It finally hit me yesterday. I had been waiting for it. That moment when all of the excitement and fairy dust begin to mingle with the anxiety of packing (which I seem to be approaching as if I'm headed to a third world country), the stress of making sure that I'm at the flight gate on time, have enough Euros with me, have a way to communicate with the people "on the other side" in the case of an international emergency and/or conspiracy, etc. It's one part reality-check and one part Drama Queen.
I leave in 6 days and am determined to make the most of the the next week, spending time with family and friends before I go, and desperately attempting to retain some of the Spanish I've tried to learn this past year. Thus far, I am able to recite the following phrases in Spanish, only one of which may actually prove useful (I leave it up to you to determine which one):
Happy Birthday.
How many brothers do you have?
I have three children.
Thank you, 15-Minute Spanish CD. I do, however, know a pretty good handful of Spanish nouns. And beyond that, I'm relying on my knowledge of universal hand gestures to get me out of the previously mentioned inevitable international emergency. Bring. It. On.
6.16.2012
6.08.2012
This Feels Familiar
Here we go again.
Although perhaps that's not the right way to start. Despite my being utterly American, I know enough to recognize that France and Spain are not, in fact, the same country. They don't share a language or a cuisine or a common history, exactly. Perhaps the only things they do share are a geographical border and the deep blue Mediterranean Sea. The comparisons between the place I once called home, and a place where I never expected to be spending a month of my life, remain to be seen.
In just two short weeks, I'll be boarding a plane and beginning a journey that will first take me to the Spanish island of Mallorca where I'll stay for one month while I take two graduate courses at an international school in Teaching English as a Second Language. My hope is to also have the opportunity to work with some of the native speakers there as I learn more about teaching English and receive first-hand exposure to the Spanish language and culture. Within twenty-four hours of completing my final class in Mallorca, I'll be hopping a second plane to Paris, France, where, for five days, a little part of my heart will be full again as I breathe in la vie française and, far more importantly, have the honor of attending a dear friend's wedding when she is married in July in the City of Lights.
I can't be sure about just how much time I'll have to update this blog while I'm away, but I promise to do my best. I am so very grateful to all of you who've expressed such sincere interest in following me on this adventure. Your support and shared excitement mean the world to me....the big, beautiful world.
Although perhaps that's not the right way to start. Despite my being utterly American, I know enough to recognize that France and Spain are not, in fact, the same country. They don't share a language or a cuisine or a common history, exactly. Perhaps the only things they do share are a geographical border and the deep blue Mediterranean Sea. The comparisons between the place I once called home, and a place where I never expected to be spending a month of my life, remain to be seen.
In just two short weeks, I'll be boarding a plane and beginning a journey that will first take me to the Spanish island of Mallorca where I'll stay for one month while I take two graduate courses at an international school in Teaching English as a Second Language. My hope is to also have the opportunity to work with some of the native speakers there as I learn more about teaching English and receive first-hand exposure to the Spanish language and culture. Within twenty-four hours of completing my final class in Mallorca, I'll be hopping a second plane to Paris, France, where, for five days, a little part of my heart will be full again as I breathe in la vie française and, far more importantly, have the honor of attending a dear friend's wedding when she is married in July in the City of Lights.
I can't be sure about just how much time I'll have to update this blog while I'm away, but I promise to do my best. I am so very grateful to all of you who've expressed such sincere interest in following me on this adventure. Your support and shared excitement mean the world to me....the big, beautiful world.
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