So as the days grew closer and closer to the end, I knew it wasn´t the end. It was just a new beginning. As my friend, Corey´s mom, once told me- it is just another path we are taking, some of us will travel with us on the same path for a while and then might take another path of their own but we are all on our own special paths trying to find where we are heading. It is a journey but we are there for a reason and as we travel together we will find out who we are and who we will become.
Corey´s mom made such an impact on me...and so did my friends here in Spain. Corey, has left for Italy, thank goodness its only for a couple weeks. It gave me a bit of stability knowing that she was coming back. Christine, a great friend of mine that I have known for two years left last week. There was a mixup and it cost me not being able to say goodbye to her....I was furious. I knew I wouldnt see her for another year or two. I took an extra trip just to make sure I could say goodbye on a day that I was supposed to make up hours for the school but I checked with the teachers and quickly head into Malaga to say goodbye to her and Alex, her fiance. I spent a quick breakfast with them and headed back. I thought for sure I would cry, but didnt. I turned back to see her and Alex waving at me, and I knew....I would see them again. As much as I make Christine nervous, she told me that she wouldnt come back and live here forever without her girls, Corey and me. I dont know if its true...she would be happy here without us but the comment will stay in my heart forever.
Christine´s friend, Melissa had come over from Extramadura, a friend of hers from back home and we had realized we are quite alike. I enjoyed Melissa´s visits every time she came down. It was really hard seeing her go although technically I didnt say goodbye...face to face. It had to be done on email and sometimes life hands you a curve ball and you have to run with it. I hope to see her again...I will see her again...and when I do unite with Corey, Christine and Melissa again, it will be a memory that will never be forgotten.
My old roommate was from Denmark. Her name Sanne, she was amazing. The sweet, caring girl who always was a great listener was an amazing friend-kind of roommate. Her plans were to move out at the end of April but when tables were turned, the Argentian woman, Irene decided to move, we all ended up moving at the end of April. Sanne rented a place with her boyfriend in another part of town. I moved in with her Danish friends, Camila, Mette, and Anita, three amazing girls from Denmark. I didn´t see much of Sanne after that. It was crazy and time passed quickly. All of a sudden, it was time to say goodbye. We spent our last day on the beach-claro! It was fantastic. We took the boogie boards out into the meditterean...really cold but oh so much more fun on the boogie board. It wasnt like a goodbye-it was more like a Ill see you later...but I didnt know if it was really true.
Nandi, my co-worker, my friend, my closest gal pal who was by my side most of Spain (Oct 09-June 10) experience left as well. It was a hard decision and at last minute, she decided to go. We spent most of our time together in cafe´s, salsa clubs or on the paseo (me running and her on a bike encouraging me to run)...she was a strong character and of course we bumped heads alot but she was dependable. She walked 45 minutes to come to my apt just to do yoga with me because I was in so much pain from training. She rode a bike to pass me my aquarious-(the gatoraide of Spain) while I was running. She spent hours explaining about monkey balls-she studied them and did lab work on them...it was quite interesting and we loved our time at the Sandpiper discussing it. We also went to "study" at a bar to see Hannibal, the bartender. We went to the mezquita to have the best morrocan tea and to talk to Butt picker and Franco...Nandi was the best at nic names. I wont forget all of her silly nicnames for everyone here. It hasnt hit me yet although I went to the airport with her and knew she was really going. Its beginning to hurt.
I never got to say goodbye to some of the other americans in Fuengirola...time cut too short and some goodbyes are still happening but last week was too much for me. Today was my last day of school. A few of the children got me gifts which are totally ok to accept in Spain. I recieved a purse, a butterfly case to hold my jewelry and a necklace. The four year olds all gave me a hand colored page with "thanks Tracy" across the top. It was so cute that I thought for sure I would cry. I am sooooo sensitive. I didn´t. Wierd really...I did last year and I knew I was coming back but this year I know I am not and I didnt cry. I ran into one of the students at the supermarket. It was one of the most problematic students I have and he never does his work. I am always picking on him and telling him to work. His mother told me how much he talks about me and loves english class with me. It was shocking and when she told me this, I knew Milda, my best friend was right, when she told me that teaching does make a difference. I always wanted to be a nurse do to the fact I could see the difference I was making in everyday work. Teaching is harder to see that difference. You dont always see the differences that you make daily. I saw that students mother today again. She told me she organized a letter with students names and parents names on it to petition to the Spanish government to let me stay at the school one more year. It took me back really, I told her thanks but I knew it wouldnt do anything. I made a difference. I told all the students as I headed off that this wasnt goodbye, I would come back on the last day of school to say goodbye. Maybe thats why I didnt cry. Who knows.
I showed all 5th and 6th graders the cd I made for Carroll High School. I went back to my highschool last summer to encourage the students to travel to Spain and I showed pics of the students and all the festivals I celebrated in Spain- día de la paz, día de la mujer, día del juego, Carnaval, Navidad en Madrid, el año nuevo-noche vieja and more. So I decided to show them the cd powerpoint with photos of them in it. They all loved it. It was quite a long day and when I came home, we had another visitor. I dont have 3 roommates...i have much more than that. Camila has her friend Enya over and now Monica came for a week, friend of Mette...it is crazy and I love every second of it. Dennis was there cutting everyone´s hair. He is a friend of Camila´s and he gave us all a deal. I got my hair highlighted as well.
I headed off to a dinner which Ellena had made, another american in Fuengirola but she just moved to Malaga. So when Lacy, Tomas and I entered, we were late but it was worth it. An international dinner, there were people from China, Korea, Granada, France, Senegal, Venezuela and of course America-we were all joined together to eat. It reminded me of Alabama-all the dinners Milda and I put together for our international friends...feeding foreigner fridays....oh the memories. We never should be content in our lives because we never know if it will get better....and it has for me. I have grown up so much while here in europe. Passing through one country after another learning about cultures and food and languages has changed me forever. I found a boyfriend from Antequera, Spain and am very happy. I never thought I would find a boyfriend here...although I was looking for a bit. It came when I decided I was done looking. It always happens that way right? I was crushed, crying daily over a stupid guy that treated me like crap. Tomás found me in the moment of weakness and I learned quickly he is so different. I have never been treated so well before like the way he treats me.
Anyways, life is changing as always. My path is ahead of me but my friends have split off from mine. I sometimes stand on my path looking out to the four paths that broke from mine and I can see my friends continuing on their own paths walking away from me. Its a bit sad to see them go but I will keep them close to my heart and hopefully our paths will join again even if its just for a small period of time. Life is like that....
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