a love explained

What is it about Spain that draws me in? For years I have pondered this question, and for years the answer has eluded me. I wish I could tell you that I have finally figured out—that I have pinpointed what it is that enchants me—but alas, I have not. However, this entry will be my best effort, once again, to find an answer. (Please forgive me if it appears that I am overly-romanticizing this.)

The Physical Explanation.
Spain is beautiful. It is different. It is sunny and warm. The benefits of vitamin D can’t be ignored. Neither can the means of transportation. No driving = no road rage. Transportation becomes a walk in the park, a stroll through the city. There is something so liberating about that. Instead of being isolated in my car, I am surrounded by people.

The Challenge.
Living in Spain requires a different set of tools. It requires me to be an observer and a listener. It requires a new tongue. Being alone requires me to ask others for help. It requires that I find a new way of doing everyday things. In the same way that “quitting Walmart” forced me to be creative in finding the items that I needed (which really wasn’t that hard), I will have to figure out the same things over there. I need toothpaste--do I go to the supermercado or the farmacia? I’ll need to learn a whole new estilo de vida.

The Opportunity.
When I am in Spain, I feel like the world is my oyster. I can get anywhere. Travel is cheap, and it is good. I have had, and will have the opportunity to see many places, meet many people, and do many things that I never dreamed about. And, of course, I will also get to do many of the things that I have dreamed about. I will learn a lot of new things, and I will finally dominar el español!


The New Me.
Without a doubt, I have come back changed after each visit to Spain. Whether we look at the progression of my fluency in Spanish, or the confidence I have in myself, or the guts and bravery that I acquire, it is clear that I am continuously making forward progress. I like the way I am perceived there. People want to talk to me, to hear my story. They want to know why I am there. I must be pretty adventurous if I move to the other side of the world. I like that people already assume this about me. While I am in the United States, I spend a lot of time doing....nothing. But in Spain, my down time is spent exploring the town, reading in the plazas, having tea in small cafes. Any of these things beat watching TV, any day.

The Calling.
I’m not sure why God has given me such a love for this place, but I definitely count all of my experiences there as blessings. My experiences in the past have been incredible, and I am absolutely looking forward to whatever God has in store for me this time around. Obviously, I have been thinking about Spain and the possibility of living there for a very long time. I always used to question whether it was God's will that I live there. Then I stopped questioning it. I decided that if it was meant to be, it would happen. I know that God has given me a passion for this place, and if he continues to lead me there, I will go. The tricky part will be figuring out what it all means. All I can do is live my life in a way that is pleasing to Him. The rest will fall into place.