Well, I sure took my time getting around to writing another blog entry. I meant to post right after Teresa's visit (which, by the way, was incredible), but I realized that I had a million other things to put first on my list of priorities.
My time with Teresa was probably the best I've had in Spain thus far. We, together, ate enough tapas to feed an army, visited some beautiful sites, and most importantly, got to enjoy each others' company. The main event of her visit was our trip to Barcelona for New Year's.
Teresa and I, Heidi, and Jessica met up with two of Teresa's friends from Yale in Barcelona. We had lots of fun wandering around Barcelona, taking in its incredible architecture, eating tapas, drinking cava (the region's version of champagne), and partying on New Year's Eve with thousands of people from all over the world in the plaza.
We visited Parc Güell and La Sagrada Familia, two of Gaudí's architectural masterpieces. We frolicked in the sun, had seafood paella, and enjoyed hanging out by the port and the beach of Barcelona. We found a Latin food market which, since I'm actually Latina and not American, was one of the highlights of the trip. I bought some hot sauce to bring back home. Spaniards don't know spicy. And we stayed in a hostel that was centrally located but felt like a jail inside. The joys of traveling in Europe.
Around Malaga, Teresa and I enjoyed a few runs by the beach, visited some of the touristy stuff, hung with my roommates and enjoyed more tapas.
The last day before her journey back home, we took a day trip to a town called Ronda. It is a town with centuries and centuries of history that is built on either side of a deep crevice, connected by incredible bridges. It was beautiful. (see picture below)
After Teresa left, I realized that I needed to crack the whip and get some things done. I've since been working hard on finishing my TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) certification course, applying for jobs/programs for next year, learning to be a better teacher, training for a half marathon, and a lot more.
This year has been incredible so far and I feel so lucky to have had this experience. I have learned so much about myself and grown so much as a person. I am excited for what life will bring in the next months and years.
I'm glad that yesterday I took a break from my crazy few weeks of working so hard, focusing on the things I need to get accomplished. I went for a long hike in the mountains outside Malaga with a friend. It was so peaceful up there. I had the chance to think with no distractions. Everyone needs time like that in nature, I think. To sit and enjoy the silence and appreciate what's around you. To think about yourself and where you belong on this thing called Earth. I think that I am exactly where I'm meant to be right now. And I think I know where I'm going.
"The more intensely we feel about an idea or a goal, the more assuredly the idea, buried deep in our subconscious, will direct us along the path to its fulfillment." Earl Nightingale
No comments:
Post a Comment