The one with 3-month Reflections

It has now been three months since I left the United States and moved to Spain.  I thought I would take a moment to reflect on some of the things I have learned and the experiences I have had.  So here goes the list:

1) Money is important, even more so when you don't have it.  Ok, so I already knew this, but you definitely realize this when you are nearly three months into the year and haven't been paid yet. Also, I like having the security of knowing that more money is going into my bank account than out; I miss that feeling.  I can live a simple life and be happy with it, so long as I am earning enough to cover basic expenses.

2) The state of the government of a country is rarely a reflection on its day-to-day people.  Spain's government, economy, practically everything is in crisis, but this doesn't stop people from reaching out and trying to help when they can.  My mentor asked me numerous times if she could lend me money when we hadn't been paid.  The director at Marissa's school offered to let us come over to take warm showers, eat, or enjoy heating.  Not that we were so bad off that we needed to take either of them up on their offers, but these are the people the help make this experience great.  

3) Seeing students once a week for fifty minutes is not enough time to make a substantial impact.  But that doesn't stop me from loving my students and wanting them to improve.  Where I really see a difference is my private lessons.  I have such a good time playing games, teaching culture, and watching them grow.  

4) The internet age is a beautiful thing.  I do not know if I would have made it this far without the support of my friends and family, which luckily have been able to make use of fairly often, thanks to skype, facetime, and messaging.  Nothing replaces those face-to-face chats, hugs, and snuggles, but it certainly helps.  

5) Snail mail should not be left to die.  As much as I love my technology, the best things I have received here, all the letters and packages that have come across the ocean and ended up in my mailbox.  Letter-writing may be dead for many people, but it is an awesome feeling to see a friend's hand-writing, knowing they touched the same paper a short week before.  

6) Spain is different.  Obviously I knew this before I came here, but it is the differences that you don't think about that make Spain, Spain.  For example, at the post office, instead of one line, you take a number and stand wherever until you are called, assuming the machine giving out or calling the numbers don't break while you are waiting.  I buy my bread from a small bakery (and am not looking forward to the end of this habit) and I hang all my clothes on a line.  The day-to-day experiences, troublesome as some of them are, that are making this year what it is. 

7) Anyone that tells you that Spain, particularly southern Spain does not get cold is full of it or selling something.  If people would just admit that it does get cold, then maybe there would be mechanisms, like insulation, rugs, and window sealant, designed to keep flats from getting as cold as it is outside.  Also, there is something about the air here that leads to being able to see your breath inside as often as out; I think it makes it feel even colder than it is.  

8) It is hard to make friends and even more so when there is a cultural and/or language barrier.  I want Spanish friends, I do, but my teachers are a good bit older than me because of how long it takes to become a teacher here, and I don't spend enough time with anyone else.  As much as I wish I had made some Spanish friends by now, there is still hope.  Besides, I have made three new American friends that are pretty great.  

That is all for now.  My time here in Spain is 3/8 of the way done, and I am super excited to see what the next 5 months bring.  Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!  

P.S. Get psyched to see all the blogs that will be coming at you from my AMAZING winter break travels.  I'm here, I'm there, I'm everywhere!!