarassed my Spanish isn't any better by now! And Joan's sister, a year ago, even two months ago we were still strangers. Ever since our trip to Granada she has become like a sister-n-law and I hope we can continue to grow closer as the months continue.
I've also learned so much about culture, for obvious reasons. Traveling to many new countries, not only for pleasure but for business as well. Learning firsthand about International Relations and Business has been more beneficial than anything in a classroom would. My job has given me a chance to stay here with Joan. If it wasn't for this job, I wouldn't be able to use my English and I'm not sure if I even would have found a real job to begin with. Teaching English has been a great experience as well. I've met wonderfully amazing people and have learned so much about the English language along the way. When I began I taught Rosa, the Public Relations professor and her husband Jordi. I met a wonderful family through teaching Pablo and Carlos, I've met a talented surgeon through Antoni and wonderful girls who are aspiring flight attendants through the Hostess School. Wonderful people who in small ways have changed my life. Even my boss, who I taught Business English lessons to today. She is an extraordinary woman who took a chance on hiring me just because of where I was from and didn't care that I hadn't finished my studies yet. Now I'm working on my own courses, doing a great job I might add and Joan has been promoted to Managing Director. We've come so far in a year.

Not only career wise but financially as well. We still aren't rolling in dough, but we're far better off than when I arrived and we're still improving. We're living in a gorgeous flat in the historic and posh neighborhood in Girona. We have a warm home to come to at the end of each day, food to eat each night and clothes to wear, most of all we have each other; something we didn't have for almost two years.

My grandmother told me the other day a great truth, she said, "You are doing what you've always wanted to do, travel Europe!" She is absolutley right. I always dreamed of this and now it's happening. It's true God doesn't always answer your prayers in the way you might expect. I always wanted to be rich and travel the world, I'm not rich yet and I haven't conquered the world but-I'm so much closer than before and I'm working hard for it too which says something.

Next month I'm going to Bratislava for work with Joan. We'll be staying over two nights. Slovakia has a bad rep but we're booked in a very nice hotel in the city center so while we will be very busy, we will also have time to see the sights. We're also going to have a layover in Milan for six hours so who knows, I may get to see a little bit of Italy too!

All in all, Spain has changed me; for the better. I'm working in a successfull company at 21, full time and starting school in the fall, I'm independent and also learning two new languages. I never would have thought I'd be at this point, this early. But I'm glad for it. If you want to be successfull in life you have to work for it and there's no better way than starting early.

I don't know what 2009 has in store for me or Joan but I can only hope it will be as fun and exciting as this year has been. I'm looking forward to seeing my friends and family next month-something that is long overdue. I miss you all very much.

Best Wishes for the Holiday Season

-Love Always-