Oh Hey, May.

Today marked the first day of my last week teaching over here.  Well hello, May 25th, where did you come from and how did you arrive so dang quickly?

Time almost always flies.  I know!  And each year only passes faster.  I know this as well.  But seriously, this month is just so out-of-the-blue I don't know what to do with myself.  Where are all the blog posts from my nutso year in Spain?  I just don't know on that one.  My plan, though, is to do a kind of catch-up routine which will entail photos and stories from various trips and experiences while here, just quite a bit after the fact in some cases.  We'll see how that goes.

For now, I'm here, trying to wrap my mind around the fact that it was NOT a couple weeks ago that I was freaking out about what to pack, if I had all my papers, and where I stood with my Spanish level.  And it was NOT just yesterday that I adjusted to a seven-hour jump forward, tapas, and afternoon siestas.

So much has happened along the way.  And it's all pretty surreal.  At the same time, though, I find myself having to remember I'm living in Spain, and this I know is because although it's very surreal, it's also become very normal and very real-life.  I live here.  I wake up early (some days), catch buses, go to work (four days a week--I'm definitely with those who've suggested a permanent three-day weekend), cook dinner, go out with friends, grocery shop, paint my toenails, talk on the phone, and do who knows how many other perfectly normal things.  However, I also walk to the beach whenever I want, go on weekend trips to places like Granada or Portugal, and speak a whole lot of a second language... AND I don't drive a car, see more than two Americans on a daily basis, or wear anything close to sweats outside the house (it just doesn't fly here, and we've assimilated).  All these things work together to make a pretty good mix of my life.  I really can't imagine a better way to have spent my first year out of college.  I will take away so much from these nine months.

And that said, why not go for Round 2.  Right?  Yep.  I'll most likely be back in Spain for the coming school year.  I feel good about it, too.  It'll be tough to do another year away from everyone in the States, but I think I'm supposed to spend some more time over here before settling.  And that's okay.  I'm in no rush.

I must also say... June 16 is coming quickly.  I can't wait.  I don't want my life here to end, I'm not good at transitions, and although I love change, it often wears on my heart, especially in situations like this.  I'm completely torn.  I am sad to leave my fabulous roommates, friends, kiddos, and general life in Almería, but I am so ready to hug my parents, be within one or two time zones of old friends, watch baseball, eat janky Chinese/Mexican food, drive my car, and feel some general American love.  Coming soon!

In the meantime, ITALY with Martha! And then Kay comes.  YES.  :)