Boy, was 2010 a good one! I don't think I could feel more lucky for all that happened in the past 365 days--- this truly has been one of the best years of my life. The monthly highlights include:
January: Rang in 2010 at one of the craziest New Years parties I've ever been to in Madrid, then spent a week skiing the Swiss Alps.
February: Collin and Erin's gorgeous wedding in Puerto Vallarta (we are so lucky to have an amazing new member of our family!) and a solo, weekend trip to my favorite city in the world, Rome.
March: Turned the big 2-7 and visited my friend, Carol, in Lugano.
April: Spring Break in Ireland with my best friend from grade school, Calli.
May: Beer drinking in Belgium (one of my favorite trips of the year)
June: Springtime in Munich and many, many parties in Madrid marking the end of our first year.
July: Greek Isles... the most relaxing 4 weeks of my life (aside from Spain winning the World Cup!)
August: PNW! Also, a cruise to Alaska, one of the best family vacations we've ever had.
September: Another school year-- an extra class, two additional job titles, excellent students, and a brand new apartment. Lots more work but lots more money, too (insert sarcasm...).
October: Oktoberfest. Enough said.
November: Conference in Tunisia and Thanksgiving in Istanbul.
December: Winter break in Prague then HOME for 3 weeks.
If there's anything I want to do in the early part of 2011, it's to appreciate Spain more. While living in a foreign country has its perks, when you aren't fluent in the language and the culture just isn't the same that you grew up with, it's hard to really love a place. There are soooo many things about Spain and Spanish people and the Spanish culture that really tick me off and I feel I have a right (whether deserved or not) to get ticked off because I deal with it on a daily basis--- I'm not just there on a week-long vacation. But, aside from all our differences, I want to leave Spain on a good note because whether I like it or not, the country has opened my eyes to so many diversities, has brought together some of the best friends of my life, and has given me opportunities I never thought possible. I feel I'd be doing myself a disservice if I didn't leave Spain on a good note, loving (or maybe just liking) the place I called "home" for two years (although you won't find a happier soul at Madrid-Barajas airport the day I leave, June 28-ish!)
Although it will be bittersweet to leave my family, the TV, Mexican food and the golf course this week, I go back to Spain knowing, without a doubt, that I want to move back to the US. Many of you know the anxiety I've had in recent months about wanting to move back, not wanting to move back, where do I go, what do I do, etc. I wanted to use my time home to really figure out if uprooting my life is something that made sense right now when I love my job so much. While I still don't have the answers to many of the those questions, I at least know with confidence that living abroad has lost its luster. So..... the teaching test has been passed. The teaching license has been applied for. The grad school applications are in. Now, I play the waiting game. Here's to hoping Lindsay gets a job in 2011!!
Here's to another great year--- Salud, Sláinte, Prost, Salute, Santé, Na zdravi, Cheers,
Linds
January: Rang in 2010 at one of the craziest New Years parties I've ever been to in Madrid, then spent a week skiing the Swiss Alps.
February: Collin and Erin's gorgeous wedding in Puerto Vallarta (we are so lucky to have an amazing new member of our family!) and a solo, weekend trip to my favorite city in the world, Rome.
March: Turned the big 2-7 and visited my friend, Carol, in Lugano.
April: Spring Break in Ireland with my best friend from grade school, Calli.
May: Beer drinking in Belgium (one of my favorite trips of the year)
June: Springtime in Munich and many, many parties in Madrid marking the end of our first year.
July: Greek Isles... the most relaxing 4 weeks of my life (aside from Spain winning the World Cup!)
August: PNW! Also, a cruise to Alaska, one of the best family vacations we've ever had.
September: Another school year-- an extra class, two additional job titles, excellent students, and a brand new apartment. Lots more work but lots more money, too (insert sarcasm...).
October: Oktoberfest. Enough said.
November: Conference in Tunisia and Thanksgiving in Istanbul.
December: Winter break in Prague then HOME for 3 weeks.
If there's anything I want to do in the early part of 2011, it's to appreciate Spain more. While living in a foreign country has its perks, when you aren't fluent in the language and the culture just isn't the same that you grew up with, it's hard to really love a place. There are soooo many things about Spain and Spanish people and the Spanish culture that really tick me off and I feel I have a right (whether deserved or not) to get ticked off because I deal with it on a daily basis--- I'm not just there on a week-long vacation. But, aside from all our differences, I want to leave Spain on a good note because whether I like it or not, the country has opened my eyes to so many diversities, has brought together some of the best friends of my life, and has given me opportunities I never thought possible. I feel I'd be doing myself a disservice if I didn't leave Spain on a good note, loving (or maybe just liking) the place I called "home" for two years (although you won't find a happier soul at Madrid-Barajas airport the day I leave, June 28-ish!)
Although it will be bittersweet to leave my family, the TV, Mexican food and the golf course this week, I go back to Spain knowing, without a doubt, that I want to move back to the US. Many of you know the anxiety I've had in recent months about wanting to move back, not wanting to move back, where do I go, what do I do, etc. I wanted to use my time home to really figure out if uprooting my life is something that made sense right now when I love my job so much. While I still don't have the answers to many of the those questions, I at least know with confidence that living abroad has lost its luster. So..... the teaching test has been passed. The teaching license has been applied for. The grad school applications are in. Now, I play the waiting game. Here's to hoping Lindsay gets a job in 2011!!
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| Christmas 2010 in AZ |
Here's to another great year--- Salud, Sláinte, Prost, Salute, Santé, Na zdravi, Cheers,
Linds
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