The good, the bad and the ugly

I should be planning for class...but some things just came to mind.

I think I've learned more about loss, love, ups, downs, money (or lack there of), people, languages, cultures...life. It hasn't by any means been easy living here. People always say, "You live in Europe! How tough can life actually be?" Exactly. I LIVE in Europe. The vision that everyone has in their heads are the images of vacationing and studying in Europe. LIVING is different.

Nothing surprises me anymore. And as the saying goes Stuff Happens. Stuff happens all of the time.

I am living in Europe during a brutal financial crisis. The unemployment rate in Andalucia has reached about 30%. And it's scary. I walked into school today and I was told there was a possibility I might not receive money for my work in December until sometime in January because the public schools in the area just don't have money from the government to pay us. It has gotten to the point where the American embassy in Madrid has had to intervene. That's not something anyone wants to here. But it's another step...another obstacle.

It is times like this when I ask myself, why did I do this? It's just so absolutely frustrating at times. Why couldn't I just be normal and stay at home and find a job somewhere in Philly, live in the comfort of my own home, speak the language I do not have to struggle to speak, use dollars instead of euros, know where to go when I need something...food, clothes, medicine, etc.

Then it hit me. I'm 22 years old. It's a time to take chances. I look at all of my fellow auxiliares here and see how everyone struggles with their own problems. But we've all managed to get through it. We see how happy and grateful the Spanish people are for our help with their English. We walk by ancient buildings and monuments every day. We experience culture that is different and older than anything in the United States. We are learning a second language and how to live in this country submersed in that language.

Is it okay that the government decides whoops we hired you without having the money to pay you? Absoultely freakin not. But it is how you handle these types of experiences that make you stronger.

From the beginning I said I would report on everything in this blog...the good, the bad and the ugly. This is happening along with the up and coming air strikes right around the time when we are all flying home for Christmas and let me tell you it's frustrating. But it could be worse...a lot worse. And as Christmas draws near and I will be arriving home in 10 days, I look back on the past 4 months and wonder where they went. I also look back on everything that has happened. Part of me is saying jeez I can't believe I have 5 months left...whereas another part of me is saying jeeeezzzzzzz how do I only have 5 months left. It needs to slow down!

But when all is said and done, I would recommend the experience to anyone. It sounds crazy but I learned more here than I have ever learned in a classroom. I went through 4 years of college and thought I was learning about myself and others and how to work and live. And then I had this experience. And to be honest, if I could go back and do it all over again, I wouldn't change my decision...not for anything in this world. Life is about living. Not playing it safe.