What a Difference a Year Makes - Celebrating One Year in Barcelona!

Actually this post is a little delayed since we were away.  We actually celebrated our one year anniversary living abroad while we were on vacation on Lanzarote.  But regardless, it's a momentuous occassion and most definitely deserves a blog post. 

If you've been following this blog for the last year plus, you'll know this has been a rollercoaster experience like none other.  More so it seems for me than for the rest of the fam who have for the most part taken the transition to living in Barcelona in stride (why can't I be more like them???).  However, here we are, one year into what will now be a THREE AND A HALF YEAR (no longer 2 years) adventure and not only are we surviving but we are thriving. 

Many of you, myself included, didn't think I'd make it thru this first year.  Josh had several people whisper to him and email him - "is she going to make it thru the first year much less 2 years?".  I had some doubts along the way and there were a few times were I pretty much begged Josh to cut the assignment short and let's just go home now.  But I'm glad we stuck to our guns and pushed thru.  It's been worth it.  I still miss all my friends and family every day and I thank each and every one of you for your support thru all the ups and downs (and there were lots of downs for sure) - I probably wouldn't have made it this far if it weren't for the regular pep talks I got from you and words of encouragement about how brave I was to take on this challenge in my life. 

Yes it has most definitely been a challenge.  The year has been filled with so many new things I can't even list them all.  I was just looking back at the posts from this time last year and while some made me laugh, some of them reminded me of just how hard things were when we started out here.  From simple tasks such as learning how to make the washing machine work to trying to navigate the city in order to pick up Aidan from school to even having a fear of shopping (gasp!!!!), there have most definitely been some hurdles that I've needed to jump over in order to get to where I am today... comfortable.

This year has taught me a lot about myself and about my family.  My children are a lot stronger than I ever gave them credit for.  They are resilient and adjust to new situations with relative ease.  If only their mother was like that.  ;)  They have learned that there is a world outside of Attleboro.  When conversing with Aidan, often other countries will come up and his response will be "oh so and so is from there".  He's learned that it's ok that not everyone speaks perfect English and some speak it with an accent.  As far as school goes, I'm constantly blown away by the things he is learning - sciences and social studies, fractions and geometry, all in first grade,  and the things he is taught is done from a global, not local perspective.  Liam's transition was seamless and given that he was 2 1/2 when we moved here, that was exactly as we expected.  He loves city life and in a way I think he doesn't really quite get that we moved to a different country, and while he doesn't speak Spanish yet, hearing other languages doesn't seem to phase him and the hope is that he will pick it up quickly now that he is in school full time.  They have broadened their horizons beyond our bubble at home and if we come back with anything after these 3 1/2 years it is with the hope that they will remember this experience and remember the lessons that we have learned about ourselves and about others. 

Josh, well Josh adjusted the moment that he moved here - I don't think he had an adjustment period.  And that alone speaks worlds to me as far as my admiration of him.  Not to mention how much he has stepped up to the plate as a parent and as a partner since we moved here.  He's been supportive in my most crazy of times (like when I cried like a baby watching the Food Network and he offered to go get me a chicken sandwich if it would make me feel better).  No longer are all the household chores or the children left entirely up to me.  He makes the school lunches and he does dishes and laundry - I'm not sure who this husband is, but I like him and I think I'll keep him. 

For me, I have learned that I am stronger than I thought.  That when faced with challenges I choose to take them head on (and yes there were moments of doubt for that too) and learn from my mistakes.  I learned how to be resourceful.  And how to live with less.  Yes, less...much less.  And yet I'm still alive and kicking.  I've learned more about tolerance - that people are kind and will help guide you when you need it.  That the people here have more tolerance for foreigners than we do in the US and of that I will say, I'm embarrassed.  I greatly admire those who have taken a chance to make a new life in America and the struggles they are faced with - before they were just immigrants in my eyes and now they are risk takers.  I've learned to slow down - it was forced upon me to do this - I had no choice here but to slow myself down.  All stores are closed for siesta from 2-5 and nothing is open on Sunday.  I walk everywhere and can only accomplish so many tasks in one day.  And while it took me a while to come to terms with this new lifestyle, I have now embraced it to a point that when I go home I feel intensely overwhelmed by all the constant stimulation.  I'm sure that when we go back in a few years for good (no Australia Josh!) it will take time to transition back to life at home as well and we'll go thru this all again, in reverse.

Many people I've talked to said the first year really is a transition year and it's in year two where you start to really appreciate your surroundings and start to enjoy this journey.  Looking back over the first year I can see how they can say that since a good chunk of that year was learning to navigate my way around the city and learning the ins and outs of how to survive in a foreign country.  I'm at a point now where I feel that the little accomplishments are back in perspective and it's time to broaden my horizons a bit and get back to where I would define as normal back in the States. 

The kids are happy with school.  And so am I.  They come home each day excited about the things they are learning and about the friends they have made.  They are still learning the language and I'm curious to see which of them learns it first - Liam who is at such a young age that he may absorb it like a sponge or Aidan who takes an hour each day of Spanish class?  The school is constantly embracing the arts and we enjoy seeing regular performances and concerts put on by the elementary school.  The school itself very much is a community within itself.  I'm used to the school being a part of a community but not being the actual community but with about 2/3 of the school being made up of expats from various countries, it's a home away from home for many and a great chance to meet people. 

Speaking of countries, we did a lot of travel in 2010 as well - Josh and I more so than the kids but regardless, we've been to France 4 times, to Italy, the Canary Islands and to various cities and towns in Spain.  The travel has been a great incentive for me, no doubt about that.  We have already scheduled Portugal and Holland during 2011 and are also hoping (travel plans pending while waiting on other parties) to go to Venice, the French Riviera, Switzerland, Tuscany, Germany and Austria this year.  We're also expecting some visitors during the year which we are very excited about!!!!

So what are some other things we've learned here?

• Learning a new language (still working on that one but much improved) is not easy but will come with time
• City life is definitely different than suburban life on a variety of level.
• Most medication does not require a prescription and Spanish medicine is super cheap - I got a bottle of amoxicillin and dalsy for Liam and spent 4 euros last week when he was sick. That is NOT with insurance. Vets also use the same pharmacies and Jake's medicine all tends to be of the human variety. The meds here are also for the most part significantly stronger than their US counterparts.
• Cava sangria is better than regular sangria - if you haven't tried it, you should!
• 2" of snow can shut down an entire city
• The weather here beats that of New England. Rich A...you would be in shorts all year long here!
• With everything closed on Sunday we've learned to take things a bit easier and relax and enjoy our family time.
• Do not try to run more than one major appliance at the same time or you will lose power. Actually sometimes just running that one appliance can cause a power outage so beware.
• If you can't find a household item you need, you have 2 options - go to El Corte Ingles (where you will pay an arm and a leg for said item) or go to the hardware store. One of the two of these places will have what you need.
• The Spanish words that will come back to the States with us, even if we forget everything else we have learned in our time here... will be NO TOCA - DO NOT TOUCH! I think we say these words to the boys just about every day.
• Slingbox is the best invention EVER! Living in Barcelona would not be the same without having our US TV. It's nice to have a piece from home when we can't be there.  Between Slingbox, facebook and our stash of American food that we are hoarding (ok that I am hoarding), there are moments you forget we live in Spain.
• However, when you forget you live in Spain for just a moment, the cable and internet will then fail and we are left with no tv (slingbox runs thru the internet) and no facebook and you are reminded that it's just not the same as being at home.
• The prices here are for the most part the same as at home EXCEPT the fact that the euro is worth more than the dollar, therefore making our purchases here actually more expensive... bummer
• We've managed just fine without a car. Since I love to drive I never expected to be able to handle life without a car but in the times I've been home to the States I actually found that I missed walking everywhere.
• That children live life more like we did as children. They are not overprotected in the same ways that we over protect our kids these days. Of course, they also don't wear bike helmets and ride on the handlebars of their parents bikes. So perhaps our children will need to compromise.
• If you ask Liam where we are going he will respond "to Tibidabo" every time. It's just his favorite place though I think he just likes to hear the word Tibidabo...

I'm sure we've learned lots of other things this year.  Probably way too many to list and you'd be pretty bored after a while (if you aren't already).  So now that we've learned some things this past year, it's time to take things to a new level for 2011.
Goals for 2011:

1.  Travel more - you saw our itinary for 2011 - now we need to stick with it!  . .
2.  Do more within the city limits - I'm at a point where I need to make an effort to explore because now it's just home and you didn't see me out exploring Attleboro over the last 10 years did you? Ok maybe the malls, but that's it :)
3.  Take advantage of that school community and reach out more to the parents there
4.  Spend more time with my friends here
5.  Spend at least one hour each day practicing my Spanish - I would like to be conversational by the end of the year (lofty goal I know).
6.  Get the kids involved in after school/weekend activities - we have yet to participate in any sports yet here and I will admit, the idea is slightly intimidating for some reason still so I just need to bite the bullet and jump into this one.
7.  Take the time to grow my business now that I have more time with the boys in school. 
8.  Stay in touch better with friends and family from home - not just skype but with the phone as well. 

Speaking of friends and family - you have been our greatest support and without you we would not have made it thru this first year.  I am truly thankful to have all of you in our corner.  The care packages, the little notes giving us words of encouragement that we so needed at critical moments, the phone calls, the Skyping (which I really need to be better about) and even down to the holiday cards this year.  It makes us feel loved and I hope you all know that just because we are half a world away, doesn't mean we don't love you any less.  If anything, it makes us appreciate you all the more. 

So that's it...that's my year in review.  I feel like there should be more but at the same time I'm thinking I'm getting a bit long winded here.  I'm curious to see how my blog posts go for year two.  I'm determined to stick with regular updates during our entire time here but now that our learning curve has changed I'm sure the tone and topics of my entries will as well.  I hope you'll stick with us and keep reading about our adventures!

With Love,
Julie