Family

Part of me doesn't want to write these blogs about the last days of my Spanish life. Because writing makes things real. Just like sometimes people don't want to talk about things...because somehow we think that if we don't acknowledge something, if we don't have that difficult conversation about it or if we don't write it down, then maybe it never really happened. But avoidance is not the way I want to experience leaving Spain or the way I want to live my life. So here it is. :)

All of my American girlfriends and I got together in Spain a couple of weeks before I left to go to the US. There are six of us in the group (left-right): Ashley, me, Alicia, Katelyn, Amanda, and Joanna.





We have all been living in the Huelva province for the past nine months, and I am so thankful for each one of them. These women have become family to me.

We enjoyed tasty fajitas and delicious Spanish white wine and lots of reminiscing about our favorite moments of Spain. Most awkward moments, most frustrating moments, most exciting moments -- they were all relived. Amanda having her foot broken, me with the dreaded taxi strike at Christmas, all of us traveling to Lagos together...it was really fun to talk about the past nine months with people who have been there through every step of the way. :) And Joanna so thoughtfully and sweetly created a slide show of our time in Spain -- she literally took pictures from all of our facebook photo albums and formed a huge slide show beginning in September and going all the way up until now. It was incredibly thoughtful and touching, and needless to say we were all teary-eyed by the end of it. :)

I love these women so much, and I am so thankful that they have become a part of my life. I think back to this time last year, or even, before this time. I think back to March of 2009, and how unhappy I was with my life. Everything I had planned and figured out for my life was not happening. Graduate programs were rejecting me, my long-term dating relationship had ended...I had no idea what to do. And to think now of how much my life has changed, and for the better, is incredible. And if those difficult and challenging things had not happened, if God had not taken away some of the good things in my life, I never would have been blessed with something better. And I am just so incredibly thankful for these past nine months and the family I have been able to share them with. :) I am going to miss these women an unreal amount, but I'm learning that it is better to meet new people and be away from them for some period of time then to never have met them at all. As painful as it can be, that is what growth and change and real life is all about. And as they say, "You never really leave a place or person you love, part of them you take with you, leaving a part of yourself behind.” And I am certain that I will carry these ladies, my family, in my heart forever.



With immense gratitude,
Brittany

Road trip (Euro style!)!

I don't know about you, but one of my secret desires had always been to take a road trip...European style. So when my dear friend Joanna suggested that we rent a car and hop over to Lisbon (Lisboa), Portugal for a few days, I was ECSTATIC! We quickly booked a hostel and rented the car, and last Monday-Wednesday, Joanna and I explored Portugal! This was honestly one of the most fun and interesting trips I have ever taken -- Portugal is such a beautiful country, and its character and personality remind me a lot of Spain (which I think largely contributes to why I like Portugal so much). :)

Jo was our driver (since I have no idea how to drive stick)...




And after enjoying the green fields and mountains of Portugal, we arrived at our beautiful hostel (I definitely recommend it if you are travleing to Lisbon -- it's the Traveler's Inn)!



The next day was full of exploring the plazas and side streets of Lisbon...








After walking through the thick heat and steep hills, we were surprised by the breath-taking views of Lisbon and a well-hidden, but also well-worth the hunt, flea market! The flea market was fantastic -- a true random mixture of everything from buttons to boxers to t-shirts to battered and well-traveled suitcases. Jo and I spent a bit of time meandering through the streets, taking pictures, and purchasing small things here and there from the vendors. :)









And as in most European cities, there is a castle in Lisbon. :) The castle in Lisbon is located on the very top of a huge hill, so you must truly work for the views....but they are always worth it in the end. This castle wasn't as impressive as some -- not as big or ornate as some of the other places we have seen -- but the views were amazing. Lisbon, from the bird's eye, really reminds me of a mixture of Florence and a Spanish city. Red and orange colored roofs fill the landscape of the city while hills and a river below occupy the remaining space. Although the weather was HOT the day we traveled, we were fortunate for such a blue-skyed and sunny day -- it was truly the best kind of day for seeing the city and taking pictures. :) After enjoyed the views, we (of course) had to take some silly pictures along the way...






After the castle and a quick bite to eat, we headed back to the hostel to freshen up for a minute. This was our plan: Change clothes, rush to the huge steel elevator in Lisbon (which is known for amazing city views) and have a drink at the top of the elevator before it closes. We successfully changed clothes and made it to the elevator before 9pm (closing time), but for some reason the elevator wasn't in operation when we arrived. Regardless, the views of the city from the higher up floor of the building (where you board the elevator) were still beautiful.





The night was filled with delicious drinks and making many new friends -- we met hilarious Germans, sweet Portuguese men, and at the end, a fun-loving and, as the British would say, "fit" group of guys. The nightlife was surprisingly alive considering that we were out on a Tuesday night, but maybe the Portuguese are like the Spanish -- if there are people, there is always a party. :)










Wednesday we hopped over to a couple of stores close to our hostel (H&M!), and then made the 3.5 hour trip back home. Joanna and I were truly so blessed with this trip -- our hostel was nice, the weather was beautiful, and everything was just easy. Besides one minor turn-around and having to pay an 18 Euro toll (twice), we didn't have any major problems. I'm sad that I won't have more of those random European weekend trips when I return home, but more than being sad, I am thankful for all of the good times I have had. I hope and pray that when I return home I keep this attitude of openness and desire to make the most of every opportunity put before me -- for there are incredible things to explore at home in the United States and even in our own hometowns too, if we will only seek them out. :)



Keep on exploring,
Brittany :)