Yes, I lived in Spain

I just had my first Spanish encounter in the States. Tough.
As of yesterday I made a 100% successful transition from country mouse life in Spain, to life as a city mouse in New York City.

The last week in Ronda was absolutely touching. The generosity. Aside from being a teary mess for nearly 9 days straight, saying goodbye to each piece of my life in Spain one by one - with outings, barbecues, play dates, lunches, and more - was difficult, to say the least. Leaving the serenity as well as the people. It was a beautiful reality.
Between my last day at the colegio, elementary school, with the little ones today where i received so many slobbery kisses, pictures, drawings, a song, a poem, and a lovely book of Ronda signed by the teachers, i feel so moved by the generosity and kindness of everyone in my life.
The director had written "She arrived an American, and is leaving a Rondena."

The teacher of the 4 year olds explained to the students that I was leaving, and going to a city far away that is very very big - with buildings that seem like they touch the sky. And she said "So, we need to say goodbye." They got in a line. I crouched down and each one gave me a kiss on each cheek and a hug with a "Buen Viaje Seno!" in their adorable 4 year old voices. One was even crying because she doesnt do well with change.

Between my roommates, friends, colleagues and students everyone truly expressed a thoughtfulness that left me awestruck at the kindness of the human race, and what a blessing the past year had been for me. On the same day I found out that my Project RiSA that was cocurrently holding a fundraiser at Crane Country Day School had raised more than 400 toothbrushes in 2 weeks, and had published a letter about the program in their newsletter. Generosity. Children inspired to make change by giving a toothbrush to a child in need in Latin America. Needless to say I was pretty overwhelmed by the end of the week, after Jen had prepared a complete photo album of our year. And I got a grand bon voyage by the 3 most important people in my life, who helped me carry my obscene amount of luggage to the train station - complete with a pastry from my favorite bakery, and tissues that say "Be Happy" (a little irony for you.)

The generosity continued as people helped me off the train with my stuff. The girl I was staying with for a night in Madrid (a fellow pilgrim on my hiking trail) met me at the train station to help with my luggage. Her and her boyfriend comforted me, and listened to my stories that had so harshly and suddenly become in the past tense. And they amazingly took the metro with me ALL the way to the airport the next day with my belongings. Generosity.

Remarkably listening to more english music than I had in months, watching 3 movies about New York on the plane, and sitting next to a girl that was so excited to go home did the trick. 8 hours after mounting the plane in one home - I got off in another. My new home - New York City. That afternoon I was walking around Central Park, and down a row of eateries that included mexican, sushi, ethiopian, italian, thai, and chinese I felt the change. (I picked Mexican). The diversity was impressive.

After finagling the housing situation (my mom working her charm) and running down to Time Square for some tourism it was time for orientation and classes. I am already heck high in group projects, chemistry labs, and environmental policy analysis. And surrounded with a kind, intelligent, and laid back group of colleagues. Pictures are on the wall. Tomorrow is about getting food in the fridge. And the Spain lifestyle has gotten into my veins. So I imagine that Saturday will be about buckling down and beginning the real work. Not so many tapas these days. But a lot of learning. And really no time to be excessively nostalgic. My past year has been whittled down to:
Student: "So what were you doing before this program?"
ME: "The past year I taught English in Spain."
Student: "Where in Spain?"
ME: "Andalucia, the south. In a little pueblo without a stoplight."
Student: "Wow, that is so cool!"
ME: "Yeah it was really wonderful." (I beam)

Except for the recent encounter with Mr Madrid. The Spaniard I met at the ice cream social in the International House - where I am living. He knew Ronda. "A very romantic city" Yes indeed.
Who knows what we will be saying or where we will be after this next year. Time will tell, I suppose.