Well this year has not been what I expected. I expected to have a job by now, I expected to have moved out of my parent’s apartment, to be back in Madrid or at least in another city- but you know what they say about best laid plans. ;) So a year has passed since I finished my master’s and moved to my parents place in Alicante while job searching. So far, unfortunately, no progress has been made on the employment front. I’m still job searching (outside of Spain as well now, including the US) and continue getting rejected either due to lack of experience or visa processes in Spain. Such is the job hunting world. It has been pretty demoralizing and demotivating to say the least, but I constantly try to remind myself of the positives and how lucky I am to be able to stay rent free during this time. Everyone knows that moving back in with parents, especially after years of living on your own/with roommates, is difficult and there's a whole new dance of boundaries, expectations and compromises that has to be worked out. It’s been a year that has brought questions and answers with regards to my mental health and the labels surrounding it, as well as one that has helped me get back into therapy. I’ve spent time contemplating how my health has changed due to long covid after my infection a year ago and how that darn virus changed my view on public transportation and travel. Masks may no longer be required anywhere, but I stand my use of them on public transport and in crowded buildings like shopping malls and hospitals. Not everything has been so complicated though, my parents and I went on a trip to Sevilla and Granada in the spring and friends and family from the States came to see the place we’ve decided to call home. Many happy memories were made and I have to say I fell in love with Granada. The architecture, culture, food, history and snow capped mountains won me over pretty quick. If it wasn’t for the horrible heat in the summer I would move there in a heartbeat. In April my older sister came to visit and we spent some time just the two of us in Madrid and even though only one of us is a senior geologist, we both fell in love with the national geology museum in the city—rocks and gems and fossils galore!! hahaha Throughout the year, when I haven’t been dealing with visa renewal stuff or (failed) interviews, I’ve kept myself busy with dog/house sitting for US folks and Brits living in the area. I’ve met a lot of great puppers and gotten to see some cool houses and views of the coast, though my allergies have definitely not been thrilled with me. I’ll be honest, 28 has me feeling lost and confused—lack of direction, purpose and independence continue to muddle my thoughts. Then again, I know many late 20s/early 30s friends who are in the same boat, having to move back in with family while they figure stuff out. Will I ever figure it out? Probably not. But I hope to at least feel a bit more confident about where I’m at and what I’m doing by this time next year. In the mean time, here’s to enjoying life and being open to what comes. Some Sevilla photos Some Granada photos
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NadiaAn aspiring polyglot and globetrotter, an avid reader, and a lover of good food. :) Archives
October 2023
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