Two Months or Two Years?

Hello!! Bienvenido a 2024!! I hope all of you had a fantastic Christmas filled with family and rest, and that your new year started smoothly (but really, does it ever?? Haha). These past two months have felt like a century! Let's get into it :)

December

I flew back to the United States on the first of December because my brother, Griffin, was getting married! We had bank holidays on the 6th 7th and 8th here in Spain, so I only missed two days of class. It was so nice and a bit strange to be home. Honestly, it felt as though I had never left, and leaving home was much more difficult the second time.

I met with friends, hung out with my family, attended the wedding, and had LOTs of fun. It is crazy how fast a trip like that goes by. Sometimes I wish I could slow time down.

When I arrived back in Spain, we had a week and a half of school left before Christmas Break. I did not do much because my students were testing. On the 23rd Jana and I left for our long, 2-week Christmas trip!

Christmas

We started our trip in Alicante with a family friend of Jana’s parents. Even though I did not know the family we were staying with, it was so sweet to spend Christmas with people that felt familiar. We attended a Christmas Eve service at their bilingual church, ate dinner with the people there, and gallivanted around the beaches. It was warm and perfect in almost every way. You can see pictures on that part of my page.

After staying in Alicante for four nights, Jana and I flew to Venice! I have always wanted to go to Venice after playing a video game as a kid that was set there (Nancy Drew, if you know you know). It was freezing cold compared to Alicante and it was cloudy, but it was so cool to walk the streets lined with water and to do research on the history of Venice. We intended to go on a gondola ride, but it was 90 Euros and honestly, every person we saw on a gondola looked cold and sad. We figured out pretty quickly that Venice is a place you travel to when you can pay for museums, so I will be going back (once I marry rich).

After three nights, we took a train from Venice to Florence. There were a few hiccups with Florence, like my not knowing about the tram from the train station to the hostel, which resulted in a mile and a half walk on the highway with all our stuff. I also was sick most of the first day we were there, so Jana and I spent both mornings on our own. We did a walking tour our first night which was my favorite, and I toured the Pitti Palace after a run on my own (and set off an alarm because I stepped off the carpet). We spent New Year's in Florence as well which was quite a time. I was tackled to the ground at one point. Good memories.

Then, we took a train from Florence to Rome at 8 am on New Year’s morning. A bit of a goof on my part, but it was the cheapest train. We slept in the train station and then checked into our hostel and slept in the common room there until our room was ready. We did not do much on New Year’s Day in Rome because we had three full days after to spend making our way around. The first two days we spent time doing everything free there is to do: Spanish steps, Trevi fountain, churches, etc. Our last day in Rome was my favorite. We toured the Colosseum and the Roman Forum as well as walked through Saint Peter's Basilica. There are LOTS of pictures.

Our flight home was at 6 am at an airport around 40 minutes away by bus (another goof on my part, but again, the cheapest flight.) We planned on taking a 4 am bus straight to the airport, but we could not find the bus stop, and then the bus left 5 minutes earlier than it was supposed to. We hopped on a different 4:15 bus and made it to the airport by 5:05. Somehow, we ran through security and made it to our gate three minutes before it closed at 5:30. We flew to Malaga, and then took a 5 1/2-hour bus from Malaga to the town I am living in. We got back around 4:30 pm. (around 13 hours of traveling... oof)

Jana and I took a quick power nap when we arrived home, then were up and our again with some of our Spanish friends to see the De los Reyes Procession (their celebration of the three kings who visited Jesus). It was somewhat similar to the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade but a small town version where they throw stale candy at you. It was very interesting haha.

My favorite part of our trip was the running I did. I made it a point to get up early and run in each city to beat the tourists and to see the sights with the sunrise. It did NOT disappoint. (and yes, I ran alone, I’m sorry Mom). When running in new cities, I always research neighborhoods to avoid, and popular running routes as well. Most of the time I wind up planning my own. I also always make sure to run towards tourist attractions and avoid secluded areas. Seeing as I was in larger cities, there were always other runners, cyclists, or early risers out. At the very least, people opening their Café’s for the day.

January

This month has been a bit of a crazy one. Jana’s parents came into town two days after we got home. It is so sweet to see familiar faces, and for people from home to experience what we are experiencing. They left the following Thursday for a trip to different cities, so I had the apartment to myself for the weekend.

Races!

A teacher at my school signed herself and me up for a 10k night race on the 13th! The race took place in the capital of our region, Jaen for a holiday called San Anton (a new-year’s holiday for burning things from the past). I was SO excited and it did not disappoint. The town we are racing in is one big hill, so it was a doozy (160 meters of elevation gain, around 524 ft). Even so, I PRed my 10k time at 57 min 58 seconds! There was not a moment when I was running with space. Spectators lined the streets the entire race while holding torches. It was CRAZY! I raced with my teacher friend Victoria, and her boyfriend. We also hung out with her mom for several hours before the race. It was so sweet!

I decided back in October to sign up for a half marathon, and the time finally came around for my race. On the 27th I woke up at 3 am and took an early bus to Seville (once again, sorry mom). I slept on the couch at a friend’s apartment and woke up on the 28th ready to go!! There is something about a Race Morning that makes me happy. All the prep and planning and training to go and actually do the thing! The weather was absolutely perfect (crisp air but warm sunshine-type weather), and the high during the race was 19 degrees C (65 F ish). The race was so fun (as fun as 13.1 miles can be)!

I felt very strong and good to go until about km 11 (around mile 7). I hit a heavy wall and both of my calf muscles cramped up, and I spent the next 5k (3 miles) hobbling along the course. It was more of a mental battle than a physical one, but we pushed through!! For the last 2 km (about a mile and ½) I felt like I was flying. I am so proud of myself for signing up and sticking to training and running on my own! My friends Jana, Sophia, and Quinn traveled to Seville to spectate and cheer me on, which was such a joy!! I had a blast, and (after almost 50,000 steps for the day) we traveled back to Ubeda.

Along the same vein, my English-speaking friends in town were somehow inspired by my steps to quit drinking alcohol and train. Most of them have decided to sign up for a 10k in Madrid in April, and I finally get to support THEM as they race. Just a little reminder that the things you do matter and affect the people around you! Also, it’s a good reminder that usually it takes a village. Creating goals (like running a 10k) is more fun and easier when you do it with friends (I.E. accountability!!)! We were not created to do things on our own. If you’re wanting to try a race, sign up with a friend!

Speaking of signing up for races... Because I’m crazy, I am looking at signing up for another Olympic Triathlon (to redeem the Aquathon I raced last summer). The race would be on May 18 in Alicante, and the swim portion would be in the ocean (which is a bucket-list item of mine)!

Birthdays!

Jana’s birthday was on January 16th and we celebrated that night with our friends and then celebrated again on the weekend when we did not have school the next day. It is so fun to get to celebrate our friends and make them feel special!

The day after the half marathon was my birthday! I went to work and then took a nap when I got home. A very eventful day! My friends and I are celebrating this weekend with a party at the bowling alley in town. I cannot tell you how excited I am. I love bowling!

That brings us all updated to today, January 31st. If you made it through the play-by-play, go get yourself a little treat (or even if you didn’t), you deserve it!

Prayer Requests

After lots of prayer and weighing the pros and cons, I have decided to seek out full-time job opportunities next year in Spain! I knew coming into this adventure, that the probability of my staying was high. I have longed to live internationally for almost 10 years and have absolutely fallen in love with the people and culture here. (I also am so stubborn and see learning Spanish as a challenge now, so I really can't leave until I am fluent). Please be praying for the schools I am interviewing with and their availability. I am confident that the Lord will open and close opportunities and am excited to see where I land!

Along the same lines as finding a job opportunity, brings into question what I am doing with my summer. I have worked at Camp All American every summer for the past 9 years, and am a bit lost with what to do. I can stay in Spain and work at English camps, or go home and find a coffee shop to work at. If anyone has any tips or tricks or advice on what to do with weird 3-month gaps between seasons of life, I would love to hear your wisdom. (Preferably that would result in my ability to make money as flights back and forth to Europe are $$$$)

Also please keep in your prayers my family at home and my homesickness that pops up often. I miss them loads and wish that I could be in two places at once. I don’t quite understand why the Lord has me here for the time being, but I have never been more confident in my decisions and stepping into the Lord’s will than I am now.

As always, you guys are my most avid supporters and I miss all of you as well. If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a thousand times. If you want to come to Spain, you always have a place to stay with me :)

Y’all are the best! Love you! TTYL XOXO

Your resident American in Spain <3