made it

Well sports fans, it's been a while. I really meant to write something sooner, about what was going on in my life or whatever, but I was without internet at home since I moved house in early August, and also things were sort of unsure for a while, so I figured what was the point. In short: I had applied in April to work in Spain as an "English conversational assistant", and we were supposed to find out in June if we'd gotten a job. By July I hadn't heard anything, and my plans changed to staying in Toronto working at Cream or wherever else. My lease was up in August, so I found a one-bedroom near Danforth and Pape, which was nearer to work, and in an area of Toronto that I really liked, so I was pretty excited to stay. Of course, Spain being Spain, I found out about mid-July that I did indeed have a job as a conversational assistant, starting October 1st. Grrrrrreat.

When the letter arrived, Will was visiting and so he can attest to the great torment I experienced. I felt badly for my new landlord, whom I had told that I would be living in the apartment for at least a year, and I had a hard time changing my mentality from staying in Toronto with my friends and my great new place to getting all my shit together to get to Spain on time. Will was great encouragement in this regard, as was Ev - thank God for friends who know what's best for you, even when it's not best for them. It took me a week to wrap my head around it, then a few weeks more to get my papers in order for the visa application. In the meantime, I moved to the new place with fewer possessions and figured out how to distribute my things amongst my friends once it was time to leave. My visa came through mid-September, and I finally bought a flight to Barcelona just this past weekend. (Evan's magic fingers got me a good price. Thanks Evvy!)

It was a little stressful still, cleaning out the apartment and getting everything organized, while trying to spend as much time as possible with friends. Somehow a hundred things pop up when you plan on leaving - all the little things that needed doing for months suddenly need to be done now, plus suddenly you have to plan ahead and get a year-long supply of contacts or whatever. Quéeee rollo. Pero bueno, ya está.

I flew out Wednesday evening, arriving in Heathrow in the "morning", and getting to Barcelona at 12.30 on Thursday. I tried to drug myself with Gravol on the long flight, and it kind of worked, but it made me feel really weird, like I was itchy or something, but I wasn't. Next time I'll take four and hopefully not wake up for seven hours. But really you've only got four hours to sleep anyhow. Yada yada, you get your drink, then it's time for supper, and by the time you finish that it's 10pm. Snore snore snore. I drifted in and out, but I was in the fucking middle seat, so there's nowhere to lean your head. On the bright side, no complaints about my seatmates. Nice German man and some quiet Canadian guy. My German's suffered, as a side note.

I'm rambling. I got to Barcelona, where Inga and her boyfriend Isidro picked me up. After lunch at her place (mm.. love Inga's cooking always), we spent the rest of the day walking around Barcelona. It was neat-o, it's 'La Mercè' right now (whatever the hell that is) so there were random concerts all over and frighteningly large human figures in a parade. Got to bed for a hearty five or less hours sleep before getting up this morning to catch the train to Irún. So how's Irún? Well, I went out from the hostel to buy some groceries and was like... it looks like frigging Sunday around here. What day is it again? But then I remembered that it was siesta. So I'll try again in a little bit and see if it still looks like a dead zone. .... Probably. Who are we kidding here. I need to head over to San Sebastián or something for some real action.

Anyhoo, it's that exciting time again of tying up loose ends. Gotta find a place to live, get a bank card, a cell phone, and some other errands that I don't remember right now. So long, faithful readers (I realize that that 's' is highly optimistic on my part) and till next time in the "watch Laura pretend she speaks French" saga. Oh yeah, did I mention I'm supposed to be speaking French to these kiddies? *gags* Aaaaaadiós.