The Comeback

Yesterday, the Seattle Sounders did something that had not been done in Major League Soccer history; they came back from a 3-goal deficit to win their game against DC United!

It was the ultimate comeback! At least, it was, until this moment, because, ladies and gents, Dahlia is returning to the blogging world! Woohoo!

[But, if you are interested in reading more about the Sounders' comeback win, click here for a link to a Seattle Times article about the event.]

I think you'll find that I've changed a bit since I last blogged in August of 2014.

First, I have developed a love of soccer, namely the Sounders and the US teams, both men and women. Following soccer was a conscious decision I made around the time of my last post, after the 2014 World Cup. Needless to say, I've discovered that there is a whole world of soccer enthusiasts just like me, including several of my students. It's been fun :)

Second, I finally have a purpose for this blog!!! Before, I never knew quite what to write about because: a) nobody read my blog, and b) without an audience, I was at a loss as to what kind of content to provide to...nobody...not to mention, why?

But now, I've practically been begged to blog! The reason? I'm off on an adventure come October (or so) to Spain, for 8 months or so!

I won't promise too many posts for two main reasons:
1. It wouldn't happen.
2. You wouldn't want it.

What I hope to provide is a post a month, beginning now. I'll post a link to each entry on facebook and Instagram (I think - I just started using Instagram, so I'm not sure if that's even possible...is it?), and I will do my best to include lots of photos, because, let's be honest - photos make the reading a LOT easier!

Please let me know in the comments ↴ if there's something I'm not including in these posts that you would like to see.

Now that I have finished this really long intro, I'd like to get to the meat and potatoes of this post:
1. Why Spain?
2. What am I going to do there?
2. Have I bought a plane ticket yet? (and other frequently asked questions)
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Why Spain?

The short answer is: because I believe God put Spain on my heart.

The long answer is: the seed was planted in January, when I was at my friend Bek's birthday party. In a conversation with a mutual friend of ours who was looking into a teaching career abroad, she asked me this question that wouldn't let me sleep that night: "Haven't you ever thought about doing something like that?"

Have I ever thought about teaching abroad? No, not exactly, but...haven't I always had a dream to live in a Spanish-speaking country? Why haven't I ever done that? What's stopping me from exploring that now?

The questions, the possibilities, all kept me restless that night. And as for Spain - well, it was really the only country that came to mind. Don't ask me why I didn't consider Mexico, Nicaragua, Guatemala, or any of the host of Spanish-speaking countries in the world! Spain came and wouldn't leave.

After fasting and praying, talking with my parents and my pastors, meeting with my coworker's daughter who had been a missionary there, emailing Jaz Jacob, and fasting and praying some more, I am convinced that God is sending me to Spain.

What am I going to do there?

Right now, the specifics are still general. That is to say, there are no specifics! 

I'll spare you the loooong narrative of how various doors closed and opened so that the path I'm now on is looking MUCH more different than what I first envisioned, and I'll just tell you this: 

I am in contact with Jaz at Amistad Cristiana, who is helping me through the process of securing my religious worker's visa. This type of visa forbids any type of work for pay, so all of my work will be as a volunteer, and it will be in service to the church and/or nonprofit organizations that serve the Madrid area, such as Oasis, which helps immigrants integrate into Spanish society (don't mention the irony that I won't be far from fitting that description myself!).

The specifics will come as I have more definite arrival and departure dates, which leads me to...

Have I bought a plane ticket yet? (and other frequently asked questions)

No, I have not bought a plane ticket yet! (Can someone pass this on to my boss, who asks me this every time he sees me?) 

As I mentioned before, I am in the process of securing my religious worker's visa. This is a VERY involved process! Only once I have the visa can I purchase a plane ticket. I am expecting to do this around mid-October.

FAQ: Where will I stay? 

Jaz has offered to let me stay with her until I can find more permanent housing.

FAQ: Am I planning to do a bunch of traveling while I'm there?

Actually, no. My mission is to serve Madrid, plus I'll be broke [no job - remember?], so I don't anticipate a whole bunch of traveling around. I'm totally okay with that, though. I'll have plenty of time to travel later because - hello! - teacher here! Summers off! And also, I'm sure I'll do some traveling with (hopefully) friends I make there.

FAQ: Am I a Barcelona or Real Madrid fan?

Barcelona all the way! And, will I go to a game? Heck to the YES, if it's at all possible! [Although I hear the games may be hard to get into? Please, God, say it ain't so!]

FAQ: But what about my condo (that I just bought last year)?

I've hired a property management company, who is working as we speak to get a renter into my condo as soon as August 1st. That means I'll be moving back with my parents next weekend, who have graciously accepted me after thinking they were finally rid of me!

Well, folks, that's all I've got for now! Like I mentioned earlier, you can expect one of these per month. I'll shoot for the end of August for the next one :)

Hasta pasta, 

Dahlia