Tuesday, April 9, 2013
Pre-Thinking Spain - 2.5 (Dos Punto Cinco)
So..it is 3:33am and I just finished tidying and washing my hair - used Clear Total Care hair and scalp system, I'm going to see how it works- and I am not quite sure what made me check for things for Spain. So I go to RickSteves.com to do a little research and something told me to just do a search for "apartments in Spain." Well, low and behold, Rick Steves has a Spain 2013 Guidebook. Snippets from the book are listed; in the listing are best and worst accommodations in Spain. I read threw the list and came across a listing for apartments in an area that might be suitable. Hopefully, I find what I am looking for and the atmosphere and cost does not change between now and next summer. Let the research began.
Monday, April 8, 2013
Pre-Thinking Spain - 2 (Dos)
So..I am on Amazon adding items to my cart that I think I will need for my travels to Spain, and I didn't realize how minimalistic I can become - I have so much, but need so little -when there is no chance and cost entirely too much to take most of my personal items with me. US is my home. I have lived here all my life. Living some where else is going to be a challenge in a sense of not having what is familiar around me. In searching for items I made need to make my extended vacation as smooth and comfortable as possible, I had to think in survival comfort mode as opposed to ultimate comfort mode. Keeping with that, I only added simple and safe items. I know the way I live here is not how I will be living there. Don't get me wrong, I am still going to be comfortable, but not quite like the comfort I know at home.
I am not sure what my living quarters will look like, or what my neighborhood will look like. That makes me a little nervous, but I guess if I am good with adjusting to areas I have lived in the US, then adjusting in Spain should not be too bad, right O_o ? I am definitely researching that in much detail. In the meantime, I checked my calendar, and my lease is up during the same time as the running of the bulls. I plan to have everything transferred to a large storage unit by July 1, 2014. I only plan on having the clothes and items I plan to take to Spain. Getting that list together because I will practically have to live out the last few days in my apt as I would be living in Spain. It will not be as meager as that; only in the beginning. In any case, I will definitely have to make sure that everything is in order and as it needs to be prior to moving, while moving, after the move, while in Spain, and upon my return home- should I return.
I already determined the amount of storage that I will need, along with cost. I hope to just pay in advance, so's I don't have to worry about it while I am abroad. Meanwhile, I need to figure out my living situation, should I return to the US. Will I remain where I am now, or move somewhere a little closer to my family?? I do not know. I like it where I am, but it is pretty far from where I tend to socialize. Nonetheless, it is nice, and affordable. I really like the brownstones across the street from me, so I am thinking of looking into those. Not to mention it is an area that I have knowledge of , so I will be returning to something familiar. Whelp, I guess I can address that at the end of this year. In the meantime, I can make sure my cred is up so I can get what I want when I want it.
TTFN,
NiK
I am not sure what my living quarters will look like, or what my neighborhood will look like. That makes me a little nervous, but I guess if I am good with adjusting to areas I have lived in the US, then adjusting in Spain should not be too bad, right O_o ? I am definitely researching that in much detail. In the meantime, I checked my calendar, and my lease is up during the same time as the running of the bulls. I plan to have everything transferred to a large storage unit by July 1, 2014. I only plan on having the clothes and items I plan to take to Spain. Getting that list together because I will practically have to live out the last few days in my apt as I would be living in Spain. It will not be as meager as that; only in the beginning. In any case, I will definitely have to make sure that everything is in order and as it needs to be prior to moving, while moving, after the move, while in Spain, and upon my return home- should I return.
I already determined the amount of storage that I will need, along with cost. I hope to just pay in advance, so's I don't have to worry about it while I am abroad. Meanwhile, I need to figure out my living situation, should I return to the US. Will I remain where I am now, or move somewhere a little closer to my family?? I do not know. I like it where I am, but it is pretty far from where I tend to socialize. Nonetheless, it is nice, and affordable. I really like the brownstones across the street from me, so I am thinking of looking into those. Not to mention it is an area that I have knowledge of , so I will be returning to something familiar. Whelp, I guess I can address that at the end of this year. In the meantime, I can make sure my cred is up so I can get what I want when I want it.
TTFN,
NiK
Saturday, April 6, 2013
Pre-Thinking Spain
This is my first blog in..well..forever. I am in the beginning of planning my move to Europe. I chose Spain as my destination. I was really thinking about Paris, but the language is so hard for me to learn, and I really did not like the food in my travels there. Paris would probably be best because I have an amazing Parisienne friend there, who would gladly take great care of me, but I don't want to feel dependent upon someone, especially when I don't speak nor understand the language - disadvantage. With Spain, I felt more at home, like I felt like I was in Jersey or NY. There is a language barrier, but I can manage the barrier better in Spain.
So today after a gazillion mishaps, I finally decided to sit down and write about all of the day to day things I am doing to ensure that this move is done with as much ease as possible.
I am really nervous. I will be thousands of miles away from home; and living in any place is not the same as vacationing. I will not be in a hotel; no itinerary; no guides or guides tours; no going home because time is up and reality steps back in; on my own. There will be no familiar friends or faces; no family; no job; nothing that says home; just me; on my own. I am trying to think of all the things I can and cannot live without. Can I live without seeing my friends and family? Yes. there is SKYPE, texting, Facebook, Twitter - there are a number of ways to communicate. Can I live with being alone in a city with no familiars?? IDK.
For the last month, I have been reading blogs, checking the website of the Dept. of State to see if I am going about this move in a proper manner. I have mental checklists and written checklists that I have compiling and running through over and over. I know the move is not until next year, but I am literally leaving everything behind, going to a new city, with no one and nothing there that is known to me. I keep telling myself that it is ok and that it is only for the summer - live it up and love it because you never know. I am not hesitant about going, I am nervous about once I get there. I am not nervous about the people; not the atmosphere, not being alone, more on the lines of not having enough of what I need - i.e. money, a place to stay. Trying to anticipate everything, prior to going is exhausting. I don't know what to expect so hypothetical planning is so nerve-racking.
Anticipating my accommodations is at the top of my list. I believe securing a place to live is going to be the hardest thing to accomplish. I cannot solely base my future accommodations by what I see and information I gather from online sites. I learned a very good lesson on that after the fiasco in Paris..YIKES! That was the pits and I never want to do that again. I do know that I want to live in Barcelona, but I have not decided on an area in Barcelona. I don't really want to live with expats - those who left their native countries to try out living somewhere else for a stint- because I don't want to use that as a fall back as to not learning where I will be living; yet, at the same time, at least there will be others whom I can connect with and relate to - who will understand my transition. I need to figure out how the rent is paid, whether it is once a month, bi-weekly or weekly. I hope to have enough to pay for two months in advance, 8-10 weeks, so that way my shelter is well secured and I can manage my money from that point. I am thinking of staying in a hotel for a couple of days first, just to better ease into my Spain immersion; from there to my new place to be called home for 10 weeks; once settled send for my things. I believe I can have that set-up in advance. Crossing fingers that my accommodations are cool and up to par. I am keeping in mind that I do not need all that I have here, just simple and meager living is necessary. A studio with a balcony - it will be summer and hot and AC is not widely used and is expensive in Europe- a nice bathroom and a kitchenette is all I really need. I do not want to a room in someones home, NO THANK YOU. I don't have time for to be on an episode of Find Our Missing or Disappeared. I have been looking and I saw some nice places online, and again, I am not truly going to trust that.
Finding work: I hope will not be too much of a problem. I plan to do TESOL. I can't count solely on that. I do plan to work for my current employer remotely, but I am not sure how that will work out. I think I can pay someone to pick up the mail and have it delivered to him on a Fri. or Mon., which is pretty much how it is done now, except I will not be there to assemble the package. If I can do that then I will not have too much to worry about when it comes to money. I mean, it will not be a lot, but at least there is an income. I don't want to immediately use the money that I have been saving. Having the income from home will suffice until I can secure a work permit. Also, if I do not take off most of the beginning of the year, I can use my PTO for part of the stay and then regular work days for the rest. Remoting the office will definitely be a sure-fire way to pulling off this stay abroad. In order to work in Spain, for a native business, I will need a work permit. I hope to secure that before I leave. The pay from my current employer again will give me my income, but I will need something to fall back on. My thing is as long as whatever income covers my rent and food, I will definitely manage everything else - I always do.
Communication: I hope the Wi-Fi is vast because in Paris is was so scarce, sporadic, and limited. Wi-Fi will be highly necessary for me. It will keep me connected to my fam and friends. They will need to know that I am fine and I will need them to know that I am fine. I will definitely make sure that my phone plan is reflective of where I will be, so I will be implementing the international plan and possibly adding an internet card just in case I don't have access to free Wi-Fi.
Safety: I have in my Amazon cart pepper spray, brass knuckles, doorknob locks, window bars, baracade doorstops with built in alarms. I already have a taser, but I am upgrading it for something a little more discreet. I am not expecting the worst; all cities have its cons; being prepared is key. I will be a single, black, female, living alone in Spain, on a limited budget - that answers that. I have checked with my health provider to see if services are accepted globally or if it is just limited to the US. Luckily, It is global as well. I work really well with my doctor's so I will make sure I have the medications I will need during my time in Spain.
So far, I think I am covering all of the bases. I am going to continue to read current blogs of those who made the move and are transitioning, and research as much as I can in order to have the smoothest move possible.
In the meantime, I will try to post as much as possible on my experiences leading up to the move.
TTFN,
NiK
So today after a gazillion mishaps, I finally decided to sit down and write about all of the day to day things I am doing to ensure that this move is done with as much ease as possible.
I am really nervous. I will be thousands of miles away from home; and living in any place is not the same as vacationing. I will not be in a hotel; no itinerary; no guides or guides tours; no going home because time is up and reality steps back in; on my own. There will be no familiar friends or faces; no family; no job; nothing that says home; just me; on my own. I am trying to think of all the things I can and cannot live without. Can I live without seeing my friends and family? Yes. there is SKYPE, texting, Facebook, Twitter - there are a number of ways to communicate. Can I live with being alone in a city with no familiars?? IDK.
For the last month, I have been reading blogs, checking the website of the Dept. of State to see if I am going about this move in a proper manner. I have mental checklists and written checklists that I have compiling and running through over and over. I know the move is not until next year, but I am literally leaving everything behind, going to a new city, with no one and nothing there that is known to me. I keep telling myself that it is ok and that it is only for the summer - live it up and love it because you never know. I am not hesitant about going, I am nervous about once I get there. I am not nervous about the people; not the atmosphere, not being alone, more on the lines of not having enough of what I need - i.e. money, a place to stay. Trying to anticipate everything, prior to going is exhausting. I don't know what to expect so hypothetical planning is so nerve-racking.
Anticipating my accommodations is at the top of my list. I believe securing a place to live is going to be the hardest thing to accomplish. I cannot solely base my future accommodations by what I see and information I gather from online sites. I learned a very good lesson on that after the fiasco in Paris..YIKES! That was the pits and I never want to do that again. I do know that I want to live in Barcelona, but I have not decided on an area in Barcelona. I don't really want to live with expats - those who left their native countries to try out living somewhere else for a stint- because I don't want to use that as a fall back as to not learning where I will be living; yet, at the same time, at least there will be others whom I can connect with and relate to - who will understand my transition. I need to figure out how the rent is paid, whether it is once a month, bi-weekly or weekly. I hope to have enough to pay for two months in advance, 8-10 weeks, so that way my shelter is well secured and I can manage my money from that point. I am thinking of staying in a hotel for a couple of days first, just to better ease into my Spain immersion; from there to my new place to be called home for 10 weeks; once settled send for my things. I believe I can have that set-up in advance. Crossing fingers that my accommodations are cool and up to par. I am keeping in mind that I do not need all that I have here, just simple and meager living is necessary. A studio with a balcony - it will be summer and hot and AC is not widely used and is expensive in Europe- a nice bathroom and a kitchenette is all I really need. I do not want to a room in someones home, NO THANK YOU. I don't have time for to be on an episode of Find Our Missing or Disappeared. I have been looking and I saw some nice places online, and again, I am not truly going to trust that.
Finding work: I hope will not be too much of a problem. I plan to do TESOL. I can't count solely on that. I do plan to work for my current employer remotely, but I am not sure how that will work out. I think I can pay someone to pick up the mail and have it delivered to him on a Fri. or Mon., which is pretty much how it is done now, except I will not be there to assemble the package. If I can do that then I will not have too much to worry about when it comes to money. I mean, it will not be a lot, but at least there is an income. I don't want to immediately use the money that I have been saving. Having the income from home will suffice until I can secure a work permit. Also, if I do not take off most of the beginning of the year, I can use my PTO for part of the stay and then regular work days for the rest. Remoting the office will definitely be a sure-fire way to pulling off this stay abroad. In order to work in Spain, for a native business, I will need a work permit. I hope to secure that before I leave. The pay from my current employer again will give me my income, but I will need something to fall back on. My thing is as long as whatever income covers my rent and food, I will definitely manage everything else - I always do.
Communication: I hope the Wi-Fi is vast because in Paris is was so scarce, sporadic, and limited. Wi-Fi will be highly necessary for me. It will keep me connected to my fam and friends. They will need to know that I am fine and I will need them to know that I am fine. I will definitely make sure that my phone plan is reflective of where I will be, so I will be implementing the international plan and possibly adding an internet card just in case I don't have access to free Wi-Fi.
Safety: I have in my Amazon cart pepper spray, brass knuckles, doorknob locks, window bars, baracade doorstops with built in alarms. I already have a taser, but I am upgrading it for something a little more discreet. I am not expecting the worst; all cities have its cons; being prepared is key. I will be a single, black, female, living alone in Spain, on a limited budget - that answers that. I have checked with my health provider to see if services are accepted globally or if it is just limited to the US. Luckily, It is global as well. I work really well with my doctor's so I will make sure I have the medications I will need during my time in Spain.
So far, I think I am covering all of the bases. I am going to continue to read current blogs of those who made the move and are transitioning, and research as much as I can in order to have the smoothest move possible.
In the meantime, I will try to post as much as possible on my experiences leading up to the move.
TTFN,
NiK
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