I was reminded by Rebecca, my close friend and coworker, that I have less than two months left in Los Angeles. 2 months feels like an eternity, except when I begin going through my mental checklist of all the things I need to do and accomplish within those 60 or so days. Working full time makes it a real challenge to actually accomplish all these things, especially since my job still doesn't know I'm leaving yet (although I think the fact that I've gone back to Spain 3 times in the past year has raised my manager's suspicions of the inevitable). In any case, I'm trying to get all my visa paperwork done, finish the TEFL certification course, complete 20 hours of observation for the TEFL practicum, maximize my incredible health insurance by seeing every type of doctor imaginable, help Korinne with her wedding planning, and organize everything for the trip. All of a sudden 2 months just doesn't seem like enough time to get everything done. But it will be and I can't wait.
I love that feeling of anxious anticipation right before a big transition in life where you're still in your old comfortable setting, but with the knowledge that life as you know it is going to change drastically.
Initially I figured I would work until the very last minute possible to amass as much of a financial cushion as possible (seeing as I am taking quite a considerable pay cut and still have wonderful graduate loans and car payments to make), but in the end I decided that I'd rather not kill myself working right until 3 days before my program orientation. I'll be going a month early, arriving September 1st, which will give me some time to get things set up and adjust to being back in Andalucía.
Today Alison treated me to a special day of poolside lounging at the Viceroy, complete with mimosas, burrata salad, and french fries (with truffle oil and manchego). Days like today remind me of how much I love LA...palm trees, blue skies, sunshine, and wonderful people. And how even if I complain about 70 degree weather in the summertime, I'm thankful I'm not in Sevilla during the summer...been there, done that and it was not pretty.
I'll leave you with a short video I recorded at feria this year. I was in the caseta getting ready for lunch with the family when I was introduced to Angelita. Everyone kept saying she had an incredible voice and maybe she'd sing for me later, but I didn't really think much of it. Right before the food came, several people decided they wanted to dance and so Angelita began singing sevillanas acapella, while people got up to dance (and those who weren't dancing were clapping or doing palmas). She blew me away...what a treat to listen and dance to her song. And what an appropriate song to revisit at this moment in time.
Paseate por Sevilla
y bebe de sus encantos
que con los brazos abiertos
Sevilla te esta esperando.
54 Days. :-)
ReplyDelete