In approximately nine months I will (Cosmos willing) have transformed - have experienced a new way of life - have grown in multitudinous ways...Don't worry - the only thing I'm pregnant with is excitement for my trip!
Guess what…I wasn’t alone for Christmas! The (amazing) family I’m staying with/wwoofing for went to Castellon and Valencia to visit family, but their neighbors came over and we three had a wonderful meal!
Christmas morning I went out and fed the animals. Get ready to meet the nicest animals ever!
So, I turned 21 today. Must say, most useless turning of 21 ever since I have been able to legally drink and purchase alcohol since I arrived in Europe on August. 31…nearly four months ago…
Whoa.
The people that work at the hostel have been amazing! I watched The Pianist with them last night and mentioned that it was my birthday – and all day they’ve been calling me “birthday girl” and wishing me Happy Birthday. Seriously, every time they see me. It’s great.
I returned to Parc Guell today. Brandon (the same who led the trip to Montserrat) led a Gaudi tour today. I
had someone to take pictures of me!
Me, at the highest point in Parc Guell, Barcelona behind me.
(Pretend there's a ~ over that 'n' in the title please.)
Suprise post from Spain! I can't wait to get back to regular posting, but I am enjoying my time here. Journaling has taken over for blogging it seems - I've written almost as much since Dec. 17 in Spain as I did the entire time I was in Rome!
It certainly hasn't been easy here. I think my hardest problem has been the language barrier. Sometimes I think I understand them and start a task, only to discover I missed a crucial instruction! (I'll tell you about the pine cone incident later).
Right now there's a party raging on the property. It's not just a farm; there's actually a small hotel and tonight it's full! I'm in front of the fire I MADE in the living room though (yeah, that's right, I can officially start a fire in a fireplace. I can also catch chickens).
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!! The Spaniards chuckled at me when I wished them Happy New Year instead of Feliz Ano (again, pretend there's a ~). We ate 12 grapes as the Church bell rang out midnight.
Note: the Spaniards I were with were much classier. However, there was confusion as to when to start eating grapes.
I would also like to inform you that I'm currently listening to one dog snore, and watching two other dogs twitch in their sleep. So far 2012 is off to a good start.
But seriously, 2011 was an amazing year. I met a lot of awesome people, started my nine months in Europe (and this blog), turned 21 (in Barcelona), and a million other good things. There were a lot of bumps - a lot - but it ended well.
2012 will be better. How do I know? I just do. Because I'm determined that now matter how good or bad it is sometimes I will try to find the good. I will remember that life goes on and life happens and this too shall pass. Even when you just want to wallow.
Because 2011 helped teach/reinforce a lot of that.
I want you to know that I didn't spend my Christmas alone after all. Although the family of the farm I'm staying on went to family last night and today, their neighbors came over and we had a wonderful dinner (the Spanish really do eat at 9 at night), wonderful wine, and wonderful conversation (in English and Castellano).
We also watched the end of The Muppets' Christmas and Ice Age 1.
Pictures will come, but probably not until I'm in Ireland - 18 days!!!!
