I’m going to be doctor, a good frikken doctor. At least that’s what I used to tell myself. So what am I doing packing my bags, ready to venture off to the unknown territory of northern Spain--Galicia, Spain to be exact for a whole year? If you had asked any of my high school classmates, middle school peers, aunts, uncles, or even go back as far as my kindergarten teacher, they would have told you that same exact thing—she’s going to be a doctor, a good frikken doctor. It just made sense. Everything I had done and accomplished up until college was to be just that. I wanted so bad to be something my parents could be proud to say their child was, and whether it was my dream or theirs, I still do not know. Flashback to my oversized circular glasses, uncontrollably frizzy hair, pimply face, chubby cheeks, metal mouth, and roller backpack—I was *pushes up glasses* a nerd. I didn’t just look like one, I was one. I fulfilled every requirement—straight A’s, teacher’s pet, perfect attendance, and little miss goody two shoes. I obviously cared too much about what others thought of me and strived to be that ‘perfect student/daughter/friend/whatever’. Fast forward to today, and I still have oversized glasses that constantly fall off my face, more or less tamed wavy hair, acne scars, slimmed down cheeks, pearly white teeth, and a backpack that actually goes on my back…but I am finally letting go of that insecurity to take my inner nerd along with my awkwardness, clumsiness, and big red heart to the wonderful city of Vigo to teach teen something year olds how to be literate and communicate in the beautiful language we call English. One problem--No hablo inglés. I have never once in my life taught English. And it is a rare occurrence that I speak good… I mean well. I’m not even sure if that last sentence is allowed to begin with the word ‘and.’ No one would have ever guessed this is what I would be doing after college, myself included. My family and relatives like to call this my "gap year" before going back to graduate school...My friends say I'm just "having fun-- living a little" while I'm still young...The hopeless romantics believe I will "find love" and the very few have said I’m "wasting my time," but whatever it is you want to call it, I know this is the right move for me, and I am excited to start this new chapter in my life--- my year long siesta in Spain. No matter what happens, I am and will forever be grateful for this opportunity. Galician rain, I’m ready for you!
Yours truly,
The Lost Traveler (TLT)
Yours truly,
The Lost Traveler (TLT)