I have this niggling niggle to finish my Year Abroad application but I really really don't want to. There's only so many final decisions I can make right now...
Pero bueno on with the post. So yesterday's mystery funeral was for my host mum's brother in law, dear Carlos, who was a singer and clearly a well-loved member of the family. I didn't realise we were attending his funeral, I only understood that my host mum would be there. Sure enough we arrived at a church about half an hour from Barcelona airport and with my temporary deafness I managed to shout excitedly, "What's this?!" as we entered. God, I felt awful. Luckily I didn't get chucked out, maybe it wasn't that loud and no one understood what I said. It wasn't about me anyway. A priest conducted the service in Catalan (didn't understand except the Amens), there was communion (where Catholics take in the body of Christ, we didn't go up) and then a beautiful video of Carlos singing in a packed hall and lots of photos. Then it was over.
We left the Church and I met tons of family who were all friendly, not too many tears and then we set off for dinner (host dad ate my sandwich and I was stuck with his💔) and the final drive home. We worked out I'd been travelling for 8 hours from my house to theirs (not easy with CFS) and the kids fell asleep. At home I was shown my room and everywhere else in the house then it was time to sleep.
It was 'un día intenso' as my host mum said but for more reasons than those above. This time last year, a year ago yesterday, my family lost a beloved aunt, mother, daughter and sister. My mum and I said a prayer for her in the airport (decided not to bother with the chapel, stood outside of it) and when she left she went to comfort my grandma. Rest in peace Aunty Barbara, we miss you. 💙
It was just an emotional day and of course it took its toll. I won't over think it but I wasn't prepared and it just shows travelling doesn't mean that real life actually stops
Join me for part two ✌
Sunday, 17 January 2016
Au Pair Experience, Día Uno
I'm tired but my mind is racing so what better than to blog?
This is my first night in my new home for 2 months as an au pair in Spain. I'm living in a town called Lleida, nearish to Barcelona (where I've told everyone I'm staying because who's heard of Lleida?)
This is also my 3rd time flying ever and my 2nd time flying alone 😱
I'm so grateful to my mum for coming to the airport with me (lucky she got the time off work) because my 18.4kg suitcase was a bitch to carry on the Underground. We even had two lovely chaps help us lug it up the stairs to the Victoria line at Oxford Circus.
At Gatwick there were automated bag drop machines (so fun!), food (smoked salmon cannot be grey idc what Jamie's Coffee says) and emotional goodbyes before the security gate (miss you Mummy). We took off 45mins late (annoying) but landed only 20mins late (acceptable) and my host family was eagerly waiting to greet me at arrivals.
(I asked the girl by the window to take this pic at Gatwick but asking again in Barcelona felt kinda awkward so this is all I have okay)
Pero bueno, enough with the logistics, what am I actually doing here?
I'm here as an au pair which means extra pair of hands or something in French. The basic idea is to join a family and be like a big sister, for a little pocket money, food and board. With my family we're doing a language exchange - I speak English (especially with the kids), they speak Spanish (castellano i.e. the Spanish we're taught at school). What's interesting is that this family also speak Catalan, another official language of Spain which I've learnt is spoken in the West. (I kept saying el Norte and getting corrected by confused Spanish people).
Anyway, the kids are great and the parents are lovely so I'm sure I'll have a lovely time out here. Thanks to everyone cheering me on and wishing me well, I almost didn't come but apart from some painful pressure in my ears and an impromptu funeral (explanation to come) it's all been perfect.
Hasta luego,
Antonia xx
This is my first night in my new home for 2 months as an au pair in Spain. I'm living in a town called Lleida, nearish to Barcelona (where I've told everyone I'm staying because who's heard of Lleida?)
This is also my 3rd time flying ever and my 2nd time flying alone 😱
I'm so grateful to my mum for coming to the airport with me (lucky she got the time off work) because my 18.4kg suitcase was a bitch to carry on the Underground. We even had two lovely chaps help us lug it up the stairs to the Victoria line at Oxford Circus.
At Gatwick there were automated bag drop machines (so fun!), food (smoked salmon cannot be grey idc what Jamie's Coffee says) and emotional goodbyes before the security gate (miss you Mummy). We took off 45mins late (annoying) but landed only 20mins late (acceptable) and my host family was eagerly waiting to greet me at arrivals.
Pero bueno, enough with the logistics, what am I actually doing here?
I'm here as an au pair which means extra pair of hands or something in French. The basic idea is to join a family and be like a big sister, for a little pocket money, food and board. With my family we're doing a language exchange - I speak English (especially with the kids), they speak Spanish (castellano i.e. the Spanish we're taught at school). What's interesting is that this family also speak Catalan, another official language of Spain which I've learnt is spoken in the West. (I kept saying el Norte and getting corrected by confused Spanish people).
Anyway, the kids are great and the parents are lovely so I'm sure I'll have a lovely time out here. Thanks to everyone cheering me on and wishing me well, I almost didn't come but apart from some painful pressure in my ears and an impromptu funeral (explanation to come) it's all been perfect.
Hasta luego,
Antonia xx
Wednesday, 6 January 2016
Falter
Breathing stops with concentration
A body which lacks the capacity for both
She realises
A deep sigh
Focus.
A breath with each stroke
Both are jagged and imperfect
Choose.
An air without the sharp coolness she craves
Or bold colours layered and sickly
Which the eye cannot seperate
Which almost distract from the bleakness underneath
She despises each one of her creations
Never sufficient energy to devote to them
Nor sufficient happiness to avoid them
A body which lacks the capacity for both
She realises
A deep sigh
Focus.
A breath with each stroke
Both are jagged and imperfect
Choose.
An air without the sharp coolness she craves
Or bold colours layered and sickly
Which the eye cannot seperate
Which almost distract from the bleakness underneath
She despises each one of her creations
Never sufficient energy to devote to them
Nor sufficient happiness to avoid them
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