Measuring Up

November in Spain. The days are filled with up to 70 degrees of warmth (typically), and sunshine still graces the skies each day. I think it has rained – really poured and pounded and drenched the earth - a total of two times since I have been in Spain. I love the weather here – I've concluded that I am basically living in the Florida of Spain. :)

I have spent more time in Antilla and at my apartment this month. Part of that has been out of choice, out of a desire to make Antilla feel more like home and to develop a sense of community here, and part of it has been due to my health, or lack thereof (I caught a nasty flu that hung around for about a week, allowing me plenty of bonding time with my piso and my bed here). :)

Antilla is QUIET. It boasts and shouts and abounds in quietness. The weekends are the most populated and popular time here in Antilla, especially if the weather is warmer. I have concluded this about Antilla: people come here for the beach during the summer. People occasionally come here during the off seasons (aka, now) for a weekend beach get away if the weather is nice. And that is about it. I walk along the streets, CERRADO, CERRADO, CERRADO read all of the restaurants. The steel doors are shut, and windows are closed; the stores are not open for business. I look up at the apartment buildings – windows shut, curtains closed, windows shut, curtains closed. I walk back to my apartment – I glance at the fruiteria next door – closed. The cafeteria across the street – closed. Needless to say, it is difficult to build a sense of community when there doesn’t really seem to be one there surrounding you in the first place.

Now please don’t get me wrong, this quietness is not all bad. I am certain that God has me living here for a reason. And despite the quiet and lack of people, I have still found a strong sense of community in my school and the children that I work with (whom I see in the local Mercadona as they scream “TEACHER!” and run down the grocery aisle after me). I still love my apartment – it is beautiful and so peaceful. And I love having the beach as my backyard. Strolling on the beach, people watching, and listening to music are some of my favorite things to do. And being here where it is quiet gives me a lot of time to think. A lot of time to write. Read. Reflect. I am fairly certain that if I lived in Huelva, I would spend a great deal of my time with my American friends, not reading and writing. Some days, I wish I lived in Huelva. But then I also love living by the beach and I enjoy living by myself (98% of the time anyway). I guess it is true, that the grass is always greener on the other side. We always seem to wish for that which we don’t have. We think the other thing would be better. Contentment – perhaps this is another thing God desires for me to learn here. :)

My friends here in Spain are amazing. We are quite a unique mixture, but we all have something in common: we are searching. We are searching and questioning to try to find out what is the next step we want to take in our lives. We are curious. We are adventurous. And we are searching.

Huelva is my second home, and Ashley is one of my Spanish sisters. Ashley is one of my closest friends here in Spain, and she has been an amazing support and loyal friend to me during our time here. Her unending hospitality and kindness mean so much to me, and I feel truly in debt to her. She constantly opens her apartment to me, allowing for me to stay with her anytime I want or need. When I plop my head on Ashley’s red throw pillows after the one hour DAMAS bus ride to Huelva, I feel at home. As we eat French fries seasoned with Old Bay and watch Sex and the City, I feel at home. Ashley and I are two very different people – she views herself as sarcastic and witty, and I view myself as simple and happy. And I would say that all in all, it is amazing how well these differences work in our favor. We balance each other – we support each other – we are there for each other, always. And for this, I am extremely grateful.

Joanna is a second one of my closest friends here in Spain. She too lives in Huelva. She comes from a Catholic, Italian background, and at times you can hear a twinge of this strong thick Jersey accent come out. A Wisconsinite (Ashley), a Jersey girl, and a Southern belle – we are quite the trio. :) Hilarious – best one word summary of Joanna. We definitely have the same sense of humor – we find the same jokes, TV shows, and movies amusing. She has this incredible way of making anything sound funny – my friends and I have concluded that it is her unchanging tone of voice that makes her so hilarious. Jo is so level headed, logical, easy-going – all three things that I often wish I was more of.

Alicia. Red headed with gorgeous green eyes and ALWAYS a huge smile across her face. Alicia and I have gotten to know each other through a few trips – ones that she has made her to Antilla and the Portugal trip. She is so happy. So incredibly happy about life. She is always laughing, giggling, and making a joke about something. She is extremely sweet as well – an absolute sweetheart – when we are together, you can typically find us hugging or with our arms locked as we walk down the street. In Portugal we held hands and walked through the streets together until I awkwardly ran into a guy I had meet the night before (who later told me I should come to London and visit him right away. Maybe I should have told him that Alicia was my girlfriend?). Alicia is amazing, and I look forward to getting to know her even more.

And Julie. Sadly, Julie does not live in the Huelva province. Julie and I met each other in Sevilla because we had the same Spanish class together at CLIC. Julie lives in the province and city of Malaga, about a five hour trip away from Huelva. I have not been to visit her yet, but it is on my list to do very very very soon. :) She and I are like Spanish soul sisters. We just mesh. We enjoy doing the same things, we both try to remain positive and optimistic about everything, and we are always up for a good time. Hopefully we will be reunited soon. :)

So how am I measuring up here in Spain? In the words of Tim Cahill, “A journey is best measured in friends, rather than miles.” Perhaps Antilla is a bit quieter and smaller than I expected it to be. But I would honestly and confidently say that I’ve come a very long way on this journey, and I am extremely happy and thankful to be here. And I owe a great deal of my joy to the support and constant love of my friends here -- my friends, who I prefer to call my Spanish family.