Reflections

This morning, while most of you Americans were snug in your beds, Alex and I concluded week three of Spanish class here in Madrid. Yep, we have been in Spain for three weeks! And wow, what a difference three weeks of intensive Spanish immersion does to a person’s brain! I feel three weeks smarter, and yet three weeks more confused. Seriously still trying to wrap my head around the fact that words have a gender! And which words? And why?! See what I mean about smart yet more confused?!

Argh!

Anyway, as I sit in our apartment and reflect on the experience thus far, I am overwhelmed with emotion. First, I am grateful my financially savvy husband and the means to live in Madrid. The experience has been incredible. I am grateful for you, our loving family and friends who shower us with good things, both tangible and intangible. 

Admittedly, I am sad that we will not return to normal life in Visalia and resume our Tuesday night dinners or late nights out with friends. I am sad that I will not return to Tulare WIC and use my new Spanish skills with lactating mamas. (In fact, I was feeling a bit blue yesterday and called work to say hola!) But despite that sadness, we were was blessed by our time in California and by so many open hearts in the community of Visalia.

Since I am talking about feelings, a rare occurrence, I will just go all out and say I am feeling a bit anxious about all things futuristic. Of course, the future is bright! And options abound! But what. And herein comes the balance that marriage blesses us with; Alex and I are working through life together! We still do not know what the future holds, but we are open and ready.

And darn it, we are learning about feminine and masculine nouns in Spanish so we can better serve people in that bright, but ambiguous future!