First off, let me premise this by saying this has been the LONGEST seven months known to man. Ok, known to me. And Josh. Let's not forget Josh. He's been traveling back and forth to Amsterdam literally every week since the start of November. It has been a lot of wear and tear on our family and at times I will admit I had doubts about us coming out of it whole.
But we have. There is a light at the end of the tunnel and we are sooooo close to it. Things are finally starting to fall into place. As I mentioned in one of my last posts, we've been waiting for the last several months for a contract to move forward with a potential move to Amsterdam so that Josh could go from interim CTO to just CTO - permanently. If for some reason that didn't work, we were slated to go back home to Boston. But we didn't know which one of these was actually going to happen as there were a lot of logistics to work out. If I had to give odds, I seriously couldn't. One moment I would think Amsterdam was going to happen and within the next moment, I would think, nope, it's going to be Boston. I truly couldn't figure out which way the scales were tipping.
It's been a long 4 months of waiting since they asked Josh to stay on full time. But about 2 weeks ago we finally received the contract and OMG what relief it was to finally have some direction for our lives. It was right around the time we were feeling pressured by the kids' current school to pay up for the matriculation for the fall. The timing could not have been better.
And as of this week, Josh signed that contract and so we will be moving to Amsterdam at the end of this school year. Amsterdam. Not Boston. Not home. And things have been moving at warp speed ever since. Within hours of Josh's acceptance we were contacted by movers to start the quoting process - and in fact have already met with one mover and have another two to interview this week. We have started speaking with the people who will help us with the relocation about places we are thinking of living (inside or outside the city) and getting our lives started in our new country. And we have been speaking with the people who will assist us with our exit from Barcelona, our home of the last 4 1/2 years.
So Amsterdam. I'm sad, excited and terrified about this idea. I won't lie, part of me was hoping that we were going home. I miss home. I miss our family and friends. I miss my house and our stuff (that has all been sitting in storage). I miss the "normalcy" of our lives there. But at the same time, I'm excited that we are embarking on another adventure. And what an amazing opportunity for Josh!
This is going to be completely different than when we left for Barcelona. We are older. We are wiser. And we have different expectations than we did the first time around about our adjustment since this is our second time around. In a way this is a good thing - we know how hard it was the first time, so we'll be prepared. And at the same time, it's almost scarier because I do know the challenges that are ahead and know that there are plenty of obstacles and challenges to face and a completely different culture than that in Spain to adjust to.
The kids are surprisingly on board with everything. Liam lives in the moment and I don't think he fully gets how soon this is happening. He's not thrilled with the idea of leaving but nor do I think he gets that it's in a matter of weeks, not months or years. Aidan initially told us "You are ruining my life! I grew up here! I love it here! And I want to live here for the rest of my life!". Then I showed him a real estate website and that it looks like we could have a house with a yard instead of an apartment if we choose to live near school. Yeah, we all have our price. That was Aidan's.
But that doesn't mean that the adjustment is over for either of them. I know that we have a long road ahead for ourselves and the kids. More so me and the kids. Josh is like a chameleon and has this crazy ability to just adjust no matter where we go. It does not phase him. I wish I could be more like him. I, myself, have moments where I'm super excited. Then that evolves into overwhelmed. Then into moments of I don't want to go, what are we thinking?? And then right back to excited. So I'd be stupid to think that the kids are going to just accept it and move on. Sure, kids are flexible, but we've done this once and we've paid the price. And I know it's just not that easy. It took Aidan THREE YEARS to decide he liked Barcelona (and need I tell you to go back to his statement above to see where he is now?). He's older and more mature now and totally gets it. But the moment he leaves his friends, yet again, is the moment that the shit is going to hit the fan. And it's not going to be pretty. I'm sure our trip to the States this summer and knowing we aren't going back, is not going to help things with him.
We have a school lined up for the kids. It's not our top choice school (they are on a huge wait list for it) but I think it's going to work out just fine. The issue with most of the schools in the Netherlands, as I see it, is this whole half day Wednesday thing. Yeah, not only is their school day 45 minutes shorter than it is in Barcelona (but more on par with the US than we are here), they get out at noon every Wednesday. I'm hoping that Wednesday is considered an activity day or something, kind of like in France. I guess we'll learn more about that as it gets closer. And because we booked our flights months ago, we didn't realize that school would start earlier - as in August 18! I booked our flights to return to Europe (figuring better to buy round trip just in case) to arrive on August 20th! So we had to change that this week too, because no joke, we otherwise had to deal with the truant officer. Yeah, they take school pretty seriously there. But now the kids will be there on the first day (we arrive the day before) - they will be exhausted but they will be there!
So like I said, we have a school lined up. And we're getting bids from movers. And starting to talk with the relocation people. So things are starting to happen. There is still so much more to do on the backend like cancelling gym memberships, utilities (but timing them just right), bank accounts, home repairs, home inspections (very rigid here and our landlord currently has 4 months of rent in a security deposit), figuring out our plan with the car and/or turning it in early, getting medical records and so much more.
And that's all before we leave for vacation and then home. We will be on a cruise for 2 weeks and then heading straight home for Boston (just the kids and I on the Boston portion as Josh will come back here to finish up any last bits of details in BCN and then head for Amsterdam) for 5 1/2 weeks. During that time I will need to clean out our storage unit, determine what is getting sold and what is coming with us to the Netherlands. I will need to do the same with our house while also managing any repairs that need my supervision. The kids will be in overnight camp for 3 weeks which will help alleviate the stress of getting things done while trying to balance their schedules.
We are hoping to do a house hunting trip during the second week of June (which is only 4 weeks away) so that Josh can move in mid July or August 1. We have bank accounts to set up, social security numbers to get, a car to buy/lease (depending on the outcome with our lease here) and of course, a house to move into and unpack (let's be realistic, Josh is only unpacking the essentials until I get back at the end of August).
So while are lives are (finally) moving forward, they are going to be rather chaotic for the next several months. But the light is at the end of the tunnel and we have so much to look forward to. We still have more visitors coming to Barcelona. We have a trip to England the first weekend of June. Our house hunting trip the second week of June. Our cruise of the Baltics (including St. Petersburg, Russia) the first two weeks of July and of course, our trip home. And then we will be focused on starting our new lives in the Netherlands - learning a new language, adjusting to a new culture, meeting new people and hopefully making some new friends.
And I have to say once again how proud I am of Josh! He has worked incredibly hard to get to where he is today. He is a brilliant man an I'm so happy he has the opportunity to take on this new and challenging role where I have no doubt he will thrive!
When we started this journey 5 years ago, never could I have foreseen where we are today. What was originally supposed to be a 2 year ex-pat assignment has turned into a life changing experience that we will never forget. We are thankful for all the love and support we've had along the way - we couldn't have done it without you! And with that, I'm going to need a new name for my blog - so anyone who has recommendations, I'll take them!
Besos,
Julie
Showing posts with label achievements. Show all posts
Showing posts with label achievements. Show all posts
Thursday, May 15, 2014
Thursday, March 13, 2014
500 Posts Later
Tonight I was looking thru some old posts that I'd written when we first embarked on this journey. As I was looking thru, I happened to see something in the menu that caught my eye. I've posted 499 entries since this journey began in the summer of 2009. This, my friends, is my 500th post. Have I really written 500 posts??? I really can't believe it. From the good, the bad and the ugly, I've somehow managed to find 500 (at least semi) different things to write about in the last 4 1/2 years. And I think I've got at least another 15 in the hopper that I haven't finished.
I didn't expect to be writing this blog for as long as I have. But then, I also thought we'd only be gone for 2 years so I didn't expect to have as many experiences as we have had to share with all of you. When I look back at where we were as a family and as individuals 4 1/2 years ago to where we are now, I can honestly say we are different people. Perhaps same at the core but this experience has changed our outlook on our lives forever. We will never look at life the same way as we did from our pre expat days.
And I'm glad I kept a record of it. All 500 posts about it so far. It's been an amazing journey filled with ups, downs, twists and turns and so many surprises. And while there are moments where we've just wanted to throw in the towel, we push on and come out on top. This will be a record that our kids can look back on and see what our lives here were like from a different perspective than seeing it thru a child's eyes.
I also never expected writing to be so cathartic. There have certainly been times where I have to push myself to write at least every 2 weeks in order to stay on top of it for fear that once I let it go, it will be done forever. Some posts have come more naturally than others. Though I've learned that once I get the urge to write, I need to just pump the whole thing out otherwise it will sit in draft mode (hence the 15 in hopper) forever. But overall, when I get into writing mode, it just feels good. Putting my emotions out there isn't always easy and there have been moments where I've bit my tongue for fear of saying too much, but overall what you've read is what has happened.
So this is just a short and sweet entry to say thanks for reading for the last 4 1/2 years - for "listening" to me when I needed a shoulder to cry on, to help me celebrate the victories, and to reinforce that this was, in fact, a smart choice for us to make. There's still more to come but I'm excited to know that I've hit such a big benchmark. Now on to the next 500!!
Besos,
Julie
I didn't expect to be writing this blog for as long as I have. But then, I also thought we'd only be gone for 2 years so I didn't expect to have as many experiences as we have had to share with all of you. When I look back at where we were as a family and as individuals 4 1/2 years ago to where we are now, I can honestly say we are different people. Perhaps same at the core but this experience has changed our outlook on our lives forever. We will never look at life the same way as we did from our pre expat days.
And I'm glad I kept a record of it. All 500 posts about it so far. It's been an amazing journey filled with ups, downs, twists and turns and so many surprises. And while there are moments where we've just wanted to throw in the towel, we push on and come out on top. This will be a record that our kids can look back on and see what our lives here were like from a different perspective than seeing it thru a child's eyes.
I also never expected writing to be so cathartic. There have certainly been times where I have to push myself to write at least every 2 weeks in order to stay on top of it for fear that once I let it go, it will be done forever. Some posts have come more naturally than others. Though I've learned that once I get the urge to write, I need to just pump the whole thing out otherwise it will sit in draft mode (hence the 15 in hopper) forever. But overall, when I get into writing mode, it just feels good. Putting my emotions out there isn't always easy and there have been moments where I've bit my tongue for fear of saying too much, but overall what you've read is what has happened.
So this is just a short and sweet entry to say thanks for reading for the last 4 1/2 years - for "listening" to me when I needed a shoulder to cry on, to help me celebrate the victories, and to reinforce that this was, in fact, a smart choice for us to make. There's still more to come but I'm excited to know that I've hit such a big benchmark. Now on to the next 500!!
Besos,
Julie
Sunday, January 5, 2014
It's Our Spain-iversary #4
Just reading that title kind of blows my mind. Whenever I think about how long we've been here, I can't help but think back to those first months when I didn't think I was even going to make it through year one. And yet, here we are, on our 4th anniversary of living in Spain! From what was supposed to be a quick 2 years abroad, we have now doubled the time we expected to be living here.
The boys have grown tremendously. Liam is 6 1/2 and Aidan is 9 1/2 and has entered the tween years. Liam is now older than Aidan was when we moved here and has lived here almost twice as long as he did in the States. How in the world did that happen? We've been watching them grow and develop and turn into global citizens that we are proud of. They don't even realize how global they are. Though Aidan has begun to point out differences between life here and at home which is interesting to hear.
Both kids got more involved in sports this year. I love that there is no pressure like there is at home - at least in the bubble that we live in there is no pressure. Aidan has taken up soccer and Liam is doing a multi sports class that touches upon different sports over the course of the school year. And as with previous years, they are continuing with their tennis classes on the weekends. Aidan is amazing to watch and a total natural. Liam like to think that his racket is an air guitar, but he's making progress too :)
This year has been a good one overall. We've done some great travel (more about that later). We've had some big changes, especially towards the end of the year. Emotionally we've felt more settled. The tough part of being settled though is that when new changes potentially come into play, it's harder to make decisions related to next steps which is a crossroads we are at now. This year has tested our patience. It has provided us with new challenges.
It has improved our linguistic skills, at least until I stopped taking Spanish lessons back in September (perhaps 2014 is the year I start up again). I gained a lot of confidence with my ability to speak (though now finding myself a bit out of practice) in Spanish. However, the kids have become more and more proficient in their Spanish, even having little mini conversations in Spanish with each other that I love to listen to. Their grammar isn't totally there but I love that they are trying and the best part, having fun with it.
This year has taught us how to come together as a family no matter what happens around us. That no matter where we live, home is where the 4 of us are together. This year we've had to make some decisions regarding our future with many more still to come in 2014. We've had to say goodbye to "old" friends again and say hello to new ones. We've watched our home be attacked from far away and had to explain to our children how such an atrocity could happen not just there but all over the world these days.
I wrote 95 posts in 2013. That's 37 less than I did in 2012 but that doesn't mean I didn't have a lot on my mind. I actually have about 20 posts in the hopper that I haven't finished. There were also those moments of, do I share this? Is this TMI for my readers? Can I share this information or is it too soon regarding Josh's work status? Things like that where I postponed entries and then felt the moment had passed and just moved on. So there was a lot of behind the scenes stuff that I never shared in the end.
I found that this year I spent the majority of time in a funk and really am not 100% sure why that is. Perhaps too much change over the previous year put me over the edge? I spent a lot of time on my own this year with fewer friends here and those that were here had different commitments that affected their ability to get together regularly - kids, jobs, etc. Regardless, I had a hard time coming out of it though I still functioned as normal, just felt blah a lot and not super motivated to get out and about with friends like I normally would regardless of their availability. This year, already I feel a weight lifted off my shoulders and feel more motivated to get things done and do more things, especially if this ends up being our last 6 months in Europe. There is something about the New Year that makes me feel freer from those doldrums. I don't know what it is. It's a new start or something like that. Regardless, I've already committed to putting the past behind me and moving forward with an exciting new future and am excited to see how the new year progresses.
Some highlights of our 4th year include...
- This past January, 3 years into this adventure we call ex-pat life, Aidan approached me. He said "Mom, I like it here. I'm over my friends at home." Now, those at home that are reading, please don't take that literally. Aidan had been struggling for THREE years with the guilt of having friends at home and here. He didn't understand that it was ok to have both - or for that matter, to have friends all over the world. This was his moment of comprehension - his ah ha moment where he realized it's ok to have friends in both locations. And he was accepting of it and has blossomed so much since this moment.
- Josh and Aidan got to swim with dolphins in Malta - an experience that doesn't happen often!
- Having a car has been huge for us. While we said we would never have one here, I'm so glad we did it. Aside from the kids having more after school activities, it's enabled us to leave the city on a more regular basis without having to plan ahead. Something as simple as going for a nature hike in Sant Cugat (just outside the city) has become infinitely easier.
- I had my first car accident in France with a bus taking out the side of my car. Everyone was ok, but it was an adventure trying to figure out the insurance system in not only Spain, but France too, not to mention getting the car repaired! I also managed to get said car towed in Spain once too.
- We all did some ziplining / tree / obstacle course thing this year. Aidan went to a birthday party and was hooked. Then Liam. Then when Michelle was here we all did it. It's not my cup of tea but I'm glad I got out of my comfort zone to do something new.
- In August, our sweet Jake passed away at the age of 12 1/2. It was probably the worst day of our year even though we knew it was coming. We still miss him every day and our home just doesn't feel the same without him!
- Our renters in both houses gave their notice - so the hunt is on for new tenants! A process not easily done when living 4000 miles away!
- I'm still hitting the gym 5 days a week or at least exercising (if I run outside instead) 5 days a week. I was out of commission with my running for several months due to an injury but back on track since the fall and it feels good! Josh has fallen off the running wagon since his transfer to Amsterdam but I have no doubt he'll get back on again once life settles down a bit.
- Speaking of Amsterdam, as you likely know, Josh got a new job, and I'm proud to say that he is now the interim CTO (that's Chief Technology Officer for those not in the know) of Albumprinter, a subsidiary of Vistaprint. He LOVES his new job and is very happy. The only downside is he's doing the weekly commute back and forth to Amsterdam. And he thought the 128 commute was bad!
- Aidan got glasses this year. And he looks super cool in them. Bonus - they help him see!
Sweet Jake passed away this year, our first baby :(
Visitors:
This was the year of the visitors. We had so many and it made our year! Thank you to all of you that came to visit us this year - it really meant the world to us!
Dec/Jan - Josh's parents were here for a month at the end of 2012/start of 2013. Being away from family is incredibly hard for us and it was awesome having them here for an extended period of time, especially at the holidays!
The whole family (except Josh who is taking the photo)...
June - Our college friends Caryn and Ursula were here to visit!! I know it was hard for them to leave their families behind for a week but it was such an amazing reunion filled with lots of laughter, non stop talking and perhaps an adventure or two in France! After they left, my friend Gina was here for a few weeks visiting all her BCN peeps and I got to have a few days with her - so much fun!
Caryn, Urs, me, Aidan and Liam
July - Michelle came to visit for her third time. It was a shorter visit than the previous two but the great thing was that the kids were in camp so we actually had a lot of great quality time during her visit (and then I got to see her the next week when I came home to the States). My friend Lori was also here for a few days before heading off to a cruise. It was so great to see her, especially as the last 2 times I'd been pregnant with both boys, so it had been a LONG time!
September - My cousin Meghan made her second trip over to visit us. This time it was for La Merce where she got a taste of the local traditions, including Correfoc (the fire run)!
Meghan and I at Montserrat
October - My parents finally made it over to BCN after almost 4 years. This was a huge moment because up til now, my mom was terrified to fly. Who knew she'd get off that plane all smiles and as a result of this trip, have a desire to explore more of the world?? And showing my parents that we are, in fact, not just surviving but thriving was so important to me.
The boys with my parents
November - My Aunt Janice and Uncle Richard made the long trek here and it was so wonderful to have them. It was a great opportunity to show them "my" city as well as to have some quality time getting to know them better.
My aunt and uncle at Sagrada Familia
Adventurous travel:
In a way I felt like this year was a bit more low key than the last few. I think it's because we took a little time off in the spring though we made up for that with our visitors. That sounds like such a first world issue and I feel spoiled even saying, "oh we took a month off of our world travels", but given the inexpensive rates for travel, how can we not go somewhere at every opportunity? Here's where 2013 took us:
January - no where! And it was fabulous! After a super filled end of 2012, we were happy to stay home in January!
February - London! This was our third attempt in 3 years and it was a first for the kids and I but not for Josh who had been here a few times over the years. We LOVED it! Yes, it was cold and a bit grey but aside from them speaking English (a bonus), it was a city filled with so many fun things to do!
March - Malta! This was not our favorite destination over the last few years but we had a great time nonetheless. It was way more crowded than we expected and the weather was not as nice as we had hoped given that Barcelona is further north and was having a nicer March than Malta was down near Africa!
Our plans for the upcoming year:
Besos,
Julie
In a way I felt like this year was a bit more low key than the last few. I think it's because we took a little time off in the spring though we made up for that with our visitors. That sounds like such a first world issue and I feel spoiled even saying, "oh we took a month off of our world travels", but given the inexpensive rates for travel, how can we not go somewhere at every opportunity? Here's where 2013 took us:
January - no where! And it was fabulous! After a super filled end of 2012, we were happy to stay home in January!
February - London! This was our third attempt in 3 years and it was a first for the kids and I but not for Josh who had been here a few times over the years. We LOVED it! Yes, it was cold and a bit grey but aside from them speaking English (a bonus), it was a city filled with so many fun things to do!
Liam at the Tower Bridge in his royal robe
March - Malta! This was not our favorite destination over the last few years but we had a great time nonetheless. It was way more crowded than we expected and the weather was not as nice as we had hoped given that Barcelona is further north and was having a nicer March than Malta was down near Africa!
The best part of Malta was Josh and Aidan swimming with the dolphins!
April - Amsterdam for Josh... the rest of us were home in April. He had a conference there for a week.
May - No where!! But both boys celebrated their birthdays in May!
June - I went to France (Provence and Collioure) with Caryn and Urs while they were visiting. Josh was in England during most of their visit unfortunately.
Collioure, France
July - Michelle and I took a quick trip to Andorra while she was visiting. Then at the very end of the month the kids and I headed home to Boston for vacation.
August - The kids and I were home for the first 3 weeks of August. We returned back and within 36 hours we were on a plane again, this time with Josh, to Croatia! This was a top 5 trip for us over the last four years and we absolutely loved everything about this country!
The boys with some of their closest friends at home
Aidan and Liam in Dubrovnik, Croatia
September - Somehow we were all here in Barcelona this month!
October - Josh met up with his mom in Ireland for a bit of a family reunion. Then after my parents went back to the US, Josh and I did a belated anniversary trip to Florence. We loved Florence and look forward to seeing more of Tuscany one of these days!
Josh's favorite part of Florence - the double iced cappuccino!
November - We took the kids to Scotland and stayed in a haunted castle one night, then headed to Stirling Castle (one of Josh's dreams) before meeting up with our British cousins! Then 2 weeks later we took them to Paris and DisneyParis - such a fun, though cold, time! It was in November that Josh changed jobs and started spending his weekdays in Amsterdam. And he thought the commute to Lexington was tough!
All the cousins together!
Playing with big guns in Scotland
Paris!
December - Again, Josh has been spending the majority of his time in Amsterdam while the kids and I are in Barcelona. But he was home for Christmas and we all headed to Lucerne, Switzerland for skiing and New years! Lucerne was one of the most beautiful cities we've been too, nestled in between the Swiss Alps and the skiing (at least for the kids and Josh) was amazing!
Lucerne, Switzerland
- We have a few visitors on the calendar for the early part of the year. Our friend Andy will be visiting BCN and staying with us. And then Kyle and Kelly will be making another trip out to see us in May!! We're very excited for both visits!
- Travel - while we only have 3 trips booked at the moment, we have several ideas for the others that just need to be booked. But the kids and I are heading to Amsterdam in January to visit with Josh so he doesn't have to come home that weekend. Then we are going to Iceland in February during the school break - we're hoping to see the Northern Lights and the Blue Lagoon while we are there. And then we've got an awesome cruise in July that will kick off the next phase of our lives (whatever that may be). It's 12 nights and hits several places in the Baltic Sea including St. Petersburg, Russia - we're super excited about this trip!!
- I want to focus more on our family this year. With Josh gone 5 days a week, I want to really put the focus on the kids when they get home and put work second. I always say I'm going to do this but when they get home it's my peak work hours. I'm going to do my best to put that aside for the few hours they have with me each day and do that work in the evenings when I'm home alone anyways.
- And of course, this year we will find out what the next "few" years holds in store for us. Will it be a move back to the US this summer? Will we find a way to stay in BCN for one more year? Or will we end up in Amsterdam? We're hoping / need to know by March so fingers crossed all goes smoothly with that end of things, but expect a few blog entries to be coming about those!
Besos,
Julie
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Searching for my Inner Chef
First off, let me state that I am not a fan of cooking of any sort. My mom (sorry to throw you under the bus mom) didn't cook much when I was a kid and I'm perfectly content carrying on that tradition. Add in that I'm a picky eater and well, not much creativity is happening in our kitchen.
Yet somehow I've got kids that will eat pretty much anything (maybe it's because they are starving and will eat anything just to survive). However, at the same time they have been pretty happy with my repertoire of chicken nuggets (both frozen and homemade), grilled cheese, hot dogs, chicken wings (frozen of course), pasta and baked chicken. Yup, that's about it. Yet they have the most amazing (and expensive) palates... they must get that from Josh.
And for the most part this lack of cooking ability has gone fine. I don't eat a huge variety of food and the primary foods that I eat are plentiful here in Barcelona. Fruits and vegetables are as fresh as can be and aren't filled with the preservatives like our foods at home that have them lasting for weeks...no, if you don't eat the fruits and vegetables in a matter of days, they will spoil. And while I'm still not great about making sure we eat said fruits and veggies before they spoil, I'm getting better about it.
While I'm at it, let me also note that I don't know how working parents in the past, or the present for that matter, are able to prepare full scale meals after a long work day. By the end of my day, not only am I too tired to really put together a full meal, but the time it takes, in my opinion, to put together anything ornate (as in beyond baked chicken or spaghetti), is beyond me, especially with children who get home at 5, and some days 6PM, and are in bed by 8.
However, not everything is easily accessible here as far as ingredients. And certainly there are very few ready made meals to choose from. I've never been a fan of frozen meals and they really don't have them here anyways (except those chicken wings), but I've never turned my nose up at a pre-made meal at Stop n Shop or Hannafords that I can just warm up in the oven. And here they are a rarity. Everyone does this "from scratch" thing... I've vaguely heard about it.
As time goes on, I find myself not hating cooking quite as much as I used to. If it means that I can have something of superior quality to items in the store or an item from home that's not accessible here, I'm willing to attempt it. For instance, pizza dough. The pizza dough here in the stores is crap. After a year, I found an Italian kiosk in my mercado that sells pizza dough on Monday and Thursday afternoons for $2.50 per container and it's totally fresh. However, as fresh as it is, they don't make the dough in August (when no one is working) and it doesn't come out as crispy as the dough I've made myself. And since my kids still wanted pizza in August, I had no choice but to start regularly making it on my own. Of course, the reason the dough is crispy is thanks to my friend Kelly who supplied me with Fleishmann's Pizza Dough Yeast. I didn't think it made a difference at first but then I tried regular yeast and yup it does. The kicker, they don't make it any more. So anyone who has gone home to the States has had a mission of getting me yeast and Kelly, god love her, sent me some in a care package. Even something as simple as pizza dough still requires me to go above and beyond what is available to me here in Barcelona.
There is, admittedly, a little satisfaction of making something myself from scratch. It makes me feel like a better parent knowing my kids are getting something that I took the time to make from the best ingredients. Ok, let's not take this too far... and let's be realistic, I'm not making all that much from scratch but I'm trying. And at least it's no longer a love-hate relationship. However, that's with cooking. Let's get to baking.
Now baking, baking I enjoy... well to a point. Again though, I'm not really a huge fan of baking from scratch. It's a pain in the butt and quite honestly I think that the box mix comes out just as well as from scratch if not better. But like I said, there aren't many mixes or premade types of food here. There are a few just ok mixes but nothing to write home about. My American store carries cake mixes - Duncan Hines and such which I'm constantly stocking up on. But their cookie mix is eh....nothing great. I prefer my mix from home and so I've been hoarding it... yes, hoarding it. I'm down to about 20 packages of it but at one point this cabinet was completely full. Don't worry, I have a friend sending me girl scout cookies and in the process, we're going to restock this cabinet as I won't be going home til August and there is no way these will last until then.
For the most part I've been able to survive with my American smuggled mixes and the stuff I can buy (at an extremely expensive price) at the American store. But there are moments when something comes up and I think, hmmmm, maybe, just maybe I can make that. I had one of those moments today which was the inspiration for writing this blog entry.
I bought the kids this thing called Zoku - it's a quick popsicle maker, kind of like an ice cream maker where you have the outer sides that freeze in the freezer, you add ingredients into the popsicle mold and it freezes in minutes. No longer needing to wait hours for something to freeze in the freezer. The kids love it. Aidan had a yogurt, raspberry, granola pop this morning for breakfast and thinks it's just the coolest thing to have a "popsicle" for breakfast. Liam's favorite lately has been either coffee or a cranberry/orange juice mixture. Healthy and easy.
In our search for recipes, we came across one for creamsicles. They look delicious. But they require me to use vanilla pudding. And in all my hoarding, believe it or not, I have NONE! On a mission to make this creamsicle for Aidan, I googled "vanilla pudding recipe". I found one on a website that looked reasonable and went to search for the ingredients. Um, cornstarch...hmmmm... I'm hoping that the "harina de maiz" is the same thing - it did say it could be used for puddings. So my fingers were crossed.
We made the pudding and it actually came out pretty good (though Josh tasted it after it had set and said the sugar crystals didn't melt enough and that it was a tiny bit crunchy, but hey, I like crunchy pudding) - actually Aidan told me it was the BEST PUDDING I'VE EVER HAD. God, I love that boy!! We added it in with our orange juice and voila, creamsicles!!!
These are the challenges I'm presented with living here. While the majority of the ingredients that are easily accessible are wholesome and healthy, there is not a lot of variety. This recipe for creamsicles also calls for agave nectar. Ha!!! That's a joke right there. Thankfully the 1 1/2 teaspoons didn't make that much difference in taste because I didn't notice it was missing. Or to make a graham cracker crust...well, you'd have to have graham crackers and well, we don't. I may try to chop up what look like could be graham cracker type cookies in my blender by my guess is they won't be the same.
In the end, not only has life abroad been a learning experience as far as culture and the language, but also in teaching me that if I want something bad enough, well, I'll just have to make it myself! Now what to make for dinner....
Besos,
Julie
Yet somehow I've got kids that will eat pretty much anything (maybe it's because they are starving and will eat anything just to survive). However, at the same time they have been pretty happy with my repertoire of chicken nuggets (both frozen and homemade), grilled cheese, hot dogs, chicken wings (frozen of course), pasta and baked chicken. Yup, that's about it. Yet they have the most amazing (and expensive) palates... they must get that from Josh.
And for the most part this lack of cooking ability has gone fine. I don't eat a huge variety of food and the primary foods that I eat are plentiful here in Barcelona. Fruits and vegetables are as fresh as can be and aren't filled with the preservatives like our foods at home that have them lasting for weeks...no, if you don't eat the fruits and vegetables in a matter of days, they will spoil. And while I'm still not great about making sure we eat said fruits and veggies before they spoil, I'm getting better about it.
While I'm at it, let me also note that I don't know how working parents in the past, or the present for that matter, are able to prepare full scale meals after a long work day. By the end of my day, not only am I too tired to really put together a full meal, but the time it takes, in my opinion, to put together anything ornate (as in beyond baked chicken or spaghetti), is beyond me, especially with children who get home at 5, and some days 6PM, and are in bed by 8.
However, not everything is easily accessible here as far as ingredients. And certainly there are very few ready made meals to choose from. I've never been a fan of frozen meals and they really don't have them here anyways (except those chicken wings), but I've never turned my nose up at a pre-made meal at Stop n Shop or Hannafords that I can just warm up in the oven. And here they are a rarity. Everyone does this "from scratch" thing... I've vaguely heard about it.
As time goes on, I find myself not hating cooking quite as much as I used to. If it means that I can have something of superior quality to items in the store or an item from home that's not accessible here, I'm willing to attempt it. For instance, pizza dough. The pizza dough here in the stores is crap. After a year, I found an Italian kiosk in my mercado that sells pizza dough on Monday and Thursday afternoons for $2.50 per container and it's totally fresh. However, as fresh as it is, they don't make the dough in August (when no one is working) and it doesn't come out as crispy as the dough I've made myself. And since my kids still wanted pizza in August, I had no choice but to start regularly making it on my own. Of course, the reason the dough is crispy is thanks to my friend Kelly who supplied me with Fleishmann's Pizza Dough Yeast. I didn't think it made a difference at first but then I tried regular yeast and yup it does. The kicker, they don't make it any more. So anyone who has gone home to the States has had a mission of getting me yeast and Kelly, god love her, sent me some in a care package. Even something as simple as pizza dough still requires me to go above and beyond what is available to me here in Barcelona.
There is, admittedly, a little satisfaction of making something myself from scratch. It makes me feel like a better parent knowing my kids are getting something that I took the time to make from the best ingredients. Ok, let's not take this too far... and let's be realistic, I'm not making all that much from scratch but I'm trying. And at least it's no longer a love-hate relationship. However, that's with cooking. Let's get to baking.
Now baking, baking I enjoy... well to a point. Again though, I'm not really a huge fan of baking from scratch. It's a pain in the butt and quite honestly I think that the box mix comes out just as well as from scratch if not better. But like I said, there aren't many mixes or premade types of food here. There are a few just ok mixes but nothing to write home about. My American store carries cake mixes - Duncan Hines and such which I'm constantly stocking up on. But their cookie mix is eh....nothing great. I prefer my mix from home and so I've been hoarding it... yes, hoarding it. I'm down to about 20 packages of it but at one point this cabinet was completely full. Don't worry, I have a friend sending me girl scout cookies and in the process, we're going to restock this cabinet as I won't be going home til August and there is no way these will last until then.
For the most part I've been able to survive with my American smuggled mixes and the stuff I can buy (at an extremely expensive price) at the American store. But there are moments when something comes up and I think, hmmmm, maybe, just maybe I can make that. I had one of those moments today which was the inspiration for writing this blog entry.
I bought the kids this thing called Zoku - it's a quick popsicle maker, kind of like an ice cream maker where you have the outer sides that freeze in the freezer, you add ingredients into the popsicle mold and it freezes in minutes. No longer needing to wait hours for something to freeze in the freezer. The kids love it. Aidan had a yogurt, raspberry, granola pop this morning for breakfast and thinks it's just the coolest thing to have a "popsicle" for breakfast. Liam's favorite lately has been either coffee or a cranberry/orange juice mixture. Healthy and easy.
In our search for recipes, we came across one for creamsicles. They look delicious. But they require me to use vanilla pudding. And in all my hoarding, believe it or not, I have NONE! On a mission to make this creamsicle for Aidan, I googled "vanilla pudding recipe". I found one on a website that looked reasonable and went to search for the ingredients. Um, cornstarch...hmmmm... I'm hoping that the "harina de maiz" is the same thing - it did say it could be used for puddings. So my fingers were crossed.
We made the pudding and it actually came out pretty good (though Josh tasted it after it had set and said the sugar crystals didn't melt enough and that it was a tiny bit crunchy, but hey, I like crunchy pudding) - actually Aidan told me it was the BEST PUDDING I'VE EVER HAD. God, I love that boy!! We added it in with our orange juice and voila, creamsicles!!!
Vanilla pudding from scratch!!!
These are the challenges I'm presented with living here. While the majority of the ingredients that are easily accessible are wholesome and healthy, there is not a lot of variety. This recipe for creamsicles also calls for agave nectar. Ha!!! That's a joke right there. Thankfully the 1 1/2 teaspoons didn't make that much difference in taste because I didn't notice it was missing. Or to make a graham cracker crust...well, you'd have to have graham crackers and well, we don't. I may try to chop up what look like could be graham cracker type cookies in my blender by my guess is they won't be the same.
In the end, not only has life abroad been a learning experience as far as culture and the language, but also in teaching me that if I want something bad enough, well, I'll just have to make it myself! Now what to make for dinner....
Besos,
Julie
Saturday, January 5, 2013
Our Third Spain-iversary!
Wow, seriously can it have already been three years? This year truly flew by. There were doubts amongst the masses as to whether I would be able to endure year one. And yet, here we are, done with three full years, two and a half left to go. We've been here longer than what we have left (again).
And speaking of being here longer, Liam is now the age Aidan was when we moved here, 5 1/2. This was the year that Liam had officially lived in Spain longer than he lived in the United States. A strange achievement in my mind, but cool nonetheless. By the time we leave in 2 1/2 years, Liam will have been here twice as long than his time in the US and Aidan for half of his life. The boys are now 5 1/2 and 8 1/2 - how much they've grown in 3 years!!
What does all this mean for us? My hope is the longer we are here, the more impact it will have on all of us - that we will continue to learn and embrace new cultures and new adventures. That over time, the language will no longer be a barrier to fully immersing ourselves into our lives here, something I try not to let get in the way, but inevitably does. That the kids will learn that there is more to the world than our home in the US and that home is where we are as a family and location is less important as long as we are together. To embrace people of different ethnicities and learn from their life experiences and to also recognize how important our own experiences are in shaping who we become.
Some of the the highlights from year number three?
Though being a bit spoiled through travel, we also still try to keep things as normal as possible for the boys. The kids will continue to play tennis weekly as they have the last few years. It would be nice if this spring Aidan could add another sport but it all depends on what the school has to offer. In addition to sports, with the freedom of the car, we are making a more concerted effort to do playdates with them outside the city as well as class parties that are often held on the outskirts of Barcelona, something we were a bit more reluctant to do before without the car.
With the additional playdates and parties, our hope is that we will take the time to get to know more of our children's friends' families. We know a few of the close ones but really haven't spent much time with the adults so it would be nice this year to put forth the effort on our end to change that.
Josh and I will keep focused on our fitness goals. I'm debating some running races for this year, though racing isn't usually up my alley, but it would give me some goals to work towards. Josh, having just started running again for the first time in 15 years back in August, has some goals of his own that he's working towards and I'm so proud of him - and I have no doubt he will keep up the good work.
Perhaps in addition to this, and I say perhaps, I shall learn to cook better so that we can help meet these fitness goals. I'm not the best of cooks but I'm willing to make a go of it for us to be healthier.
In addition to fitness goals, I'm trying to also add some new goals for work. I will be the first to admit that the last 2 years I have slacked a little bit when it's come to my work and this year it's time to put my nose to the grindstone and get to it. I'm hoping to make it a really good year but also to make sure that my work does not take over my time with Josh and the kids or my ability to enjoy our time abroad while we have it.
No matter where life takes us this year, we will continue to embrace the adventures and the lifestyle and to remember that we are incredibly lucky to have embarked on this opportunity three years ago that have changed who we are and who we have become, forever.
Besos,
Julie
And speaking of being here longer, Liam is now the age Aidan was when we moved here, 5 1/2. This was the year that Liam had officially lived in Spain longer than he lived in the United States. A strange achievement in my mind, but cool nonetheless. By the time we leave in 2 1/2 years, Liam will have been here twice as long than his time in the US and Aidan for half of his life. The boys are now 5 1/2 and 8 1/2 - how much they've grown in 3 years!!
What does all this mean for us? My hope is the longer we are here, the more impact it will have on all of us - that we will continue to learn and embrace new cultures and new adventures. That over time, the language will no longer be a barrier to fully immersing ourselves into our lives here, something I try not to let get in the way, but inevitably does. That the kids will learn that there is more to the world than our home in the US and that home is where we are as a family and location is less important as long as we are together. To embrace people of different ethnicities and learn from their life experiences and to also recognize how important our own experiences are in shaping who we become.
Some of the the highlights from year number three?
- Well, the big one... We made the decision to stay here in Barcelona for 2 more years in addition to our already 3 1/2 year contract (we had extended our original 2 years last year). So as of now we are heading back to the US in the summer of 2015. This decision was a relief for all of us, and especially myself, who constantly felt in limbo about what our plan for the future was. Knowing that we had 3 1/2 years from our decision date gave me a feeling of security that I could feel like this truly is home for now.
- Life is better with a car. Yes, I got my drivers license. It was a challenge but I'm really glad that I took it on because it just feels so good to have the freedom of getting into my little car and just... GO!
- Josh went to a real calcotada with some people for work down in Tarragona, an experience I have yet to have but hoping for year 4!
- A bigger apartment can make all the difference in the world, even more so than the car. We moved in June to an apartment double the size of our old one, still in the same neighborhood but a better location and with bigger space plus a garage, we couldn't be happier!
- Aidan and I lost a lot of our friends to moves this past year. But we aren't letting it keep us down and while it was a tough transition for us, we are looking at the positive aspects of now having friends in different parts of the world!! We're learning that this is a part of ex-pat life and while it's not our favorite part, it's a part of life we need to adjust to. And in the meantime, we also made some great new friends this year who have become a big part of our lives.
- I hired a Spanish tutor in order to expedite my fluency - this will never truly feel like home until the language piece becomes easier. The kids are both doing advanced Spanish in their classes. Josh, well, Josh relies on the rest of us for this one...
- Travel makes time fly. Having trips to look forward to has really made our time here go by quickly, perhaps a little too quickly! It will be interesting to see how time moves when we go back home and don't have as much on our itinerary.
- The boys turned 5 and 8 this year. They are no longer the "babies" they were when we moved here 3 years ago. They are street-smart, travel-saavy, worldly kids that make me proud everyday. They both have had challenges in the last year and continue to persevere to come out on top!
- Josh has finally joined me in my fitness craziness - he's running 3 to 4 times a week and I'm so proud of what he's accomplished! He was running 5k regularly by the end of the year and as of this writing within days of the new year, he hit 6k. He's down more than 20 lbs and working really hard! Go Josh!!
- This year was our best visit home yet - we are learning from previous years' mistakes and not overscheduling. We had quality time with those we wanted to spend our time with rather than spreading ourselves too thin as we had done in years past. We also did some "quality" shopping while we were home, to the tune of THREE extra suitcases of goodies to bring back (this in addition to the 2 extra I had brought back with me from the US when I was there in May for my brother's wedding).
- Josh finally joined the iphone craze and kicked the crackberry habit...
- On the flip side of a good time at home in the US was August in Barcelona. This is a BAD idea and one we won't repeat again in future years. As a matter of fact, I've already booked our flight home for this coming summer for August. August here is dead, hot and just plain miserable. Lesson learned.
- The holidays can be tough for an ex-pat, but when you can create your own "family" not only do we feel less far away, but it's amazing how wonderful the holidays can really be. We celebrated Thanksgiving with 14 friends and their significant others. And Josh's parents were here for Christmas which made the holidays feel a little more like home.
- January - We went skiing as a family in the French Pyrenees; Josh went home to the US for work.
- February - Josh did some travel for work including Amsterdam
- March - My cousin Meghan came to visit; I went to Andalusia (Cordoba, Sevilla and Cadiz) with some friends, and Josh did some more travel for work.
- April - We hit the Amalfi Coast in Italy as a family which also included a trip to Pompeii and the island of Capri and I went to Scotland with some friends for a few days.
- May - I made a trip to the US to see my little brother get married!
- June - The kids and I went home for a few weeks at the end of June / early July. Josh actually overlapped us on this trip and it was the first time since we moved that we were all on US soil at the same time.
- July - The kids and I were home til mid way through the month. Then they were in camp for a few weeks here in Barcelona.
- August - We did a family trip to Menorca, an island off the coast of Spain. This was an amazing family trip and I'd say top trip of the year.
- September - Josh's long term dream of Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany finally came true. Friends, Kyle and Kelly, came to Germany to meet up with us for a fun filled long weekend!
- October - This was a crazy month!! We went to England to go Legoland and the Cotswolds as a family, then Josh left the following day for the US only to come back for off site meetings and then he went to London to go to the Patriots game!
- November - The crazy travel continues. Josh returned from London only to have us head off as a family to Belgium a few days later. A day and a half after our return I did a girls trip to London. A week of rest and then Josh and I were off to Budapest where we met up with a college friend of ours. And yes, one more trip, I went to Madrid with a friend at the very end of the month. Whew!!!
- December - Madrid actually overlapped Nov/Dec so it kind of counts as Dec travel ;). We did a quick day trip to France with Josh's parents to attempt some Christmas markets and Josh and I did a 3 night escape to Andorra. Travel for the year, done!!! Now on to planning for 2013!!!
Though being a bit spoiled through travel, we also still try to keep things as normal as possible for the boys. The kids will continue to play tennis weekly as they have the last few years. It would be nice if this spring Aidan could add another sport but it all depends on what the school has to offer. In addition to sports, with the freedom of the car, we are making a more concerted effort to do playdates with them outside the city as well as class parties that are often held on the outskirts of Barcelona, something we were a bit more reluctant to do before without the car.
With the additional playdates and parties, our hope is that we will take the time to get to know more of our children's friends' families. We know a few of the close ones but really haven't spent much time with the adults so it would be nice this year to put forth the effort on our end to change that.
Josh and I will keep focused on our fitness goals. I'm debating some running races for this year, though racing isn't usually up my alley, but it would give me some goals to work towards. Josh, having just started running again for the first time in 15 years back in August, has some goals of his own that he's working towards and I'm so proud of him - and I have no doubt he will keep up the good work.
Perhaps in addition to this, and I say perhaps, I shall learn to cook better so that we can help meet these fitness goals. I'm not the best of cooks but I'm willing to make a go of it for us to be healthier.
In addition to fitness goals, I'm trying to also add some new goals for work. I will be the first to admit that the last 2 years I have slacked a little bit when it's come to my work and this year it's time to put my nose to the grindstone and get to it. I'm hoping to make it a really good year but also to make sure that my work does not take over my time with Josh and the kids or my ability to enjoy our time abroad while we have it.
No matter where life takes us this year, we will continue to embrace the adventures and the lifestyle and to remember that we are incredibly lucky to have embarked on this opportunity three years ago that have changed who we are and who we have become, forever.
Besos,
Julie
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Tres Años Más
I've made some changes to my blog lately - nothing major but you might have noticed a few details. The first is that I renamed it "Me Gustan Tus Zapatos" instead of "Me Gusta Tu Zapatos". The former is the correct way to write "I like your shoes" and so I figure after almost 2 1/2 years, I probably should show that I've learned at least a little something in my time here :)
The other change I made is also on the subtle side. The subtitle to our blog has read "This blog is all about our adventures as we head to Barcelona, Spain for the next two and a half years". Well that's changed to, and for the second time since I started this blog. I never thought I'd update that subtitle once, much less twice! The new heading is "This blog is all about our adventures as we head to Barcelona, Spain for the next five and a half years." Yes, you read that right... we've extended...again.
Never in a million years would I have thought when we embarked on this adventure that we would extend not just once but twice. The first time was last year when we changed our contract from ending in December 2011 to June 2013. With Josh needing to give a year's notice to work as to when he is returning to the States, we knew this winter that we needed to make a decision on our future here since that year was creeping up quickly! Hence the update to our byline, you probably know what's happened - so now we'll be here thru June 2015!
We actually made the decision several months ago but for various reasons, we've had to wait to announce it publicly. The majority of our friends here already knew that we were staying or were at least thinking about it, and we've recently told some of our friends at home but not everyone knew and so I apologize if I'm blindsiding you with this new info. But those of you who have been supportive of us since the day we found out we were moving here are most likely our going to understand why we've made this decision. Our families have been incredibly supportive of this decision to stay, especially given that it means an additional 2 years that Aidan and Liam will be away from them. When the boys return they will be 11 and 8 which blows my mind since they were 5 and 2 when we arrived in Jan 2010!
So what was the process around us making these decisions about extending?
As we all know, I didn't think I was going to make it thru the first few months much less the first two years. Those first months were miserable and I'll admit, I cried... a lot. I missed home (still do), my family, my friends, my routine and the general easiness of my life by comparison to my life here. Around month three there was a bit of an intervention by some friends and things started to look up... and they've continued to do so and I will admit, I really love our lives here. That's not to say that it's not a complicated life in some ways because let's face it, I live in a country where I can't speak the language fluently, but in others, it's a much easier, laid back lifestyle. And that's the part I am embracing. I still very much miss the "easiness" of life at home but in the scheme of what will hopefully be a long life, 3 more years is not going to change what or where home is.
But regardless of my rough start, the first year flew by. Much faster than I ever anticipated. I'm not sure if it was because we packed in so much travel in that year that there was always something coming up to look forward to, or if the process of adjusting just made it go by quickly or if time just really does fly that fast. So when we had to make a decision before Jan 2011 on whether we were staying or not which was barely at year 1, I definitely had a little bit of ambivilence about it but at the same time felt that after how quickly year one was going, I didn't think I'd be ready to go back in just 12 more months as weird as that felt and Josh wasn't ready to give up on his work here. And so we had decided on our first extention. We made it a year and a half so that the kids would be able to finish out their school years rather than leaving halfway thru as we had intially done when we moved to Barcelona. So our end date would be June/July 2013 instead of December 2011.
Like the first year, this past year flew by so quickly and as we knew we were coming up on another deadline where we'd have to decide, are we staying or are we going? Once again, I felt like everything was creeping up too quickly. I've created a life for myself here. Yes, I have a life at home and it was incredibly hard to leave, beyond the point of heartbreaking for me... but am I ready to pick up and leave again and leave this new life and my new friends and go through that pain all over again? I don't know that I can emotionally handle that yet. I know it means going back to what I know and to the friends and family I have missed all this time... but to pick up and leave this new life just didn't feel right yet either. That being said, I have a few very close friends that I've made here that are leaving this year and that's not going to change - knowing this made the decision on my end a little harder because it took me some time to build this small circle of friends I have here and now two integral parts of that circle are leaving. I have new friends thru Josh's work that have just arrived, some new parents at the school that I've started to get a little closer with and local friends who have proven to me that I can have friends here beyond my ex-pat groups.
It's not just about me though, we also have to take into account Josh's job. He LOVES his job here. When we finally sat down to discuss our plans, I asked him what his ideal timeframe would be. He immediately said, "at least 2 years more than what we have planned". He's not ready to leave what he's built here and he wants to see everything thru. He has always liked his job at Vistaprint - never once have I heard him complain about a thing... but there is no doubt he loves what he is doing here and that to me is a big difference. And so how can I not support him in his career? I do think he was a bit shocked when I said right away, "ok"... and I don't blame him. He's been here first hand to witness all my crazyiness (I don't think he'll ever forget the Ina Garten chicken sandwich night) when we first got here and the few sporadic episodes that were bound to happen since (thankfully there haven't been a ton of those once I got my shit together).
And of course we had to think of the kids. I'm sure from Aidan's point of view we were doing completely the opposite. He's not 100% on board with this yet. But he's coming around. Not only do we love this lifestyle for them and the opportunity to expose them to a ridiculous amount of culture, but we get better quality time with them. And we are so happy with their school that we just aren't ready to pull them yet and send them back to public school in the States. I'm not saying there is anything wrong with public school (Josh and I are both products of the public school system and I like to think we turned out pretty good) but this school offers so much to the boys - a network of friends from all over the world, teachers who are also from various parts of the globe, what I believe is a more well rounded education than they might (and I say might because I don't know this for sure since we haven't been in the school system in the US) have had at home and learning support for Aidan which we will need for the foreseeable future. Aidan has finally built some solid relationships here and seems to be working thru his guilt about leaving his friends at home (I can empathize on this one as it took me quite some time and I still have moments of guilt) and that it's ok to have friends both here and there. However, he also understands the life of an ex-pat well enough to know that his friends here may also leave at some point and this is a concern to him.
Liam is on board with staying, but then he doesn't really get the concept of time at this point and for him...this is home. He's been here just about 1/2 of his life and it's the only half that he remembers. Aidan on the other hand knows what it means to live at home and while he doesn't miss it everyday (at least he doesn't vocalize it), if I told him we were going home tomorrow, he'd have his bags packed and waiting by the door in moments. He defines his time here by what grade he will be in when he leaves - initially he was staying halfway thru second grade (which has now come and gone), then the end of third grade. Now it will be until the end of 5th grade. He's cool with 4th but not completely sold on 5th. I feel like by the time we even get to 4th, he'll be so integrated into the system and with his friends here it may be harder to get him to leave than we think.
Beyond that, we still have a lot to see here. We have been travelling like crazy for the last 2 1/2 years - a trip at least every 6 weeks if not more frequently. The cost of travel is so much more reasonable than in the US and for what would be one decent trip at home, we can do 3 or 4 trips here (if not more). We are currently planning out the rest of our year and it looks like once again, we are likely travelling every month... spoiled yes... are we ready to give that up? No way...
What it really comes down to is quality of life. Nothing is going to be perfect for us - we are torn in both directions, home or Barcelona. Both have aspects that enhance and also reduce our quality of life. We miss home, family and friends. They are a big part of our lives and that won't change and so far, we've found that with our true friends, we've found support in the decisions we've made over the last few years and with technology, we really aren't that far away and are able to stay in pretty constant touch. Sure we only get to see them once a year (unless you come visit - hint hint!) in person, but we pick right up where we left off. If we had moved to another state for work, it would have been the same situation - we are just 4000 miles further away. But the quality of our lives here is something that is hard to give up. The pace of life is slower, más tranquila, we get time together as a family that we weren't getting at home and we have exposed ourselves and our children to a life that most people won't ever get to experience.
And so with that, we are feeling pretty good about our decision to extend another 2 years on top of our current contract which means basically 3 more years from this June/July. We know there are going to be bumps along the way and that we are going to have people coming and going out of our lives (who may leave here physically but will stay a part of our lives forever), that nothing in life is perfect or always easy but then, nothing at home is always perfect or easy either, life as we know is a constant transition. We know that 3 years is more than we have already finished up til this point, essentially we are not even halfway thru our time here and yes, it's a bit daunting. But I think we are prepared to face that time head on, take full advantage of it in everyway and life this life to it's fullest.
Besos,
Julie
The other change I made is also on the subtle side. The subtitle to our blog has read "This blog is all about our adventures as we head to Barcelona, Spain for the next two and a half years". Well that's changed to, and for the second time since I started this blog. I never thought I'd update that subtitle once, much less twice! The new heading is "This blog is all about our adventures as we head to Barcelona, Spain for the next five and a half years." Yes, you read that right... we've extended...again.
Never in a million years would I have thought when we embarked on this adventure that we would extend not just once but twice. The first time was last year when we changed our contract from ending in December 2011 to June 2013. With Josh needing to give a year's notice to work as to when he is returning to the States, we knew this winter that we needed to make a decision on our future here since that year was creeping up quickly! Hence the update to our byline, you probably know what's happened - so now we'll be here thru June 2015!
We actually made the decision several months ago but for various reasons, we've had to wait to announce it publicly. The majority of our friends here already knew that we were staying or were at least thinking about it, and we've recently told some of our friends at home but not everyone knew and so I apologize if I'm blindsiding you with this new info. But those of you who have been supportive of us since the day we found out we were moving here are most likely our going to understand why we've made this decision. Our families have been incredibly supportive of this decision to stay, especially given that it means an additional 2 years that Aidan and Liam will be away from them. When the boys return they will be 11 and 8 which blows my mind since they were 5 and 2 when we arrived in Jan 2010!
So what was the process around us making these decisions about extending?
As we all know, I didn't think I was going to make it thru the first few months much less the first two years. Those first months were miserable and I'll admit, I cried... a lot. I missed home (still do), my family, my friends, my routine and the general easiness of my life by comparison to my life here. Around month three there was a bit of an intervention by some friends and things started to look up... and they've continued to do so and I will admit, I really love our lives here. That's not to say that it's not a complicated life in some ways because let's face it, I live in a country where I can't speak the language fluently, but in others, it's a much easier, laid back lifestyle. And that's the part I am embracing. I still very much miss the "easiness" of life at home but in the scheme of what will hopefully be a long life, 3 more years is not going to change what or where home is.
But regardless of my rough start, the first year flew by. Much faster than I ever anticipated. I'm not sure if it was because we packed in so much travel in that year that there was always something coming up to look forward to, or if the process of adjusting just made it go by quickly or if time just really does fly that fast. So when we had to make a decision before Jan 2011 on whether we were staying or not which was barely at year 1, I definitely had a little bit of ambivilence about it but at the same time felt that after how quickly year one was going, I didn't think I'd be ready to go back in just 12 more months as weird as that felt and Josh wasn't ready to give up on his work here. And so we had decided on our first extention. We made it a year and a half so that the kids would be able to finish out their school years rather than leaving halfway thru as we had intially done when we moved to Barcelona. So our end date would be June/July 2013 instead of December 2011.
Like the first year, this past year flew by so quickly and as we knew we were coming up on another deadline where we'd have to decide, are we staying or are we going? Once again, I felt like everything was creeping up too quickly. I've created a life for myself here. Yes, I have a life at home and it was incredibly hard to leave, beyond the point of heartbreaking for me... but am I ready to pick up and leave again and leave this new life and my new friends and go through that pain all over again? I don't know that I can emotionally handle that yet. I know it means going back to what I know and to the friends and family I have missed all this time... but to pick up and leave this new life just didn't feel right yet either. That being said, I have a few very close friends that I've made here that are leaving this year and that's not going to change - knowing this made the decision on my end a little harder because it took me some time to build this small circle of friends I have here and now two integral parts of that circle are leaving. I have new friends thru Josh's work that have just arrived, some new parents at the school that I've started to get a little closer with and local friends who have proven to me that I can have friends here beyond my ex-pat groups.
It's not just about me though, we also have to take into account Josh's job. He LOVES his job here. When we finally sat down to discuss our plans, I asked him what his ideal timeframe would be. He immediately said, "at least 2 years more than what we have planned". He's not ready to leave what he's built here and he wants to see everything thru. He has always liked his job at Vistaprint - never once have I heard him complain about a thing... but there is no doubt he loves what he is doing here and that to me is a big difference. And so how can I not support him in his career? I do think he was a bit shocked when I said right away, "ok"... and I don't blame him. He's been here first hand to witness all my crazyiness (I don't think he'll ever forget the Ina Garten chicken sandwich night) when we first got here and the few sporadic episodes that were bound to happen since (thankfully there haven't been a ton of those once I got my shit together).
And of course we had to think of the kids. I'm sure from Aidan's point of view we were doing completely the opposite. He's not 100% on board with this yet. But he's coming around. Not only do we love this lifestyle for them and the opportunity to expose them to a ridiculous amount of culture, but we get better quality time with them. And we are so happy with their school that we just aren't ready to pull them yet and send them back to public school in the States. I'm not saying there is anything wrong with public school (Josh and I are both products of the public school system and I like to think we turned out pretty good) but this school offers so much to the boys - a network of friends from all over the world, teachers who are also from various parts of the globe, what I believe is a more well rounded education than they might (and I say might because I don't know this for sure since we haven't been in the school system in the US) have had at home and learning support for Aidan which we will need for the foreseeable future. Aidan has finally built some solid relationships here and seems to be working thru his guilt about leaving his friends at home (I can empathize on this one as it took me quite some time and I still have moments of guilt) and that it's ok to have friends both here and there. However, he also understands the life of an ex-pat well enough to know that his friends here may also leave at some point and this is a concern to him.
Liam is on board with staying, but then he doesn't really get the concept of time at this point and for him...this is home. He's been here just about 1/2 of his life and it's the only half that he remembers. Aidan on the other hand knows what it means to live at home and while he doesn't miss it everyday (at least he doesn't vocalize it), if I told him we were going home tomorrow, he'd have his bags packed and waiting by the door in moments. He defines his time here by what grade he will be in when he leaves - initially he was staying halfway thru second grade (which has now come and gone), then the end of third grade. Now it will be until the end of 5th grade. He's cool with 4th but not completely sold on 5th. I feel like by the time we even get to 4th, he'll be so integrated into the system and with his friends here it may be harder to get him to leave than we think.
Beyond that, we still have a lot to see here. We have been travelling like crazy for the last 2 1/2 years - a trip at least every 6 weeks if not more frequently. The cost of travel is so much more reasonable than in the US and for what would be one decent trip at home, we can do 3 or 4 trips here (if not more). We are currently planning out the rest of our year and it looks like once again, we are likely travelling every month... spoiled yes... are we ready to give that up? No way...
What it really comes down to is quality of life. Nothing is going to be perfect for us - we are torn in both directions, home or Barcelona. Both have aspects that enhance and also reduce our quality of life. We miss home, family and friends. They are a big part of our lives and that won't change and so far, we've found that with our true friends, we've found support in the decisions we've made over the last few years and with technology, we really aren't that far away and are able to stay in pretty constant touch. Sure we only get to see them once a year (unless you come visit - hint hint!) in person, but we pick right up where we left off. If we had moved to another state for work, it would have been the same situation - we are just 4000 miles further away. But the quality of our lives here is something that is hard to give up. The pace of life is slower, más tranquila, we get time together as a family that we weren't getting at home and we have exposed ourselves and our children to a life that most people won't ever get to experience.
And so with that, we are feeling pretty good about our decision to extend another 2 years on top of our current contract which means basically 3 more years from this June/July. We know there are going to be bumps along the way and that we are going to have people coming and going out of our lives (who may leave here physically but will stay a part of our lives forever), that nothing in life is perfect or always easy but then, nothing at home is always perfect or easy either, life as we know is a constant transition. We know that 3 years is more than we have already finished up til this point, essentially we are not even halfway thru our time here and yes, it's a bit daunting. But I think we are prepared to face that time head on, take full advantage of it in everyway and life this life to it's fullest.
Besos,
Julie
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Cherishing the Victories - We're Halfway There...
As a runner, there is a huge sense of satisfaction and relief when I get to the halfway point in a run. I can almost picture the proverbial hill suddenly making a turn downward and off I go. If I can make it halfway then there is no doubt that I can complete the goal that I have set.
In a way, that is the same philosophy that I have taken since moving abroad. Yes, my first few months were rough, I know. But since then, time has been marked with goals, just like my runs. The first 6 months, the first year, and now, we have reached our halfway point this month. Our time here, 3 1/2 years, is now officially half over.
So how do I feel about that? Well, mixed emotions to be honest. Part of me sees a light at the end of the tunnel and yet that light is coming at me far too quick. That's a feeling I never expected given that a little more than a year and a half ago I was counting down the days til we could move back home. And this summer Josh had talked about an earlier departure of next summer and it actually freaked me out! I'm not ready! There is so much left for me to see and do before I can feel that I'm ready to go back. But of course on the flip side, there is excitement knowing that we are on that downhill part of our run towards home again. Of being (somewhat) close to making plans for our move back home.
And the idea of making plans to go back home feels weird now. Because as time goes by, life here gets easier by the day and we've settled into our apartment and our life here. This past week I had to deal with losing Jake and then finding him again and the Spanish animal control system, reward posters, etc. It made me realize how far I had come and how much I had forgotten that it's necessary to cherish those victories in life, especially here, and no matter how big or small. That day, I kicked Spain's butt - it's been a while since I felt that way and I think it's because life is back to "normal". I'm also a little anxious, I hear that it can be just as hard to go back home as it was to leave - will I ever feel like I truly belong again?? We've been living a life in limbo for so long, at what point will things ever be normal again?
So in honor of those victories, big and small, and making it to a big milestone, halfway, here are some things we've learned, found humor from or just found interesting and thought we'd share...
1. Josh finally got pickpocketed. Yes I feel badly but it was nice to know that I'm not the only one they target! Goes to show it doesn't matter how long you live here, they'll get you eventually... Always, always keep your hand on your wallet or on your pocketbook. Whenever I go home and see people put their pocketbooks on the back of a chair in a restaurant I'm just in awe that I ever did that - now I've got it slung over my shoulder even during a meal!!
2. We will never own a moped - EVER... we made sure of that on our recent trip to Formentera.
3. Home is where my family is, a house is just a house and we certainly miss it, but as long as my family is with me, I can survive anything!
4. We've learned the difference between "need" and "want" and have learned to live with "less" (stuff). Now to transfer that to our move back home, can I live without a weekly Target run????
5. When we move back home, the 1800 sq foot house that we were outgrowing before we left will seem huge to us! I especially can't wait to have my closet and dresser again - ahhh space!!!
6. My true friends are still my friends and have proven that distance does not matter.
7. We've learned to appreciate our friends and family at home more since we don't get to see them very often.
8. Time really does help the healing (and separation) process. It's hard to believe we've been here almost 2 years already! And life feels "normal" again even though every day is faced with new challenges, those challenges are nothing compared to the ones I faced in my first 6-9 months here.
9. Learning another culture and another language is the hardest thing I have ever experienced but one that I will never regret and am thankful for the opportunity to have.
10. My children are great adapaters. While it took Aidan quite some time, he has learned to accept and enjoy his time here. Liam thinks of Barcelona as home more than Attleboro - that will be an entry in and of itself! From no longer doing Halloween door to door (just a party at school) and changing their view on other holidays as well, and going from the country to the city, experiencing travel a world away from home and hearing a barage of new language on a daily basis, these guys are my inspiration.
11. We've learned to slow down our lives. No longer are we overscheduling and overbooking our lives. Maybe because we have a smaller circle of friends, or we don't feel the need to keep up with the Joneses anymore (a self inflicted pressure) and have reduced our (ok, my) load of commitments.
12. As a result of #11, we've also found we have better quality time as a family on the weekends. While we've always cherished our time with our friends at home, as have the kids, we did not take enough time to be just the 4 of us.
13. While I couldn't stand the food here and the brands were different than we have at home, once again, I have learned to adapt and enjoy what there is and have found substitutes for what I can't. My kids amaze me at their food adaptability and have really never missed a beat. Josh of course, is so flexible that it never phased him!
14. I've learned to think outside the box more, be more flexible and to roll with the punches. While at home I may have pushed on an issue, here I find that while part of the problem is my inability to communicate well, I've also found that things don't bother me as much and I can let it go much easier... many ahhhh Spain moments!
15. The holidays are what you make of them. My favorite time of year, I thought I might not make it thru them without my friends and family last year. And again, I've learned to be more flexible and have learned that if I'm with Josh and the kids, that everything will be just fine. We'll always have our old, cherished traditions when the time comes to move back home - that's the beauty of tradition, it will always be there year after year.
16. We have managed to go 21 months without a car - a feat I never imagined we would accomplish. We have rented when needed but have done so maybe a half a dozen times or so. There are moments where it is frustrating but overall, it's been beneficial to all of us and the environment (a plus!)!
17. Walking is fabulous exercise - when I've gone home I've felt like a total lump after just a few days in my car. I never thought I'd miss NOT having a car but I do. It doesn't mean I want to move to Boston proper when I get back (I can't imagine the winters in Boston and not having a car!), but it does mean I'll have to put more effort into walking places.
18. Investing ourselves in friendships here has been a good thing. While I was ambivilent at first knowing our time here was limited, I am so happy with the great group of women I've become friends with here and am thrilled that we all get to share our adventures here together! I look forward to many more years of friendship no matter where we live and where our lives shall take us.
19. If I never eat another tapa again, it will be too soon...
20. That while I'm excited to move back home in just 21 months, I'm also going to miss Barcelona and Europe more than I ever thought!
And while this entry makes it an odd amount, I need to add it as well!
21. We have made the most out of our time here and have defined crazy traveler - in just 21 months we have been to:
CZECH: Prague (Josh)
ENGLAND: Leeds (Josh)
FRANCE: Carcassonne, Paris, Collioure, Arles, Aix-en-Provence, Nice, Antibes, Marseilles
GREECE: Athens, Hydra, Corfu, Paxos
IRELAND: Fanore, Dublin, Killarney, Kenmare, Swords, Cliffs of Moher (not sure of town), Doolin, Galway
ITALY: Rapallo, Portofino, Rome, Venice, Santa Margarita, Cinque Terre, Pisa
NETHERLANDS: Amsterdam, Zaanse Schans, Keukenhof (Lisse)
PORTUGAL: Lisbon
SPAIN: Sitges, Castelldefels, Valencia, L’Estartit (Costa Brava), Ibiza, Lanzarote (Canary Islands), Formentera
VATICAN: Vatican City
GIBRALTAR: Gibraltar
FRANCE: Skiing – city TBD
FRANCE: Colmar, Riquewihr, Strasbourg
SWITZERLAND: Basel
GERMANY: Freiburg
And while my top 20 list is no where complete when it comes to what we've learned and experienced, all I can say is it was all worth it. When it comes down to it, we've had an amazing opportunity to experience what a very very small percentage of people get to do in their lives... live in a new country, explore a new culture (or several for that matter), and absorb (or try) a new language. It has made us stronger and yet at the same time, more flexible. It has made us appreciate all that we have at home but also all that we have here - a better quality of life, where we slow down and stop to smell the roses.
Where we have seen history like nothing we had seen before - if it was built before the 1700s then it's really not worth it to see now ;) Just kidding... but it's funny how those things become such a part of life that you almost scoff at it... "oh that was built in 1725, well, it's practically new here!". The fact that our children have been able to share in this experience with us and I know that they don't appreciate what they have here and the opportunity they have been given. When we try to explain to them that many of their friends at home haven't left the country or been on a plane much less travel thru Europe, they still don't quite understand that impact. I think they'll understand it more as they get older and reflect back on their time here. Or so I hope! At the very least they'll have this blog which I've had printed to read back on this time!
But I've gotten off track, sorry about that! Back to the fact that we are halfway there. It really blows my mind that we have lived here for almost 2 years. When people ask me how long we've lived here and I say "almost 2 years", I feel like I'm a veteran of this ex-pat thing, like we've done it and we've survived and if you are new here, you will too. At the same time, I still think my Spanish is crap though people keep telling me it's decent. I think I'd rather believe I'm not so good at it and keep working on it than get overly confident and not continue to work hard to improve. And note to self, must get back on the Rossetta Stone wagon! Today shall be the day, what better time then when I write about self improvement!
So not to continue droning on and on here but I never thought we'd see this day and that my feelings would be so ambivilent about moving home. But the excitement is still there. I look forward to seeing my friends on a regular basis and of course, my family! To move all my things back to my house and stop living like I just graduated from college with my high quality IKEA furniture and bare white walls in our apartment. Right now we have some things here but a good majority is in storage. To redecorate and update our house as we see fit now that we've had some time and distance to envision what we want it to look like. And I know the kids will look forward to their friends too. I know that if given the opportunity, Josh would stay here and you never know what might happen, one thing I've learned for sure is that the life of an expat can change at a moment's notice, but for now I'm sticking with the plan!
Julie
In a way, that is the same philosophy that I have taken since moving abroad. Yes, my first few months were rough, I know. But since then, time has been marked with goals, just like my runs. The first 6 months, the first year, and now, we have reached our halfway point this month. Our time here, 3 1/2 years, is now officially half over.
So how do I feel about that? Well, mixed emotions to be honest. Part of me sees a light at the end of the tunnel and yet that light is coming at me far too quick. That's a feeling I never expected given that a little more than a year and a half ago I was counting down the days til we could move back home. And this summer Josh had talked about an earlier departure of next summer and it actually freaked me out! I'm not ready! There is so much left for me to see and do before I can feel that I'm ready to go back. But of course on the flip side, there is excitement knowing that we are on that downhill part of our run towards home again. Of being (somewhat) close to making plans for our move back home.
And the idea of making plans to go back home feels weird now. Because as time goes by, life here gets easier by the day and we've settled into our apartment and our life here. This past week I had to deal with losing Jake and then finding him again and the Spanish animal control system, reward posters, etc. It made me realize how far I had come and how much I had forgotten that it's necessary to cherish those victories in life, especially here, and no matter how big or small. That day, I kicked Spain's butt - it's been a while since I felt that way and I think it's because life is back to "normal". I'm also a little anxious, I hear that it can be just as hard to go back home as it was to leave - will I ever feel like I truly belong again?? We've been living a life in limbo for so long, at what point will things ever be normal again?
So in honor of those victories, big and small, and making it to a big milestone, halfway, here are some things we've learned, found humor from or just found interesting and thought we'd share...
1. Josh finally got pickpocketed. Yes I feel badly but it was nice to know that I'm not the only one they target! Goes to show it doesn't matter how long you live here, they'll get you eventually... Always, always keep your hand on your wallet or on your pocketbook. Whenever I go home and see people put their pocketbooks on the back of a chair in a restaurant I'm just in awe that I ever did that - now I've got it slung over my shoulder even during a meal!!
2. We will never own a moped - EVER... we made sure of that on our recent trip to Formentera.
3. Home is where my family is, a house is just a house and we certainly miss it, but as long as my family is with me, I can survive anything!
4. We've learned the difference between "need" and "want" and have learned to live with "less" (stuff). Now to transfer that to our move back home, can I live without a weekly Target run????
5. When we move back home, the 1800 sq foot house that we were outgrowing before we left will seem huge to us! I especially can't wait to have my closet and dresser again - ahhh space!!!
6. My true friends are still my friends and have proven that distance does not matter.
7. We've learned to appreciate our friends and family at home more since we don't get to see them very often.
8. Time really does help the healing (and separation) process. It's hard to believe we've been here almost 2 years already! And life feels "normal" again even though every day is faced with new challenges, those challenges are nothing compared to the ones I faced in my first 6-9 months here.
9. Learning another culture and another language is the hardest thing I have ever experienced but one that I will never regret and am thankful for the opportunity to have.
10. My children are great adapaters. While it took Aidan quite some time, he has learned to accept and enjoy his time here. Liam thinks of Barcelona as home more than Attleboro - that will be an entry in and of itself! From no longer doing Halloween door to door (just a party at school) and changing their view on other holidays as well, and going from the country to the city, experiencing travel a world away from home and hearing a barage of new language on a daily basis, these guys are my inspiration.
11. We've learned to slow down our lives. No longer are we overscheduling and overbooking our lives. Maybe because we have a smaller circle of friends, or we don't feel the need to keep up with the Joneses anymore (a self inflicted pressure) and have reduced our (ok, my) load of commitments.
12. As a result of #11, we've also found we have better quality time as a family on the weekends. While we've always cherished our time with our friends at home, as have the kids, we did not take enough time to be just the 4 of us.
13. While I couldn't stand the food here and the brands were different than we have at home, once again, I have learned to adapt and enjoy what there is and have found substitutes for what I can't. My kids amaze me at their food adaptability and have really never missed a beat. Josh of course, is so flexible that it never phased him!
14. I've learned to think outside the box more, be more flexible and to roll with the punches. While at home I may have pushed on an issue, here I find that while part of the problem is my inability to communicate well, I've also found that things don't bother me as much and I can let it go much easier... many ahhhh Spain moments!
15. The holidays are what you make of them. My favorite time of year, I thought I might not make it thru them without my friends and family last year. And again, I've learned to be more flexible and have learned that if I'm with Josh and the kids, that everything will be just fine. We'll always have our old, cherished traditions when the time comes to move back home - that's the beauty of tradition, it will always be there year after year.
16. We have managed to go 21 months without a car - a feat I never imagined we would accomplish. We have rented when needed but have done so maybe a half a dozen times or so. There are moments where it is frustrating but overall, it's been beneficial to all of us and the environment (a plus!)!
17. Walking is fabulous exercise - when I've gone home I've felt like a total lump after just a few days in my car. I never thought I'd miss NOT having a car but I do. It doesn't mean I want to move to Boston proper when I get back (I can't imagine the winters in Boston and not having a car!), but it does mean I'll have to put more effort into walking places.
18. Investing ourselves in friendships here has been a good thing. While I was ambivilent at first knowing our time here was limited, I am so happy with the great group of women I've become friends with here and am thrilled that we all get to share our adventures here together! I look forward to many more years of friendship no matter where we live and where our lives shall take us.
19. If I never eat another tapa again, it will be too soon...
20. That while I'm excited to move back home in just 21 months, I'm also going to miss Barcelona and Europe more than I ever thought!
And while this entry makes it an odd amount, I need to add it as well!
21. We have made the most out of our time here and have defined crazy traveler - in just 21 months we have been to:
TRAVEL DONE
ANDORRA: SoldeauCZECH: Prague (Josh)
ENGLAND: Leeds (Josh)
FRANCE: Carcassonne, Paris, Collioure, Arles, Aix-en-Provence, Nice, Antibes, Marseilles
GREECE: Athens, Hydra, Corfu, Paxos
IRELAND: Fanore, Dublin, Killarney, Kenmare, Swords, Cliffs of Moher (not sure of town), Doolin, Galway
ITALY: Rapallo, Portofino, Rome, Venice, Santa Margarita, Cinque Terre, Pisa
NETHERLANDS: Amsterdam, Zaanse Schans, Keukenhof (Lisse)
PORTUGAL: Lisbon
SPAIN: Sitges, Castelldefels, Valencia, L’Estartit (Costa Brava), Ibiza, Lanzarote (Canary Islands), Formentera
VATICAN: Vatican City
BOOKED:
SPAIN: MarbellaGIBRALTAR: Gibraltar
FRANCE: Skiing – city TBD
FRANCE: Colmar, Riquewihr, Strasbourg
SWITZERLAND: Basel
GERMANY: Freiburg
And while my top 20 list is no where complete when it comes to what we've learned and experienced, all I can say is it was all worth it. When it comes down to it, we've had an amazing opportunity to experience what a very very small percentage of people get to do in their lives... live in a new country, explore a new culture (or several for that matter), and absorb (or try) a new language. It has made us stronger and yet at the same time, more flexible. It has made us appreciate all that we have at home but also all that we have here - a better quality of life, where we slow down and stop to smell the roses.
Where we have seen history like nothing we had seen before - if it was built before the 1700s then it's really not worth it to see now ;) Just kidding... but it's funny how those things become such a part of life that you almost scoff at it... "oh that was built in 1725, well, it's practically new here!". The fact that our children have been able to share in this experience with us and I know that they don't appreciate what they have here and the opportunity they have been given. When we try to explain to them that many of their friends at home haven't left the country or been on a plane much less travel thru Europe, they still don't quite understand that impact. I think they'll understand it more as they get older and reflect back on their time here. Or so I hope! At the very least they'll have this blog which I've had printed to read back on this time!
But I've gotten off track, sorry about that! Back to the fact that we are halfway there. It really blows my mind that we have lived here for almost 2 years. When people ask me how long we've lived here and I say "almost 2 years", I feel like I'm a veteran of this ex-pat thing, like we've done it and we've survived and if you are new here, you will too. At the same time, I still think my Spanish is crap though people keep telling me it's decent. I think I'd rather believe I'm not so good at it and keep working on it than get overly confident and not continue to work hard to improve. And note to self, must get back on the Rossetta Stone wagon! Today shall be the day, what better time then when I write about self improvement!
So not to continue droning on and on here but I never thought we'd see this day and that my feelings would be so ambivilent about moving home. But the excitement is still there. I look forward to seeing my friends on a regular basis and of course, my family! To move all my things back to my house and stop living like I just graduated from college with my high quality IKEA furniture and bare white walls in our apartment. Right now we have some things here but a good majority is in storage. To redecorate and update our house as we see fit now that we've had some time and distance to envision what we want it to look like. And I know the kids will look forward to their friends too. I know that if given the opportunity, Josh would stay here and you never know what might happen, one thing I've learned for sure is that the life of an expat can change at a moment's notice, but for now I'm sticking with the plan!
Julie
Monday, August 22, 2011
Summer by the Numbers
This summer was one that was full of travel and adventure like nothing I'd seen before in my life. I'm well aware that we have been incredibly fortunate, not just with the opportunity to live abroad, but also with our ability to travel to all kinds of wonderful places.
When it came to planning our trips for this summer I knew 3 things that I had to work around.
1. I needed to take the kids home as it's the only time they go home each year and it needed to be a minimum of two weeks.
2. Michelle would be visiting most likely in July and we wanted to plan a road trip.
3. Josh was thinking of taking his VistaBreak and if he did (at the time we weren't sure if he would wait to take it or not) he would take it in August so I couldn't plan 1 or 2 for August just in case.
So in the end our timeline looked something like this:
June 17 - Last day of school
June 18 - leave for the USA
July 6 - Return from the USA
July 8 - Head out on road trip with Michelle, Kelly and all the kids
July 19 - Return from road trip
July 22 - Friends in town thru Monday that we were entertaining
July 30 - leave for VistaBreak
Aug 21 - Return from VistaBreak
So all in all, we were literally in town for 12 days this entire summer - July 6-8 (and I wouldn't even call that 2 days since we didn't arrive til mid day on the 6th and left by noon on the 8th, just enough time to unpack, do laundry and repack) and July 20-29th. Seriously, a crazy travel schedule.
But now that we are back and all the blog entries have been completed, I was curious about all that we had done and when I started putting it together it looked something like this...
Number of countries visited: 7
(USA, Spain, France, Monaco, Italy, Ireland and Greece)
When it came to planning our trips for this summer I knew 3 things that I had to work around.
1. I needed to take the kids home as it's the only time they go home each year and it needed to be a minimum of two weeks.
2. Michelle would be visiting most likely in July and we wanted to plan a road trip.
3. Josh was thinking of taking his VistaBreak and if he did (at the time we weren't sure if he would wait to take it or not) he would take it in August so I couldn't plan 1 or 2 for August just in case.
So in the end our timeline looked something like this:
June 17 - Last day of school
June 18 - leave for the USA
July 6 - Return from the USA
July 8 - Head out on road trip with Michelle, Kelly and all the kids
July 19 - Return from road trip
July 22 - Friends in town thru Monday that we were entertaining
July 30 - leave for VistaBreak
Aug 21 - Return from VistaBreak
So all in all, we were literally in town for 12 days this entire summer - July 6-8 (and I wouldn't even call that 2 days since we didn't arrive til mid day on the 6th and left by noon on the 8th, just enough time to unpack, do laundry and repack) and July 20-29th. Seriously, a crazy travel schedule.
But now that we are back and all the blog entries have been completed, I was curious about all that we had done and when I started putting it together it looked something like this...
Number of countries visited: 7
(USA, Spain, France, Monaco, Italy, Ireland and Greece)
Number of days on the road: 54
(summer vacation was a total of 75 days so just over 3/4 of vacation was spent on the road)
Number of islands visited: 4
(Devil's Foot, Hydra, Corfu, Paxos)Number of hotels: 7
(Aix-en-Provence, Nice, Arles, Killarney, Swords, Athens, Corfu)Number of houses: 8
(our house in Attleboro, my parents house, Josh's parents house, the Anastasia's house, our apartment in Spain, Rapallo Italy, Fanore Ireland and Paxos Greece)
(our house in Attleboro, my parents house, Josh's parents house, the Anastasia's house, our apartment in Spain, Rapallo Italy, Fanore Ireland and Paxos Greece)
Number of planes: 8
(to/from USA, to Ireland, Ireland to UK, UK to Athens, Athens to Corfu, Corfu to Athens, Athens to BCN)
Miles flown (guesstimate): 12455 miles / 20047 km
(definitely added to our carbon footprint!)
Miles driven (guesstimate): Too many too count... thousands???
Number of boats or ferries: 5
(Ray's boat, ferry to/from Portofino, ferry to/from Hydra, ferry to/from Paxos, boat rental on Paxos)
Number of pictures taken: 2673 (250 June, 1110 July, 1313 August)
Number of caves: at least 10!
(Doolin cave Ireland, caves of Paxos)
I sit here trying to think of more numbers for our summer but after all this travel, my brain is a bit mushy! All I can say is it is a summer we will never forget and hopefully we're all ready for the new school year to begin which will bring new adventures and challenges that we will all have to face. It also brings us closer to our halfway mark (speaking of numbers) to our time here in Barcelona. Now that I've shared all our summer travel stories with you, I hope to go back to more of our traditional life in Spain stuff and talk all about the new things going on as we get closer to that halfway mark.
Julie
Monday, August 1, 2011
My 200th Post!
Wow! I can't believe in about 2 years I've written 200 posts! I just wanted to take a moment to thank everyone who's been following our adventures. For those who have been around since the beginning you've seen us (meaning me because Josh transitioned way too easily!) going thru total chaos getting ready for our move.
Packing, applications, movers, transition. You've been there thru laughter and tears, wishing us luck on our adventures, being our support system from afar and helping us when we found that the adventures we were embarking on were much harder than ever anticipated. You've read all about my search for things like a dry cleaner, a muffin pan and the hunt for food from home. You've helped us thru our struggle to find friends here and build relationships even when we weren't sure about it. You've seen us go from fledglings in a big city with a new language to thriving in a part of the world we had never envisioned living in before.
This blog has been extremely cathartic for me and while I know not everyone loves the idea of me sharing my dirty laundry with the world, it's a diary I'm more than happy to share (and the really private stuff has stayed private I assure you) and it's one that I hope one day the boys will be able to read, look back on and not only remember the times we spent living in Europe but also to see it from a different perspective than what they had living here. It also helps to know that perhaps someone else who might be thinking of living abroad might read it and learn from our experiences, both good and bad. Knowing I have an audience reading my entries has helped me to keep up with my writing even on days when I think I don't want to do this - that I just want to enjoy our time here without "having" to write about it. But I'm glad I've stuck with it and that you've stuck with me thru the last 2 years.
We still have two more years to go here in Barcelona and our adventures are far from over. Yes, things have gotten easier from certain perspectives (I now know where the dry cleaners is and where to get most of our stuff) and the last year has been filled with much of our travels that are a bonus to living so close to so many fabulous places. But there are still challenges ahead of us and I hope in the next 200 entries to go back to where we started and talk more about life and what makes it both wonderful and difficult in a foreign country.
So once more I just want to thank everyone for reading and keeping up with our life abroad! Life is a big adventure - live it to the fullest!
Julie
Packing, applications, movers, transition. You've been there thru laughter and tears, wishing us luck on our adventures, being our support system from afar and helping us when we found that the adventures we were embarking on were much harder than ever anticipated. You've read all about my search for things like a dry cleaner, a muffin pan and the hunt for food from home. You've helped us thru our struggle to find friends here and build relationships even when we weren't sure about it. You've seen us go from fledglings in a big city with a new language to thriving in a part of the world we had never envisioned living in before.
This blog has been extremely cathartic for me and while I know not everyone loves the idea of me sharing my dirty laundry with the world, it's a diary I'm more than happy to share (and the really private stuff has stayed private I assure you) and it's one that I hope one day the boys will be able to read, look back on and not only remember the times we spent living in Europe but also to see it from a different perspective than what they had living here. It also helps to know that perhaps someone else who might be thinking of living abroad might read it and learn from our experiences, both good and bad. Knowing I have an audience reading my entries has helped me to keep up with my writing even on days when I think I don't want to do this - that I just want to enjoy our time here without "having" to write about it. But I'm glad I've stuck with it and that you've stuck with me thru the last 2 years.
We still have two more years to go here in Barcelona and our adventures are far from over. Yes, things have gotten easier from certain perspectives (I now know where the dry cleaners is and where to get most of our stuff) and the last year has been filled with much of our travels that are a bonus to living so close to so many fabulous places. But there are still challenges ahead of us and I hope in the next 200 entries to go back to where we started and talk more about life and what makes it both wonderful and difficult in a foreign country.
So once more I just want to thank everyone for reading and keeping up with our life abroad! Life is a big adventure - live it to the fullest!
Julie
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