Things Fall into Place!

In most of my previous posts I basically complained about how nothing is working out exactly the way I wanted, while recognizing the need to just chill and trust the universe to sort itself out in my favor. Looks like that has happened!

Lets go though a check-list:

• Program that pays me to be in Spain- Check!
• Furnished apartment- Check!
• Ticket to Madrid- Check!
• 3rd Roommate in the Apartment- Check!
• Visa back from the consulate- Check!

By this measure I am all set to move to Spain. I have my basic material and economic needs satisfied. I will have a place to live and a way to pay for it.

Now that I have pretty much solved for that set of needs I now spend my time having mini-panic attacks over the fact that I am moving to a new country. Usually these fits are prompted by an ad for a TV show or movie coming out after September 19th. When I hear them my gut reaction is "oh shit, that comes out once I'm in Madrid!" While the thought of being back in my favorite world capital thrills me, it is also terrifying.

Terrifying because I have some notion of what it is like to be separated from my friends and family for long periods of time. I went to university 3000 miles away from my hometown, which gave me the same mix of thrills and fears. I know what it is like not to see the people you want to see when you want to see them, I can deal with that (I hope!). I think the main difference between this time and all the other times I left home is the amount of communication. Lets face it people, constant calls home or texting funny things to friends are practically free from DC but ridiculously expensive from Madrid. Aside from cost, there is the 9 hour time difference between my apartment and my parents home in Oregon. Yes, thanks to the internet I can send emails and keep you updated with this blog, but there is a certain level of isolation that comes with crossing an ocean...

I'm sure this is the transatlantic version of cold feet, and once I touch down at Barajas Airport things will certainly look different. I'll probably end up having so much fun I won't have time to be homesick, at least that is what I am going to tell myself for now!