Since I last wrote about a month ago, a lot has happened. I've moved to a new city in Spain, A Coruña, and well... that's about it, but it took a lot to find a place to move to and I've been very busy since the move about three weeks ago. My previous living situation in Madrid wasn't working out. I'll spare you the gory details but suffice it to say I was pretty miserable, but I refused to allow myself to waste a year of my life like that.
I'm actually pretty proud of the way I recognized a bad situation and then took steps to fix it. In the past I have chose to let frustration and disappointment consume me until a bad situation became much worse. Again, I will spare you the details but if you're really interested, ask me about that one weird year at college.
Four week ago when I recognized that I needed to get out of Madrid I was able to find a really wonderful family, living just outside of A Coruña, who was in need of an au pair. The schedule leaves me plenty of time for classes and private tutoring. Lola is a flight attendant for Air Europa and Chuny is an engineer and professional sailor. I haven't been able to meet Chuny yet because he is currently competing in the Volvo Ocean Race. He will be home for four days this weekend between the first and second legs of the race, and I'm looking forward to meeting him. They have three children Lola (12), Carlos (10) and Pepa (7). What a world of difference from the family I was living with in Madrid. Literally. This family is a global family, having traveled all over the world, even living in New Zealand for six months.
The children are fun to be around, they are smart and generally pretty respectful and polite. They really have become like younger siblings to me and as an only child, that really does mean a lot. Susana, the family's previous nanny is looking for work outside of Spain, but since she's still here she has been so tremendously helpful. Everyone that I've encountered here has been helpful and lovely.
The first few weeks I immediately connected with Lola and Carlos, but it took Pepa a little longer to warm up to me. I was nervous about it, but eventually she came around. In fact, one afternoon I was doing Pepa's hair for Lola's 12th birthday party when Pepa asked me if I was coming to the party. I replied "Yep! If that's okay with you." She turned to me and said "Of course! You're part of our family now." That about brought me to tears. The family you're born to is one thing, but the family that you choose and who chooses you is a special kind of family and I don't remember the last time I felt so special. I'm just so much happier and now I'm really looking forward to spending the rest of my year with this wonderful, generous and kind family in Galicia.
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| Carlos, Lola, Me and Pepa at Plaza de Maria Pita |
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