One Year Later.

This whole journey began one year ago. One year ago I packed my bags, left everything I knew that was comfortable to me. It was my second time ever on an airplane and my first time ever traveling alone. I hopped on a plane with a destination I knew nothing about,with no clue what to expect. I landed and met the most amazing little family and they treated me as one of their own. I can't even put into words how much I appreciate them and what they did for me just by letting me stay with them for such a short time. It's invaluable. I came home with such a heavy heart. I heard "how travel changes you" and finally knew what that meant *cue cliche*. I spent the next few months trying to figure things out and realized that maybe au pairing is what I'd like to do for awhile. I genuinely love kids. I want to see the world. Why not do something that lets me see the world in exchange for childcare. I didn't go looking for a family in Spain. They messaged me. I know nothing about Spain other than there is a crisis there right now. I don't know why I said yes. They seemed nice and they had kids in the age range I had experience with. I got there and I feel like we never "clicked" right. It was so awkward when we went to eat after the airport. Within 3 hours event happened and I felt so uncomfortable there. It went horribly bad after the first few weeks but I met the loveliest family who let me stay with them. The kindness of stranger is seriously amazing. I met some amazing friends while there. I've started coming out of my shell more, it's so crazy to me. I can't believe how much easier it is for me to make friends now that it was a year ago. I have no problem just going up to people and starting the conversation. I feel so completely different today than I did last year, in so many ways. Maybe I'll do little posts about them here and there on the blog. A year ago had you told me I would be getting a serious offer from the place at the top of my "places to go" list, I'd have called you crazy. I tucked it in my back pocket and had accepted that I wouldn't be going for a long time (I'll post where eventually, i don't want to jinx it :x) as soon as i said it out loud and put it out there it happened. The universe it weird. I wonder what where I'll be a year from now.