6 Years Ago, I Moved to Spain. You Won’t Believe What’s Happened. [Part 9/9 – Year 6 and Onward: There’s No Going Back Now]

[Click here to read Part 1Part 2Part 3Part 4Part 5Part 6, Part 7, and Part 8]

On August 16th, I returned to my beloved Spain after two weeks of being in my birth country. As soon as the airport-city shuttle bus spun into motion, I felt like I’d jumped into the arms of a long-lost lover.

I was home.

Continue reading “6 Years Ago, I Moved to Spain. You Won’t Believe What’s Happened. [Part 9/9 – Year 6 and Onward: There’s No Going Back Now]”

6 Years Ago, I Moved to Spain. You Won’t Believe What’s Happened. [Part 8/9 – Return to Michigan]

[Click here to read Part 1Part 2Part 3Part 4Part 5, Part 6, and Part 7]

A plethora of American accents buzzed through my ears while I was still in the Barcelona airport. I guess that’s what happens when you fly on American Airlines.

I came back to the United States after being awake for nearly 24 hours.

I saw my mom for the first time in two years. I saw my brothers for the first time in five years. I met my nephews for the first time, one of which was my godson. I wondered what they’d thought of me—this aunt they had heard about and seen in photos, who didn’t live in America, was finally in front of them.

Continue reading “6 Years Ago, I Moved to Spain. You Won’t Believe What’s Happened. [Part 8/9 – Return to Michigan]”

6 Years Ago, I Moved to Spain. You Won’t Believe What’s Happened. [Part 6/9 – Year Four: Sink or Swim]

[Click here to read Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, and Part 5]

Since I renewed my teaching assignment at my school, I didn’t have to reintroduce myself. My teaching environment would be the same since I arrived in Spain three years before.

And this time, I wasn’t alone.

My school received another language assistant from Australia. It was her fourth year in Spain, like me, and also her second year in Gran Canaria, like me.

Continue reading “6 Years Ago, I Moved to Spain. You Won’t Believe What’s Happened. [Part 6/9 – Year Four: Sink or Swim]”

6 Years Ago, I Moved to Spain. You Won’t Believe What’s Happened. [Part 5/9 – Year Three: Silver Lining]

[Click here for Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, and Part 4]

I continued to spend time with the church group.

I wanted so badly to tell someone, anyone, about my heartbreak. But I kept quiet. Who would care? Everyone liked this guy.

He was so handsome, charismatic, had a cool job, and was a “good Christian man,” the one my parents may have wanted me to marry, except it turns out that not all “good Christian men” are good Christians.

Continue reading “6 Years Ago, I Moved to Spain. You Won’t Believe What’s Happened. [Part 5/9 – Year Three: Silver Lining]”