Friends and Family

Mom and Dad - still the best parents ever

Although he can be a bit of a terror,

Indy is still the cutest dog I know!

Happy Hour with the Crawford girls

Emily and Liz helped to make a

Tuesday night out quite fantastic!

At Home in Two Places

It's been so great to be back in Denver! Although the adjustment hasn't been as difficult as it was over the summer, it's still a little strange. Emily and I had a conversation the other day, as did my mom and I, about being back. Thinking about only location, it's so great to be in Denver. I LOVE this place - the mountains, the sunshine, the familiarity, the casualness, everything! Without a doubt, if I was in the US, this is where I would want to be. Yet, even though I love it so much, I know that right now, it's not where I'm meant to be. I definitely feel more at home in Spain at the moment, which is a little crazy!

Of course, even though I feel that Barcelona is where I'm supposed to be, nothing in Spain compares to the people I miss in Denver. It's so great to see friends and family and just relax. Being back in a place where I know where everything is, where I can communicate with everyone without having to think about what I want to say, and can easily talk to friends and family has made me realize how many challenges living abroad presents!

I definitely plan to enjoy every moment of my time in Denver (especially all of the snow we're supposed to get today!) and know that I'll be sad to leave next week, yet will also be so happy to return "home."

Back in the USA

It's so good to be home! Although it was a rough trip back this time, I finally arrived in Denver around 5:30pm on Christmas evening. It was SO great to see my mom and dad at the airport, then be greeted by dogs, Mike, and Sarah at home. After drinks, present opening, Christmas carols, and a wonderful dinner, it truly felt like Christmas.

It's definitely been an easier transition coming back this time. Although I do have to remember to bring ID to bars, I'm not speaking Spanish first to everyone I see - a definite improvement from this summer! Going to Gov's Park yesterday with friends and family to enjoy football (Go Colts!), buffalo chicken wraps, and tall Coors Lights is definitely something I have missed. And the Rocky Mountains, snow-covered and beautiful in the distance are something that Spain just can't compete with . . .

I can't wait to spend more time with friends, co-workers, Indy, Mike, and my BFs in the upcoming week - it's so wonderful to be reminded of what amazing people I have in my life! I'm off to buy a new camera today, so photos will follow!

How I Had Forgotten

It's hard to believe that it's been almost three years since Ryan and I broke up. Where has the time gone?! Although I've dated a few guys, had an Italian romance, and kissed many boys since, it has been almost three years since I've been in a "relationship."

I was just having a conversation with my friend Anne about how I feel like I've completely forgotten what it's like to really like someone and even to be with someone. It seems like such a foreign concept now! That's the difficult part - just waiting to feel that way, and ideally more, again. However, I think the exciting part is having no idea who that someone will be! It could be one of hundreds of men! Where will I meet him? What will his story be? Where will he be from? What will he look like? And how will it happen that the two of us will find one another and feel the same way? It seems like such a mystery!

Well, coincidentally enough, the night after this conversation with Anne, I happened to meet a guy who I really like! I met him in a bar while out with Tessa. His story is one of the most interesting I've heard so far. He's from Argentina and he might have one of the best smiles I've ever seen. And I don't know how it happened, it just did - we found each other (in a bar called "Sugar" of all places!) and seem to be feeling just the same way . . .

Although there have been two guys in the past year that I've really liked, the timing and the location, among other things, stopped things from really developing. And although disappointing, I was okay with it. Yet this feels different. Knowing someone for such a short amount of time, but liking volumes about them and being able to spend time together and learn about one another - wow. It's so fun!

And along with the amazing feeling of liking someone comes the terrifying aspect as well - it's so scary! It might not work out, I might be disappointed, I might get hurt. Yet, as I know Liz would tell me, now is the time to just enjoy the moment. If it's meant to work, it will. And if it's not, it won't, and that will be okay. So, I plan to enjoy the feeling of really liking someone again and knowing that I hadn't forgotten how to - it's something that comes right back. :)

The Fascination of Language

Learning how to teach English last year while trying to learn Spanish really increased my interest in languages and linguistics. And now that I am surrounded by people who are completely bilingual and trilingual (my students, as well as people I meet), my fascination with language learning is bordering on the obsessive!

Tessa and I were just discussing how amazing it is to hear people go in and out of two languages so effortlessly and with perfect accents in both. We constantly ask ourselves how it's possible! For kids who are brought up bilingually, it makes more sense. But when meeting adults who picked up a second or third language later in life, it's even more amazing.

I'm happy to say that my Spanish is getting a lot better. However, I can have days where I don't have to speak any Spanish unless I choose to! It's amazing how living abroad doesn't make language learning that much easier unless you are immersed in it everyday.

In my determination to speak Spanish fluently, I am constantly making observations about language and the way people speak. I've noticed a few things:

*The first language you start speaking with someone ultimately determines the language you will continue to use the most with this person. Puja had said this to me last year in Sevilla and it's so true! This is the reason I always try to use Spanish when introducing myself and starting conversations with someone who may be a native Spanish speaker.

*When someone has learned a second language, even if they are fluent in it, I think they are forced to be more honest when speaking. I struggle to even get my point across in Spanish these days; I can't begin to imagine how I would stretch the truth or talk around a subject in a believable way! If someone is an honest person, they're honest - and if they are speaking in their second language, I think it makes them even more so.

*Since moving to Spain, part of me has wanted to meet a guy whose English is worse than my Spanish in order for me to learn more. However, I've been thinking that with my level of Spanish, it would make for some really tricky conversations! There is something so important about being able to communicate, especially feelings and stories and emotions, that are much more easily portrayed in a language both people can speak and understand. So, although my idea of meeting a Spanish man and only speaking in Spanish is quite romantic, I don't know if it would lead to the best reality!

And so, I am determined to not leave this country until I can speak fluently. I'm not so sure how that will happen, but in the meantime, my love affair with language, particularly Spanish, will continue . . .

Christmas at ASB

Since the school year began, I've been comparing a lot of what happens at ASB to the only other school I've known - Crawford. As I've mentioned, there have been a lot more similarities than I expected, especially with the students and learning. However, today I was reminded of just how different teaching in an international private school is than a high-poverty public school!

Our gift from the school was a lote - a fairly typical holiday present in Spain. It's a box filled with red wine, cava, and turron - pretty much a perfect gift for me! We also had an amazing lunch at school, complete with wine and cava as well. Instead of well-loved toys or statues of Mary, I received tons of chocolate, handmade cards, really nice jewelry, and knit scarves from my students. I love everything I received, but I definitely miss some of those Crawford gifts . . .

An absolutely hilarious white elephant gift exchange in my class (I will forever remember Pablo being a great sport about getting a stuffed bunny in a basket!), followed by breakfast and "Diary of a Wimpy Kid," made for a pretty fantastic last school day of 2010. I can't wait to see what 2011 will have in store!

It's official!

Although I've been talking about it with my director and principal for the past few months, I can now officially say that I will be staying in Barcelona a bit longer! As of today, I have signed a two-year contract to continue working at ASB. I can hardly believe it!

When we originally talked about my staying, I hadn't expected signing on for anything more than a year. However, when Mark made the offer, I couldn't say no! I think two years was offered to guarantee me a position in case we don't keep three 5th grade classrooms after next year. (He also mentioned wanting to get a coaching model going in the next few years as well - thank goodness!)

In some ways, this is definitely a bittersweet thing. The "bitter" part is knowing that this is news some friends and family might not want to hear. I hate knowing that a decision I have made might make others sad. :( Yet, I'm so lucky that they continue to support me regardless of this! I know a few co-workers who aren't so lucky . . .

But this is a wonderfully "sweet" thing, too! I don't feel nearly ready to leave Spain yet - I feel like I have only just begun to travel and see what Europe has to offer. In addition, I finally feel like I'm getting somewhere with Spanish - taking classes for the last three months (and continuing them for at least three more!) has made a HUGE difference for me. I have also fallen even more in love with the Spanish lifestyle and culture - I'm so glad I get to continue enjoying it. Finally, knowing that I'm here for at least two more years gives me a sense of feeling like I can really start to "settle in." I can make decisions about apartments, purchases, savings, travel, and life that would be very different if I didn't know where I was going to be in the near future.

And so, this holiday season I am even more grateful than usual for where life has taken me, as well as the people I'm surrounded by, both literally and figuratively, who support me in it no matter what. I can't wait to discover what my continuing adventures in Spain will hold!

What makes a night in Barcelona?

Tessa and I had decided we needed to have one more big night out in Barcelona before heading home for the holidays - and did we ever! Early in the night we didn't think we would make it until midnight, but we ended up closing down dance clubs at 6:30am!

Nights like last night make me wonder what it is that makes them so great. Part of it is always the unexpected - just when you've decided that the night is going to be low-key, something dramatically changes to make it just the opposite. It's also being in good company - Tessa and I always have a great time together, which makes it easy.

Part of it is also Barcelona - there is just such a variety of people here! We went to about 5 different places last night and the number of languages we heard being spoken was amazing. People look so different, have such different styles, and such interesting stories, which I always love to hear.

And finally, at this time in life, I think it's the guapos that make the night! Our night took a turn when we met a bachelor party of German guys - they were so big, and handsome, and hilarious to talk to. However, we decided to separate from them once they decided to go to a strip club . . . Then, we ended up spending the majority of our night talking to these guys from Argentina. They spoke perfect English, which is always incredible to me. In addition, they were just so interesting - Italian, Irish, Spanish parents, the ability to understand multiple languages, etc. And they were just so guapo!

It's nights like last night that remind me it really is okay to be 30 and single - when you have great friends and live in a city like Barcelona - Saturday nights always seem to include a bit of the unexpected!

The Holidays in Barcelona

It's hard to believe that Christmas will be here (and I'll be in Denver!) in just a week! As always, I absolutely love the holidays. The lights, the music, gifts everywhere - it's fantastic!

The holiday season in Barcelona seems to be quite similar to Seville, just on a grander scale. El Corte Ingles is lit up, their street vendors selling anything and everything, Santa is climbing up many balconies and the streets are jam-packed with shoppers.

One of my favorite things here is how each major street has it's own type of Christmas lights. They are hung one after another down the street for many blocks. When lit up, they're beautiful! Another Catalonian tradition is the caganet. It's a little man who is placed in all nativity scenes, whether in a home or in the church. Here's the weird thing - he's a little man who's pooping! Apparently he's fertilizing the earth . . . definitely not what I usually associate with Christmas!

A caganet!

Last night, ASB had a "Cookies and Cocktails" holiday party, which was super-fun. I'm now off to finish Christmas shopping and hopefully find something for my kiddos as well. Who knows - one of you might be lucky enough to receive a caganet this year! :)

Istanbul, not Constantinople

Last weekend I went to Istanbul - what an amazing city! Tessa and I stayed with her best friend Greta, who is teaching at an international school there. This made for a completely different experience than I think we would have had if we had gone our own.

Istanbul had been high on my list of places to see and it didn't disappoint! The history, the fact the city is in both Asia and Europe, the religions, the architecture, the hammams, the amazing food - wow, what a place!

Greta, Tessa, and I

you can see one of many mosques, as well as the Bosphorus (splits the European and Asian sides of Istanbul) in the background

Turkish Breakfast

(notice all the cheese!)

Before our Hammam experience - it was amazing! Body scrub, bath, and massage - all while wearing absolutely nothing! It definitely made me more comfortable being naked . . .

Inside the Blue Mosque

Inside Aya Sophia

I ♥ Barcelona

I've been living in Barcelona for 3 months now, which seems almost impossible - it's amazing how quickly time flies by! It's really been in the past month that I have come to love living here. I liked it at first, but was really missing Sevilla. I missed the size and ease of walking everywhere in Sevilla, as well as friends, bars, and restaurants.

I remember talking to Anna about this and her wise words (as always!) about how Sevilla would have become too small for us; another year would have been too long there. When she mentioned that, I didn't really believe it at first. However, in the past few weeks, I've realized how right she was. What I've fallen in love with here is the diversity - in people, in food, in style, and of things to do. It's just incredible!

There are people from all of the world who live here, which makes for an interesting mix of languages, personalities, and style. (And, of course, many, many guapos! :) You can get all types of food - NY style pizza, Indian, Thai, Vietnamese, and more. There are so many places to go and things to see, from museums and shops to bars and nightclubs. I have a feeling one could live in Barcelona for a decade and still happen upon new places all the time.

Yep - Barcelona has worked it's magic on me. What an incredible place to live!

If you were an animal . . .

what animal would you be?

This question game provided many laughs while we were in Tunisia this past weekend. For some reason, I've been thinking about it ever since! It's a silly question, but such an interesting one when I really think about it. It's not a matter of what animal you would like to be, but what animal has a personality that's like yours . . . It takes a bit of reflection to figure it out!

Within our group of teachers, we had an alligator, a tiger, a crab, and a silver-backed gorilla.Although I didn't want to say it aloud at first, I had to admit that I think the animal that I'm most like would have to be a golden retriever! Why? For a number of reasons, I think - I'm happy almost all the time, I'm usually up for something fun, I like to hang out with people, I'm a morning person, I'm loyal, I usually do what I'm supposed to, and I have a lot of energy (most of the time). Although it's not too exotic to say, I've decided I kind of like being a golden retriever.

It's been pretty funny to think about this over the past few days! It's a pretty silly question, but it's one that makes for a very interesting conversation. So . . .

which animal are you?

Tunisia

This past weekend I was lucky enough to attend a conference in Tunisia! It was the MAIS (Mediterranean Association of International Schools) conference, which is held every year. It was SO wonderful to be part of professional learning again and was made even better by the fact that it was in Africa!

My trip to Tunis was my first experience in an Arabic speaking and Muslim country - it was fascinating! I don't think North Africa is the "Africa" most people think of - it's drastically different. The main languages spoken are Arabic and French - neither of which I understand much more than a word of! Just looking at signs, listening to the radio in cabs, and trying to understand people when speaking was an experience. It was so interesting to see how some women were completely covered, while others wore very modern clothes.

The architecture, colors, spices, pottery, shops, and food were wonderful. There was so much to see and do, even in the short time we were there. This brief trip made me even more excited to go to Istanbul in two weeks and confirmed that I must get to Morocco soon. Oh, the places I hope to go!

So many of the doors in Tunis and

Sidi Bou Said were picture worthy!

Beautiful (and cheap!) pottery could be found in many souks.

I loved the colors and smells in the spice shops!

I think Arabic looks so beautiful.

My First Camp Nou Experience

As any big football fan knows (and I'm not including myself in this category, although I am

on my way!), Camp Nou in Barcelona is the largest stadium in Europe, and one of best to watch a game. Tessa and I went to the Sevilla vs. Barca game there last night - it was so exciting!

Football games in Spain are a bit different than big sporting events in the USA. For example, the only drinks served inside the stadium are sodas and non-alcoholic beer! Because of this, it doesn't get quite as crazy as games we're used to. Tessa and I were wondering if this might be because football is such a big deal here, but I'm not sure. There are also no replays of anything, which means we had to watch pretty carefully to not miss the great goals that were scored by Barca.

Athough the experience wasn't quite like home, it was still full of fantastic songs, the wave, and plenty of Spanish trash-talking (one of my most favorite things to hear!) I can't wait for the next game!

(Barca won 5-0)

We were definitely in the second to highest row, but it was still a great view!

Halloween at ASB

Halloween is something that I've heard about it since my first visit to ASB - kids, parents, and teachers have constantly talked about how it is unlike any other school, so fun, and basically the best day of the year. Needless to say, I was anxiously awaiting the festivities! And I'm happy to report that the day didn't disappoint!

Almost the entire staff dressed up, usually as a theme based on department or grade level. For example, my floor (4th and 5th grade) dressed as "fancy" birds -- a peacock, a hummingbird, a toucan, a flamingo, a bald eagle, and a phoenix. All students dressed up as well, and so creatively!

Lauren, Mitch, and I

My Class

The day consisted of Halloween activities, a visit to the haunted library, games sponsored by PTA, class parties, and finally a parade and performances by all grades. The routines that middle and high school classes came up with were amazing! So creative and so well-done.

The "GhostBusters" Performance by 6th Grade

All in all, it was a pretty fantastic day! I need to start thinking about next year's costume now . . . :)

(Almost) Completely Legal!!

Outside the Spanish Consulate, visa in hand

Well, it's hard to believe, but I am just an NIE card away from legally living in Spain!! It's been a bit crazy trying to figure out everything over the past few months, but having that visa finally in my passport makes it all worth it! The school has to finish up some paperwork and I have to get my NIE (ID) card in the next month and all will be taken care of. So exciting!!

My Class

I loved this group of kiddos from the start, but the past 6 weeks have just really cemented how fantastic I think they are! I mean - could they be much cuter?!

About half of my class has two Spanish parents (the majority of which are from Barcelona). There are a couple of kids with an international mix of parents, i.e. Spanish/British, American/Catalan, Catalan/French, American/French. I also have Venezuela, Korea, France, Denmark, and the Netherlands represented in this group. So, although the majority are native Spanish speakers, they represent quite a variety of cultures!

It's Raining Men!

It's become a running joke between Tessa and I that we seem to have become high school girls again - we have an obsession with boys! I don't know what happened, but it's just so easy to admire the beautiful men walking around Barcelona - it's such a nice way to pass the time! I don't know when this change occurred, but I'm sure it has something to do with still being single, thirty years old, and in a big city that seems to have an incredible amount of guapos. Needless to say, our theme song has become "It's Raining Men!" :)

Mallorca

Tessa and I spent our last long weekend in Mallorca, one of the four Balearic Islands off the coast of Spain. It was incredible! Beautiful beaches, amazing coasts, and lots of relaxation. I have definitely added seeing the other three to my to-do list!

Palabras Nuevas

My favorite new words in Spanish this week include:

*fiestera/o - a person who loves to party
*rompecabezas - mind puzzles

It's fantastic to find so many similarities and differences between Spanish in Barcelona and Spanish in Sevilla. I am also trying my best to include "ya esta" - a very common phrase in Barcelona. It basically means "finished," but can be used as a question, a statement, or a command. I love it!

And, people in Barcelona use tia/o much more than in Sevilla -- it's so slang, but I am so determined to incorporate it in my vocabulary.

Me encanta espanol!

Hmmm . . .

I read this quote in a book recently and loved it. I also think it connects to my last entry – and SO many things in life!

“The most beautiful experience we can have is the mysterious.”
– Albert Einstein

"Eat, Pray, Love"

Tessa and I went to see this movie tonight (in original version). I’m happy to say that it lived up to my expectations! I so vividly remember finishing this book a few years ago while in Puerto Vallarta for the holidays. This book played a pivotal role in my desire to live abroad. Watching the film tonight again reminded me of this.

I feel like Elizabeth Gilbert’s story is full of so many great messages – one of the most important to me being the idea that we have to be the one to make changes in our lives and seek out what we need to find balance. There were a few lines at the end of the movie that I don’t remember from the book, but I so identified with them. It was something about how everyone we meet, every place we visit, and everything that happens to us, good and bad, has an impact on who we are today. And how, if you make the choice to leave everything you know, although difficult, it will lead you to where you need to be.

This movie, besides just being entertaining and having Javier Bardem, reminded me of why I wanted to live abroad and confirmed how happy I am that I did. There’s just so much to see and experience, especially when outside of our comfort zone. I feel like I have learned so much about myself in the past year and continue to do so every day I am here. I look forward to seeing what else Barcelona has to teach me!

Life at ASB

It’s hard to believe that a month has passed since I first started school! To say it’s had it’s ups and down would be an understatement. I had forgotten what it feels like to be the “new kid” at school! Learning new curriculum, new routines, and new expectations has been quite an experience.

More than anything, my experience so far has made me so appreciative of APS - their curriculum and pacing guides, resources, and professional development. For anyone who’s complained about having so much already planned for you, I have to say that it’s so much better than the alternative! It might sound fantastic to be told you can teach pretty much anything you want, but in reality, it’s so not easy. Figuring out what to teach with the limited resources you have is quite a challenge.
However, it’s definitely getting easier. I finally have an idea of what I’ll be teaching for the year and am trying to combine what I know with what I’m learning every day. I also have more planning time than ever, which is great, but so little time to teach, which is not. My life/school balance is still so much better than before.

And, most importantly, the people I work with and my students are just incredible. In the past week, I’ve had parents complain about the fact I’m not giving their children enough homework and my class ordered over 400 euros of books from Scholastic. Needless to say, things are a bit different!

Hopefully, October will be a great month. ASB’s Halloween party is of epic proportions – students and staff are already getting their costumes! It should be a fun couple of weeks.

Life Abroad

I’ve definitely been having an “I love living in Europe” kind of week! After an incredible weekend in Germany and planning upcoming trips to Mallorca and Tunisia, I’m still in disbelief of just how easy it is to get to so many places – I love it! The opportunities life abroad presents for those who love to travel is just amazing.

I’ve also had a fantastic week of Spanish practice, which I love. I just started Spanish classes with a teacher I’m already impressed with. In addition, the students in the class are quite international – Polish, Hungarian, German, and Portuguese so far. It’s so nice to be with a group who’s common language isn’t English! I also met an Espanola for an inter-cambio and enjoyed a great spinning class in Spanish as well. I had opportunities to practice Spanish in so many ways this week!

Although tourism is slowing down in Barcelona, there are still many, many more people here than I would like! I’m definitely still adjusting to the number of people and size of Barcelona. However, all of these things contribute to the amazing food, variety of things to do, and diversity that Barcelona has to offer. The fact that it’s still warm and sunny isn’t too bad, either . . .

Overall, the European lifestyle is suiting me just fine! :)

Home Sweet Home

You may have already seen some of these on Facebook, but here are some photos of my place. It’s a studio apartment in El Born and I LOVE it! Although I’m paying a bit more than I had wanted to, it’s definitely worth it. After my experience in Sevilla, I learned how important living in an “adult” place was for me. Having a fabulous space, nice furniture, amenities, and living in a great area are worth every euro!

Welcome to the World of International Teaching – some huge differences, yet still similar . . .

It’s hard to believe, but I have officially started a new year of teaching! I met my new kiddos last Thursday and have to admit that I was a bit nervous when they walked through my door. However, after only two days, I can already tell they are going to be a very entertaining group.

As we proceeded with all sorts of “getting to know you” activities, I was shocked by the experiences these ten-year-olds have already had! Although the majority of my 17 students are from Spain, I also have kiddos from France, Denmark, Korea, the US, Venezuela, Holland, and Mexico. Listening to stories of where they have lived and where they have visited has been incredible so far. I’m anxiously waiting to discover what it is their parents do . . .

Needless to say, the abilities some of these kids have, particularly related to languages, is amazing. In addition to English, the majority of students also take a Spanish and a Catalan class. So, they are speaking three languages a day at school, plus whatever their main language is when they go home! (However, this potential jumble of languages can create many problems as well . . .)

With these backgrounds, I definitely made some assumptions about where these students would be academically. How wrong I was! According to their data (limited though it is), only about five of my students are reading at grade level. After a writing pre-assessment, I don’t believe any of them are currently writing at the level they should be. To be honest, these kids are so much more like my Crawford kiddos than I would have guessed – and I love it!! They obviously come with many more advantages - being literate in their first language and living far from poverty to name a few. So, my hope is that they will make growth very quickly once instruction starts to meet their individual needs . . .

Overall, I am thrilled with the new challenges this class will bring. I have a feeling that teaching them will be more similar to what I'm used to than I would have ever guessed, even with the differences they bring. I can’t wait!!

(As you can see from the photos, my new classroom is nothing like room 41 - oh, how I miss it!! - but I like to think it will quickly transform!)

It’s hard to believe that I have already been back in Spain a week! In some ways, it seems like I was just in Indianapolis yesterday. In others, it seems as though I never really left Spain. Although this past week has been packed with Spanish classes and all sorts of social activities arranged by the school, I’ve also had a lot of time on my own. After six weeks of travel and vacation, I realized that I had kind of forgotten what “real life” is actually like! It’s been quite a (nice) adjustment to have time to wander around the city on my own, take siestas, begin to develop a few routines, and have some evenings with very little to do (especially without internet or tv!).

This extra time, in addition to living on my own, has provided lots of time for thought as well. More than anything, this past week has really reaffirmed just how much I love Spain. Although Barcelona is a completely different city than Seville – in size, diversity, language, landscape, number of tourists, etc. – it is equally fantastic. I already feel myself falling in love with this place!

And why? There are a million and one reasons, but so much of it comes down to the people and the lifestyle. Wonderful men at the post office helped me yesterday to get boxes to my place – they were incredible! Another man at a store thanked me for speaking in Spanish (no matter how broken it was!) and told me how much he appreciated me making the effort. The waiters and shop owners on my block already recognize and welcome me in, even after just a week. And all of these interactions are so passionate and expressive! The language, the hand gestures, the intonation – I just can’t get enough of it! As my own Spanish is starting to increase, I feel myself trying out more expressions and phrases and actually saying them correctly - and it’s so fun! I feel more determined than ever to leave Spain, whenever that may be, speaking at a level as close to fluency as possible.

So, as I type this in my apartment with my windows open, I am listening to the buzz of conversations and the clinking of glasses on terraces, in plazas, and on the street – the vibrancy of life in Spain becoming clearer with every “Hola, guapa! Que tal?” I hear . . .

Year 2!

Well, it's hard to believe that I will be leaving tomorrow to start my second year in Spain! How quickly time has passed! I had a wonderful time in Denver and an equally great time in Indy with friends and family. It's been so relaxing to be taken care of by Mom and Dad. :)

However, although it's been so great to be back in the states, I am SO excited to get back to Spain! I think the combination of emails from my school and apartment agency, hearing Spanish while at the consulate, and buying all sorts of things for my classroom and apartment (both of which I am really struggling to visualize) have made me so anxious to get to Barcelona.

It's amazing just how different going to Spain is this year. Already having a job, an apartment, a cell phone, a bank account, and a small grasp on the city and language are making this such an easier transition - whew!

Although I will miss friends and family just as much as I did last year, I am ready to return to the country I whole-heartedly fell in love with just a year ago!

Uff!

(uff! = the Spanish equivalent of ugh!)

Wow - although I knew that "officially" moving abroad would be different than just moving to Spain in hopes of finding a job, I had no idea just how expensive it would prove to be!! Although I am getting money for relocation, it doesn't even put a dent in the expenses. For example:

$1,400 plane ticket
$100 for checking bags
$200 for shipping boxes
$200 on random things I can't buy in Spain
$3,600 for apartment deposits, fees, and rent

Whew! And the worst part is that I literally have no money now and will not get my first paycheck until the end of September! (And I am fully aware that it is my fault that I don't have more money saved.) I keep going through highs and lows with all of it as well. One day I think that it's not that big of deal - at least I have a job and I know I'll be making money soon. Other days I feel sick with the amount of debt I have accrued and how long it will take to pay it down.

All of this, compounded by the realization that I have to say goodbye to Indy and best friends in the next 48 hours AGAIN is making for a bit of an emotional roller coaster! It's amazing how bittersweet this living in Spain situation is. I am SO excited to return to Spain and my life there, yet so sad to leave everyone and everything again. Hopefully a few beers, good food, and laughs with friends at happy hour will help the day make a turn for the better!

Welcome to International Teaching!

If you get a moment, take a look at the website for my new school! Emily has warned me that international teaching will be nothing like what I have been used to and after my few visits to ASB, I believe it! Just having a maximum class size of 17 students, representing at least 5 countries, who are all proficient, AND speak at least 3 languages - wow! It's going to be eye-opening! So, I'm attempting to go in with an open mind and am really excited to bring my experience from APS, as well as learn so much from my new colleagues. Let the adventure begin!

http://www.a-s-b.com/

Home

As I sit here on the plane (7 hours into a 9.5 hour flight – whew!), I still can’t believe I will be back in the USA for the first time in 360 days!! How quickly a year has gone by! I feel like I haven’t been there in ages, yet also feel like it was yesterday.

I’m very curious to see how I feel after being there for a little while. At this point, I feel like I’m going on a vacation and am just so excited! Seeing friends, family, and Indy, favorite restaurants, familiarity, a sense of home . . . it sounds wonderful!

Yet, at the same time, I already miss Spain! Just arriving in Madrid yesterday and speaking Spanish to cab drivers made me feel like I was “home.” Although I am SO excited to be in the US for a few weeks, I am already looking forward to returning to Barcelona and starting to settle in.

Since arriving at Heathrow, I’ve been surrounded by English speakers, naturally. I’ve heard/eavesdropped on numerous conversations about people’s travels. Many of them are Americans returning home. Hearing the questions “Where are you from?” and “Where do you live?” have started to take on an entirely different meaning for me. For example, when living in Colorado, I would always say I was from Indiana. But, when in Spain, I usually say I’m from Colorado, because it’s more well-known and I feel like it was really my “home” as an adult. But when asked the question by an American when abroad, I struggle to answer. Most often, it’s “I’m originally from Indiana, but I was living in Colorado,” or something equally confusing.

I was hit with the realization today that when asked by Americans where I live, the truth is “I live in Spain.” I still find that so hard to believe!! I am truly an ex-pat – wow! I’m still stuck with the “Well, last year I was living in Seville, but starting in August, I’ll be living in Barcelona,” response. There is definitely not a straight answer for me at the moment!

With all of these thoughts, I keep coming back to the idea of “home.” Until recently, I considered “home” to be my parent’s house in Indiana. Although it’s no longer the one I grew up in, being with them was always my association with home. Now that’s changed a bit for me. Going to Denver feels like going home, and I know that going to Indy will feel the same way. And I remember returning to Seville after a weekend away felt like home and I know that Barcelona will soon be my new home . . .

I’ve decided that “home” for me is a place with people I love, a place I feel comfortable, a place that invokes a feeling of familiarity, and a place I enjoy returning to after time away. So, although I am already missing my new home, I can’t wait to visit my old ones!

hasta luego, amiga!

Anna left this morning L I knew this day was coming, but wow, it arrived so fast! After a fantastic two weeks on the road, at first with just the two of us, then with Megan as well, it’s time for her to return home.

As I said goodbye to her, I was reminded yet again of how lucky I have been for the friendships in my life. I truly believe my girlfriends have played such pivotal parts in who I am and the amazing experiences I have had. And along with this comes the sad moments of having to say goodbye to such amazing friends. I remember saying goodbye to Lauren when she moved to Nashville and feeling like I had just broken up with a boyfriend – it was awful! I remember having to say goodbye to Liz and Linsey before moving to Spain last August and how much it made my heart hurt.

And again, today, hugging Anna goodbye was pretty miserable. I realized that since last September, there have only been about 12 days we’ve spent apart. (Kind of ridiculous, I know – but true!) So, I guess it’s to be expected that I’m feeling a bit sad about it all. However, I’m lucky enough to get to continue on this trip with Megan, see my parents tomorrow, and see so many great friends in just a few weeks!

Goodbyes are always bittersweet. Yet, I truly believe, and feel quite lucky to know, that with my best of friends, no matter where we might be living, it’s really not adios, but hasta luego . . .

On the road again . . .

25 days

13 cities

5 bus rides

5 flights

3 train rides

2 countries

2 car rentals

2 great friends

1 famous festival

1 set of amazing parents

= quite an adventure!

As we embark on our trip into the north of Spain, I’m struck yet again by just how much I love being “on the road.” I always request the window seat from Anna, hoping to catch as much scenery as possible. And like a little kid, I’m afraid to close my eyes, in fear that I might miss something! (Although I don’t know what that something will be in the Spanish countryside – a cow or pig, perhaps?)

There’s something about traveling from one place to another that screams of adventure to me. New sights, new people, different foods, and when traveling in Spain, new accents and languages. Each city, each mode of transportation, provides the opportunity to experience something that I never have before. Although the way I travel has changed over the years, due to age, money, and more, the chance to experience something new is a feeling I have yet to grow tired of and highly doubt that I ever will.

Robert Louis Stevenson said, "I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel's sake. The great affair is to move." I couldn't agree more!

Sevilla es . . .

Sevilla es . . .

sunshine

new friends

laughing

churches

tapas

relaxed

vale, vale

tradition

andaluz

super-fuerte

siempre en mi corazón.

Sevilla es . . .

cruz campo

history

besitos

cafe con leche

sevici

guapas

happiness

the smell of oranges

english

flamenco

handsome men

fashionable

siempre en mi corazón.

Sevilla es . . .

visitors

limon fanta

tostadas

learning

fun

feria

joder

aceite de oliva

una mezcla

experience

siempre en mi corazón.

songs and albums that will forever remind me of seville . . . for a variety of reasons!

*I Gotta Feeling - Black Eyed Peas

*Sexy Bitch - David Guetta

*She Wolf - Shakira

*Bad Romance - Lady Gaga

*Stereo Love

*Deja Vu - Inna

*Forever Song - Josh Pyke

*Doesn't Mean Anything - Alicia Keys

*Waka Waka - Shakira

*The Xx

*Mike Snow

*Vampire Weekend

*Norah Jones

La Ultima Semana

Wow – I can hardly believe that in less than a week I will be leaving Seville! The past month has flown by and been so fun - summertime, the World Cup, goodbye parties, and trying to enjoy every moment to the fullest.

Although I’m quite sad to leave Seville, I leave with a heart full of amazing memories. And I have no doubt that I will be back and will see many of my new friends again, either in Barcelona, Seville, or in other places around the world.

Anna and I are about to embark on the road trip of the year – we started planning this back in February, when we had no idea if we would be staying in Spain any longer, and are seeing so much of Spain in two weeks time (see the map below!). We will be joined by Megan in San Sebastian – I can’t wait to see her! We’ll be making a trip to Pamplona for San Fermin (Running of the Bulls) and will be in Zaragoza for the final of the World Cup, which I hope Spain will be part of!

Anna will leave us from Valencia L, then Megan and I will meet my parents in Barcelona before heading to the Costa Brava and Portugal. It should be an amazing time. I will be spending a lot of time on public transportation in the next few weeks, so plan to see many more blog updates!

What a Year!

It’s hard to believe, but I’m down to only four weeks left in Seville. How quickly this year has gone! As I am preparing to leave and start a new adventure in Barcelona, I’ve been thinking a lot about my time here – what I have learned, what I have loved, and what I hope to take with me wherever I end up in the future. These are the top ten things I’ve loved about living abroad:

1. The People I’ve Met – from new friends to my students, the people I’ve met in the past year have been the best part of living abroad. I have learned so much about Spain and Spanish culture from my students. They have welcomed me into their lives and made me laugh so much along the way! And of course, my life in Seville would not be the same without the friendships I’ve made with other English teachers. I can’t wait to visit friends in the future, no matter what country they might be living in!

My SBFF - life in Seville would not have been the same without Anna

English-teaching friends

2. Andalucia – from the friendly and laid-back people to the insane amount of parties, I truly believe Andalucia, and specifically Seville, is one of the best places ever. Life is lived to the fullest here and it is evident in almost everyone you meet. Importance is placed on being outside, enjoying food and drinks, and being with friends and family. I think many places in the world could learn a lot from Andalucia.

3. Food and Drinks – from cheap tapas and amazing olive oil to tinto de verano and Cruz Campo, the food and drinks in Seville have been amazing! My diet has changed so much (in some ways for the better, in some for the worst!). I’ve loved it! I plan to take the concept of tapas with me wherever I live in the future.

4. Learning Spanish in Andalucia – uff! The slang, the accent, the expressions, the passion – I love it. I’ve always enjoyed the sound of Spanish, but I have fallen in love with it all over again after this past year. Although I don’t feel my Spanish has improved nearly as much I would like, I feel more determined than ever to become close to fluent. It’s such a fun and expressive language to speak.

5. The Ability to Travel – for less money and very little travel time, you can be in a completely different country. I love Europe for this reason! The only two countries I’ve visited this year have been Portugal and Italy, but I look forward to more possibilities next year.

6. Cultural Differences – seeing and experiencing the differences in people, lifestyles, and culture is always one of my favorite parts of traveling. Living abroad has given me a completely new perspective on this. Being able to truly experience the differences has been amazing! Religious and traditional celebrations like Semana Santa and Feria are unlike anything I have ever seen. It was so fun to be a part of them!

I'm pretty sure I'll be returning to Feria in the future . . .

7. The History – no where in the US can you find places with so much history. I’ve seen Roman Ruins from 100BC, the place where Isabel and Ferdinand sent Columbus to discover the New World, places where Muslim, Arabic, and Christian architecture have come together, and so much more.

Real Alcazar - home to Isabel and Ferdinand at one point,

and my favorite sight in Seville

8. Less Stress - although I have had a number of stressful days, overall, I have been more relaxed this year than ever in my adult life. I’ve had so little stomach pain (always a sign of stress) and so much more time for me. I’m so excited to work more and actually have a little more stress in my life, but this year has really shown me the effect stress, or lack of it, has on me physically.

9. Learning About English - what a complex language we speak! Anna and I have had so many conversations about the meaning of expressions (What’s the difference between “I don’t care” and “I don’t mind?”), the differences in English from country to country (z vs. zed, butter/butta) , and grammar (What’s the first conditional?). Yep, it’s a bit nerdy, but I have loved every minute of it! Languages are just so fascinating, especially when you have to try and explain them to others.

10. I really did it! – although I’ve had a handful of very rough days (trying to find a place to live, being more broke than ever, day after day of rain), overall this experience has been SO fantastic. I took a risk and it worked out even better than I could have expected. I’ve learned so much about myself in this past year – what I want, what is important to me, and what I can do. Wow!

I constantly stop and think about how lucky I am for the life I’m living. What an amazing year it has been! Thinking about living abroad? If you have the right attitude and a support system in place, I recommend it without hesitation.