I have arrived

Estoy aqui!  I  have been in Barcelona for a day and half now and it still hasn´t quite sunk in yet.  Possibly the stressful last day in Houston is making me numb to the fabulousness that is Barcelona.  Note to self...weigh...weigh...and more weigh.  I say this because the repacking at the airport an hour before an international flight is not the best way to begin things.  First let me me bitch about British Air and then do my own mia culpa.  British Air straight sucks!  Okay they reel you in with a really tantilizing ticket price and then begin the nickle and diming you to death.  They actually make you pay for a seat...last time I checked one can´t fly without a seat!  In fairness (very little) the conditions were that you can preselect your seat or wait until the day of and run the risk of getting stuck in between a fat business man that snores and a mom flying with an newborn on an international flight.  I´m not soooo annoyed by the 30 dollars for the seat selection but it was worth it.  The thing that really chaps my hide about British Airways is that on international flight they only allow ONE check in bag!   Seriously!  So I got hosed on the luggage side of things by BA.  My friend said I would love flying BA because of the great seats and food.  I wasn´t loving the food; had beef and mash and the seat was slightly better than Air France and KLM, but I can´t say I ¨loved¨the experience.  What I did like was the cute little British accents of the cabin crew.  I did not think I was partial to British accents because I figured I get enough of hearing people speak English with funny accents, but there was something decidely sexy about the accents...or maybe I was drunk.  Man I love the free alcohol on the international flights!!!  Ok enough about the US and complaints...on to first impressions about Barcelona flying solo. 
Hmmm....this city just has a vibe of personal expression.  While I was waiting for my temporary landlord I got to people watch and I was struck by the diversity of the populice of Barcelona.  For the few minutes that I had to wait I was moved by the thought that a person can see what

Leap of Faith

Just finished my last days as sn employee at my place of employment. Strangely I'm a little emtionless. I thought I would have had more feelings about leaving my job of nearly three years but I really don't. The past three years have been a kind of love/hate affair with my job. The job definately came at a time when I needed it most, it was a no stress, laid back, flexible situation that paid decent money. My boss spent 75% of the year out of the country and I was the only employee in the office. Nice set up right? One would think. There are times during my tenure that I thought for sure I would slit my wrist with a dull butter knife. Other times I was able to fully grasp the bon I'd received by landing this job. My employment situation allowed me to study and complete my degree, placed on intellectual demands upon me but nor did it actually provide any professional growth. The solitude of the position was a times my best friend and at other times my worst enemy. Not having co-workers to interact with, gossip with, share the work load, bitch about the boss on a daily basis was a little depressing. On the flipside I had no interoffice infighting, no jockeying for position with the boss and no co-worker undermining my work. I can say that I did not miss those experiences. One thing really positive that all of the solitude afforded me was the time to dream. My dream of moving to abroad had taken root years ago but the fragile tenticles sprouting from those dreams grasping for reality started taking shape in the four walls of Real Technology. My first opportunity to take a trip to Europe came when John and Ken starting talking about a trip they were going to take in 2007. I'd only been working at my job for about 3 months and had no vacation but I knew I wanted to go. I asked, or rather invited myself along on their trip to what was then Germany, Austria and Prague. As the planning flew into high gear Paris and Rome where added; afterall one can't take one's first trip to Europe and NOT see Paris (well at least according to John...one of the many reasons I love him!) We added Rome because as a little girl I always invisioned myself ah-la-Audrey Hepburn moterscootering around Rome like in the movie "Roman Holiday"; so those guys were game enough to let me live out my girlhood dream so Rome was added!

I can honestly say that trip changed my life on so many levels. First thing that I was confronted was my fear. I believe one of the reasons dreams remain dreams and turn into a life unfulfilled is fear. The trip with John and Ken tackeled so many of my fears surrounding my dream of moving abroad. The circumstances surrounding this trip were not condusive for me going. I had just started a new job, had no vacation time and really could not afford a 17 day European vacation that included 5 countries. I did not realize it but this trip was really a crossroad for me. On the surface to some it might appear to be a frivolous indulgence considering my situation or something more meaningful and life altering. We started planning this trip in October 2007. In order to make it work financially I decided to take a part-time job. The demands of my regular job were pretty light, I felt I could easily do another 5-6 hours to make the extra money for my trip. Sooo...I landed a job in a call center doing radio surveys. It was a truly annoying job where we called people asking if they would participate in a survey regarding the radio stations they listen to and for their inconvienence...we send the $2-$5. What I missed out in co-worker interaction at my regular job I got in SPADES at my part-time job. I worked there for 5 months and observed all of the intrique of interoffice romances, coworking backstabbing; petty gossip...man it was AWESOME! There were so many colorful characters there I could probably write a book about my experience. Another good thing that came out of hte experience was that during that time I really came to love and appreciate the solitude of my regualar job.(lol)

April 2008 arrived and many leaps of faith later it was time for us to depart for Europe. I say leaps of faith because I received many blessings along the way and the ability to believe that I was going to make the trip when many things pointed to it not being a reality.  First just getting the days off was an accomplishment.  Once the vacation was approved by boss...well I did not actually give them a choice...I positioned in a way that they did not have to think about yes or no...just an ok.  The three of us were truly stepping out on faith that we would survive 17 days together:-). As I mentioned; this trip changed my life. John and Ken were the perfect people to take this adventure with. They provided me with a sense of protection that travel with two men who had been to Europe before affords. Ken is super-organized and was the keeper of all information. John is all things factual and he knew so many interesting details about each city we visited. My job was simple...soak it all up:-) So what did I learn on my first trip that changed my life? Well, I learned what it is to be my ideal of an American. Some good, some bad but all of it was eye opening.  Many myths were shattered and many unpleasant impressions about Americans were realized.  I'd like to think that I have never been what people from other countries experienced in some Americans. The ones that go to other countries and are upset that no one speaks english are in search of McDonalds. Isn't the purpose of world travel to soak in other cultures and expereince different ways of life? Prior to Europe I'd only traveled to the Carribean to the Dominican Republic. I stayed on a 5-star resort but the most fun I had while there was spent off the resort. We were invited by one of the guys that worked on the resort to a beach cookout. The guys actually caught the fish right out of the Carribean Ocean, gutted and prepared it and cooked it over an open fire on the beach! I wasn't sure if I could handle my food THAT fresh! I mean, shit...the eyes where still on staring up at me and where were the perservatives and artificial coloring!?! Once I overcame my Amercian sensibilites I can honestly say that that was one of the best meals of my life! What an experience! The simplicity and honesty of that meal has always stayed with me. I would never have had the experience if I would have stayed on the reservation. So I looked at my trip to Europe the same way. So in France, I attempted, failed and mutilated French with a couple of successes. In Rome, my attempts at the language probably sounded more like Spanish than Italian:-) Sad to say that I did not try any German in Germany and Prague was completely out of the question. John and I could even figure out how to say "hello" or anything else in that language. We said we do better the next time.  I think one of the most important things I got on that trip was the sense of I could make this happen!  Not just dream about it but put things in motion to move toward my goal.  When I got back home literally my engines started reering!  I started thinking "how am I going to make this happen?  The question of not doing this was no longer apart of the equation.  When I got back home all I knew was that I was going back to Europe again, soon and eventually to stay.  After my return each day in my office of one I planned, researched and created scenarios of what, how, why and when my move would take place.  It became my obsession.  My job became a blessing in that sense that I had time to dream and see myself actually living outside the U.S.  I had time to surf the net for facts, fiction and urban myths about an American trying to make the leap and move to Spain.  Some of the information was and is scary; such as Spain's unemployment rate, the dollars decline agains the euro....both good reasons to maybe second guess a move to Europe the same thing is happening in the U.S. so what the heck.  Leap of faith can't happen without the leaping part. 

Starts and Finishes

Man...two weeks before I leave! What a crazy milestone. Times like these really make me think about so many things, all the starting and finishing that are going on in my life right now. Routines I'm leaving, adventures that are waiting for me, people I'm leaving and the poeple that I will be meeting and the comforts of home that I am trading in for unknown challenges and adjustments of a foreign country. This move creates a crazy dichotomy of emotions and honestly it is making me crazy with anxiety and unfortunately mangnifying my hypochondria...LOL Most people who know me know that I am a borderline hypochondriac. I actually like to think my hypochondria is just one of those entertaining and interesting little facoids that makes Charlotte...well Charlotte. Secretly at times I can secretly acknowledge that this phobia is just plain crazy! But most of the time I just can't help myself! I truly CAN NOT listen to anyone describing an illnesses OR INJURY without mentally doing a quick internal check on myself for the symptoms. Seriously! IT IS insane! No matter if it is an illness or injury my mind briefly dwells in the "awwww...poor you" moment but quickly goes into full launch of "crap, I might have that!" In my crazy I have had full-on instant Lupus, Scoliosis, immediate need for a hip replacement and appendicitis...just to name a few. And my crazy doesn't just apply to me...I also give my friends illness to. My friend Hank was telling a group of us how he had recently had completed a series of rountine and annual cancer screens and that the results were all fine. Something took a wrong turn in my mind and in my version as I retold the story to a another group of friends, Hank had "survived" cancer!!! Luckily Angie and Tina were there when Hank told the story, totally called me out on it and had me correct my error!

However, that scenario just reminded me of how I don't do well with illness. I guess if I examine this emotion carefully it probably stems back to the fact that both of my parents were younger than I am now when they past away. My Mother from cancer and my Father from heart disease. In a past professional incarnation I worked as an Admission Coordinator at a nursing home and there is nothing there but death and illness under the guise of upscale senior living facility. My job was to "sell" adult children that our facility was the best place for their parents that could no longer live independently. An in all honesty the place was really really nice but the unspoken "thing" in every pre-admission tour with adult children was that their parents would not be living our facility alive. Not to be "Debbie Downer" or anything but just making the point that maybe my hypochondria has some basis of reality. I better move onto something else before I am totally depressed. Anywho...I guess I need to work on letting all that stuff go in the vien of finishing things:-) Truth be told other than being a little rubenesque I really don't have any serious health problems with the exception of a bit of hypertension that is completly managable with medication...and if I change my diet and exercise regualarly I can totally come off the meds.

So finish my conversation about that I am going to get some debiltating illness and start talking about how healthy I am because I do healthy things. Soooo other starts and finishes. There are several things I'm starting with my move to Spain and this is the place where I want to hold myself accountable. Running is a new first for me. I technically have already started in December but I MUST continue is running consistently. It's also a tribute to my sister Nicole who started running in August of 09 and ran her first half marathon in January 2010. Go Nicole! She and I are similary built and where as I have hypertension she suffered from heart disease during her pregnancy years ago, however she finished her conversation about not being a runner and started running!

Two Weeks from today!

Two weeks from today at this time I am on the plane leaving for spain!!!

I'm mobile

Things are getting heavy

Okay…when you make the decision to do a move of this magnitude you have got to be ORGANIZED and have a plan. I’m really good at the planning part and only somewhat good at the organizational stuff…somewhat. Truthfully I have always been the “Big Idea” girl. One time I went into business with one of my best friends a few years ago and we were sooooo excited. We thought we were knowledgeable and would complement each other really well. At least until realized that we were both “big idea people” and we both totally sucked at handling the details. Needless to say our business folded very quickly…and ended our bid for “world domination”.
The thing I am kvetching about now is there is now a situation connected with my move that is forcing me to acknowledge that I am the person that loves painting the broad strokes and forecasting the end results; and in my world the results are always “fabulous”; however it is the small details that can completely derail you if you are not careful. This move is also forcing me to recognize that I HATE the nuts and bolts of making things work BUT that I HAVE gain the skills quickly to help me realize that moving abroad has lots of little moving parts. It is true that I have done well with the broad strokes. I took action and decided where and when to move, mapped how to make it work financially. I feel I’ve made a very good career choice for living abroad. I understand the ins and outs of how I will be able to stay in Spain after my tourist visa runs out and very importantly, I AM totally flexible with having to go to a country other than Spain for a short term assignment for work if the need arises. I bought my ticket, did the research to take my dog and I EVEN have a couple of vacations planned once I arrived. Hell, I have a back up to my back up plan! That being said why is it that I can’t keep up with the simplest of things and I haven’t even left the country?!? UGH! Admittedly I am venting out of frustration of having lost something essential to Harper being able to travel, but this situation has also made me wonder if this is symptomatic of a much larger issue.
Okay…a little back story. Saturday I took Harper in to get groomed and to get his micro chip; it seems that I can’t take Harper to Europe without him having the chip. I paid for said chip … AND my vet…who is fabulous (BTW) handed me the card and gave very simple and easy to follow instruction to me for activating the chip so Harper can be tracked. Most importantly I need this information to send to the USDA in Austin so they can issue Harper’s approval to enter Spain. Guess what?…I lost it! Yep…in the span of three days I have lost the activation cards and I am now faced with a couple of really icky options. So my options are, one…my vet may have the number on file and can tell me where to call or two…Harper has to be re-chipped. Not only is that an expense but how crappy will it be if I have to take him in again for that? Ughh! So this situation has me examining what I KNOW is a shortcoming of mine, I am only somewhat good at organization (translation…not really good at all). I’ve got to get better and better RIGHT NOW! My friend Angie suggested I buy a file organizer to but important information that I need to get to quickly and just carry with me. Good idea and I did it! But I was just a few days too late to save Harper’s chip activation cards, they’re GONE! I’m really trying not to blow this out of proportion but I ‘m a little frustrated with myself for not being able to keep up with something so important! I really can’t afford to carry this type of behavior to Europe. And unfortunately I have a bit of a history of losing important things :-(
So I'm outing myself along with my friend Angela by default (sorry friend). On my first trip to Europe I lost and found my passport twice. The first time I left my passport at the check in desk in Amsterdam and not 30 minutes later I left my passport at a food bar. Thank goodness I was traveling with John and Ken who are super organized. The second time a nice gentleman returned it to me. You would think I'd learned my lesson...but no. The second time I went to Europe; this time with Angela, I actually lost my passport on the flight over to Paris. Yep…I lost my passport on the plane…hey it could happen! We spent the whole day trying to make me legal to enter France. After almost having guns drawn on us by the French police, a mad race through the streets of Paris to make it to the Embassy on time and a second scarier encounter with the American Embassy police I was able to get a replacement passport. There was some promising improvement in me and I think I learned a little something from that experience because on my last trip to Europe I did not lose my passport at all...Angie did:-) but I did not. Anyway…bottom line is that I need to break bad habits and become organized to compliment my great planning skills.