I haven't been writing much lately and so much has been going on. Life is good to me and I can't complain but I am tired because even though I am getting used to my new lifestyle and home, it is still very different from anything I have ever experienced before... all of it. I don't always get to write about everything I want to for a variety of reasons, but there are things I would like to share. Halloween for example at the academy in which I work. The kids had a great time and most of them dressed up and I taught them to say. "trick or treat". I was una niña... so some of my students started calling me Danita.. which means little Dana... I love it!! Every time they say it I have to giggle.
After two days of celebrating here, I went to Madrid to visit my friend who lives there, but is from Chile. We went to see Rocky Horror Picture Show together which was a thrill for me to be in a place like Madrid seeing something I used to love and frequent. The show itself was in English, but the audience participation was entirely Spanish and sooo fabulous. My friend had never seen the show before which, of course, made him a virgin... haha a virgin at his age! Well, we took care of that. I think he really enjoyed it and I know I did. We had a great time, as we have every time we see each other. I feel fortunate to have such a good friend.
Busy, busy, busy... then Thanksgiving... ok so I screwed up the date. For some reason I could have sworn that Thanksgiving was the third Thursday in November, as it turns out it is not. It is the fourth, so we had it early. It had to be done on the weekend because, obviously Spain does not give us the day off. So we had 20 people to serve. My roommates and did the cooking and it came out quite good if I do say so myself. We had people from England, Ireland, Chile, Spain, Hungary and the US. Many people had never experienced Thanksgiving before nor the foods... but for the most part, it was a hit. People ate and laughed I think even made new friends. What a great time, though as always, it was a lot of work. Then, 5 days later I cooked another dinner by myself for my boss, her family and my colleagues. Nine in total, and none of them had ever had a turkey nor any of the fixings... they were pleased and it was nice to share the tradition with others. Though my belly was once again too full. I know why we only do this once a year.
Meanwhile my word in the States continues to go on. Ken and I are officially divorced, well at least he signed the papers and the courts should have them by now. My brother Greg is having a terrible time and I worry about him every day. My brother John and I are not speaking. I got really angry at him 4 months ago when my aunt died and told him I would never ask him for another thing again. I think he took that as I never wanted to speak to him again, but that is not what I said, nor what I meant. My mom seems ok, but I think is looking for more than her life is bringing her right now and I worry about her. My dad... my dad, well for the first time in his life he is working with people far less fortunate them himself and I think he has learned more about himself and others in the past couple of months than in the decades prior to that. He speaks of being grateful for what he has, I don't think I have ever heard that from him before. I miss them all and feel lonely when I think too much about it. In addition, one of my cousins just had to have a double mastectomy and is doing her damnedest to fight cancer. She is in her early thirties and has three small children. Although I never speak to her, I think of her every day. She is so fortunate to have good friends and family around to help her. Another cousin started at LeHigh University this year and is doing great. Even though I sometimes feel so removed from all of this, I still miss them and think of them often... especially my Aunt Ann who passed away in July, just weeks after I got here.
So here I am in Spain. I still can't believe it sometimes. I have fallen into 2 great communities one here at home and one at work. I have friendships that I will cherish all my life. I have a comfortable home, a decent job, a ship I wouldn't trade for anything, and me. I take care of myself everyday. Sometimes I long for someone to share the days with and the experiences, but I hope will come in time. Last night I went dancing with friends, pretty much all couples. I had a great time, a really great time in spite of a headache that has bee nagging me for two days. But sometimes I feel like something is missing and there is nothing I can do about it but wait patiently and hope. Which is what I do.
As I said, I can't complain an I am not, I have so much more than I imagined I would. Before I came here I knew I would cook Thanksgiving Dinner... I knew I would and I wondered who I would invite. I had hoped my friend in Madrid would come, but other than that I knew no one. How lucky am I to be able to share with not one or two, but 20 people. All are friendly, most intelligent, and I would consider many of them to be good friends. What fortune? It makes me think I must be doing something right. I hope this is true. I also wondered what I would miss, so far it's really just the people I love... and sometimes the peanut butter though I am not exactly sure why.
F**kin' blogger won't let me add a pic!!! I'll try with another post.
After two days of celebrating here, I went to Madrid to visit my friend who lives there, but is from Chile. We went to see Rocky Horror Picture Show together which was a thrill for me to be in a place like Madrid seeing something I used to love and frequent. The show itself was in English, but the audience participation was entirely Spanish and sooo fabulous. My friend had never seen the show before which, of course, made him a virgin... haha a virgin at his age! Well, we took care of that. I think he really enjoyed it and I know I did. We had a great time, as we have every time we see each other. I feel fortunate to have such a good friend.
Busy, busy, busy... then Thanksgiving... ok so I screwed up the date. For some reason I could have sworn that Thanksgiving was the third Thursday in November, as it turns out it is not. It is the fourth, so we had it early. It had to be done on the weekend because, obviously Spain does not give us the day off. So we had 20 people to serve. My roommates and did the cooking and it came out quite good if I do say so myself. We had people from England, Ireland, Chile, Spain, Hungary and the US. Many people had never experienced Thanksgiving before nor the foods... but for the most part, it was a hit. People ate and laughed I think even made new friends. What a great time, though as always, it was a lot of work. Then, 5 days later I cooked another dinner by myself for my boss, her family and my colleagues. Nine in total, and none of them had ever had a turkey nor any of the fixings... they were pleased and it was nice to share the tradition with others. Though my belly was once again too full. I know why we only do this once a year.
Meanwhile my word in the States continues to go on. Ken and I are officially divorced, well at least he signed the papers and the courts should have them by now. My brother Greg is having a terrible time and I worry about him every day. My brother John and I are not speaking. I got really angry at him 4 months ago when my aunt died and told him I would never ask him for another thing again. I think he took that as I never wanted to speak to him again, but that is not what I said, nor what I meant. My mom seems ok, but I think is looking for more than her life is bringing her right now and I worry about her. My dad... my dad, well for the first time in his life he is working with people far less fortunate them himself and I think he has learned more about himself and others in the past couple of months than in the decades prior to that. He speaks of being grateful for what he has, I don't think I have ever heard that from him before. I miss them all and feel lonely when I think too much about it. In addition, one of my cousins just had to have a double mastectomy and is doing her damnedest to fight cancer. She is in her early thirties and has three small children. Although I never speak to her, I think of her every day. She is so fortunate to have good friends and family around to help her. Another cousin started at LeHigh University this year and is doing great. Even though I sometimes feel so removed from all of this, I still miss them and think of them often... especially my Aunt Ann who passed away in July, just weeks after I got here.
So here I am in Spain. I still can't believe it sometimes. I have fallen into 2 great communities one here at home and one at work. I have friendships that I will cherish all my life. I have a comfortable home, a decent job, a ship I wouldn't trade for anything, and me. I take care of myself everyday. Sometimes I long for someone to share the days with and the experiences, but I hope will come in time. Last night I went dancing with friends, pretty much all couples. I had a great time, a really great time in spite of a headache that has bee nagging me for two days. But sometimes I feel like something is missing and there is nothing I can do about it but wait patiently and hope. Which is what I do.
As I said, I can't complain an I am not, I have so much more than I imagined I would. Before I came here I knew I would cook Thanksgiving Dinner... I knew I would and I wondered who I would invite. I had hoped my friend in Madrid would come, but other than that I knew no one. How lucky am I to be able to share with not one or two, but 20 people. All are friendly, most intelligent, and I would consider many of them to be good friends. What fortune? It makes me think I must be doing something right. I hope this is true. I also wondered what I would miss, so far it's really just the people I love... and sometimes the peanut butter though I am not exactly sure why.
F**kin' blogger won't let me add a pic!!! I'll try with another post.
