Goodbye is the Hardest

Well today is the day.  In just a few hours I'll be on my one-way flight to Madrid and beginning my year abroad.  (AHH THE NERVES!!)  I'm down to last minute errands and double checking my bags and packing lists to make sure I have everything I need, or at least what I can remember...

I honestly don't even know what to write now with so much on mind...did I remember to pack everything?  Do I have all my paperwork?  What if something goes wrong?  What if my luggage gets lost?  And most importantly how do I say goodbye to everyone I know and love here?

Unlike many people doing this teaching program who know it's only for a couple years at the most before they return to the USA, I don't have that security.  I on the other hand, am going over to Madrid knowing that if things work out for my boyfriend and I there, I may not be returning home to Rhode Island.  While this could only be a 'see you later,' it very well could be a 'good-bye.'  And that my friends, is hard for me to process.


I'm a sentimental person, I get very attached to people, places, and things.  I can't help being emotional!  But being so attached definitely makes it much harder for me to make this move, even knowing so many wonderful people abroad in Spain who are waiting for me.

This past week I didn't work but instead took the opportunity to spend what little time I had left with all the people I love.  And it's been really hard saying my last goodbyes to not only the people, but the places I have to come to love here.

I don't know I'll survive without Legolas...

Instead of trying to process all of these emotions right now, I'm trying to think of all the things I've enjoyed doing this summer that remind me of why I love where I'm from so much.  So here's a reflection back on all the great memories I had saying good-bye this summer:

Fourth of July

Aging...I mean my birthday...

Seeing one of my favorite bands live!

Traditional RI food <3

Visiting Boston with my aunt and cousin

Seeing one of my oldest friends

Saying goodbye to my childhood

Learning about where my grandmother grew up

And spending time with my friends

So thank you to all of my friends and family for all of your support and love, you've made it very difficult to say good-bye.  I wish anyone else in the same situation the best of luck on your journeys and on your own good-byes, may you have just as amazing people making good-byes difficult for you!

The Week that Wouldn't End

So for the first time in long while I let a whole week go by without posting.  I can't help but feel guilty about this; like my lack of posts breaks some unspoken blog-world rules.  Then I remind myself that I'm pretty sure all those blog "views" are from my mom...

Regardless, my silence this past week has half been because I just didn't have any topic I felt strongly about writing, but also half because this has been a non-stop week of crazy.

Normally my schedule this summer has been babysitting three days a week and working twice at the local YMCA (yay for free membership!); but this week I picked up extra shifts on top of all the events that happened to land on this week.  All of this meaning I can't remember the last time I had adequate sleep or didn't need to chug a coffee to remain semi-conscious.

Since I don't want to bore everyone with my thrilling seven-day week work schedule, here are some of the more exciting parts of my long week in picture form.  Hopefully this coming week will bring more inspiration to post, and a little bit of a break wouldn't hurt either...

Finally rode my bike to the local beach, too bad it was 90°+

Enjoyed a much belated birthday dinner.

A nice storm-filled WaterFire Captain's training

Made some fabulous blow-art with the kids I babysit

Not to mention domino chains...

Had some quality time with the world's coolest (fattest?) cat.

BEACH BOYS CONCERT! AKA dream come true.

Enjoyed a manicure by one talented 6-year old.
(Don't worry, she saved the thumb for glitter)

How has this past week been for you?  Are you enjoying a relaxing summer, or working your tail off?

Summertime in Rhode Island

It's that glorious time of year in Rhode Island again, summertime.  Some may complain about the heat and humidity but, as a summer baby, I love every part of it.  Summertime is when southern Rhode Island comes alive, there is so much to do and see in southern Rhode Island.  This my first summer home in the past two years so I'm trying to make the most of it (while simultaneously trying earn extra money) before I head off to Spain in early September.

Over the years I've truly come to appreciate Rhode Island summers and while I enjoyed beautiful northern Spain, I did miss: the constant sunny days (not so much this week though!), the heat, the rivers, forests, and so much more that I grew up with.  So here is what I'm taking the time to enjoy this summer, in what could be one of the last for a while.

Food

My cousin made me a 'sauce recipe' book!

I love food.  LOVE IT.  A huge part of my summer has always been going out with friends and family to enjoy different local restaurants, especially seasonal ones that are only open during the warmer months.

With me moving to Spain this year I'm making an even bigger point to experience as much of the food I love before I can't have it anymore (especially American desserts because I have a terrible sweet-tooth).  So this all means a lot of wings, corn on the cob, doughboys, ice cream, Del's lemonade, anything "saucy", anything "spicy", and good beer.

Especially good beer.  

Enjoying a delicious rack of beer.

My heart weeps at the thought of going a year without any porters and only Guinness as a stout.  My dad and I love a good dark beer and a good variety, to put that into perspective our favorite tavern has 69 beers on tap.  When I describe the Spanish beer, and lack of variety on tap, to my dad he just looks at me in horror, like I told him they eat baby kittens and breathe fire.

But I do love Spanish food and luckily Spain redeems itself with it's fantastic wine.  So I'm making sure to enjoy plenty of food and drink during my "maybe last Rhode Island summer."

Cotton candy with nerds, is that weird?

Work

Luckily I love one of my summer jobs so it's not too painful having a spainless summer.  Right now I'm babysitting three days a week for a wonderful local family who has just about the cutest kids I've ever met.  I met them in the after-school program I ran this year, and I'm so glad I got lucky with such a great family because it's been an absolute joy working for them.

The first day I came over they begged me to stay for dinner and then when we finished eating the little boy turned to his dad and asked: "Can we play with her?" I died laughing.

His favorite memory from the after-school program was
hitting me with the ball, real funny kiddo.

They're insanely fun kids with lots of energy and have so many things to ask me about Spain and what life is like there.  Luckily my BF is a good resource and gladly answers all the questions a six and eight year old are curious about, aka everything.

Our time has been spent going to the library, pillow fights, intense Uno matches, and playing hide and seek (so unfair because I'm too tall to hide!).  The hours and days fly by and even though I still have three weeks left I'm dreading when I have to say goodbye, the first goodbyes were already hard enough! :(

Kayak

My baby

Another huge part of summer has always been kayaking.  My family first started kayaking and canoeing when I was around ten years old and I got my own kayak when I was about thirteen.  I mean, why not kayak, there's so much water access around here.  Before I started going to Spain during the summer months, my dad and I used to take trips sponsored by the local Wood-Pawcatuck Watershed Association.  

This non-profit group ran 6-8 mile-long kayak trips called "Source to Sea" during the month of June.  They don't run that particular event anymore (as far as I know) but have many other great ones through the Spring-Fall.

The point being, I want as much kayak time as possible while I still have the rivers and the means.  Southern RI is home to many great rivers and salt ponds, I've even taken my baby out into the ocean a time or two.  Moving to Madrid means I'll definitely be much further away from the natural beauty I've grown up with in the country.  While I'm excited for some big city life, I'll seriously miss the experience you get kayaking down a pristine river.  

Beach

Beaches in RI, especially southern Rhode Island, are the way of life in the summer.  It's been so weird being home this summer but working so much that I have yet to purchase a beach pass, and I still don't know if I will...  It's doubled in recent years to $60 and I only have a month and a half left.  However, I refuse to let a summer go by without enjoying our beautiful beaches.  

Even beautiful on a cloudy day

Luckily my dad only lives about a mile from some of the local beaches so I'm planning on just parking there and riding my back instead (great exercise and saves money/the environment!).  I'm not really into paying $60 for only a month and a half of beach time when I can get it for free.

Gorgeous sunsets, what's not to love about the beach!

Unlucky for me though, the weather this week has been pretty awful and rainy so I haven't had any motivation to get out and go to the beach.  Hopefully one of these next couple of days the weather will turn around so I can enjoy some beach time before I move to the first place I've ever lived that is inland!  

As a beach bum (my friends and I seriously would even go in the winter), it's probably the thing about Madrid I'm least looking forward to.  I guess I'll just have to make plenty of visits to Santander to get my beach fix throughout the year!

Volunteering

I make everyone participate:
here is the BF lighting the fires

A huge part of my summers for the past four years has been volunteering with WaterFire Providence.  I've blogged about it before and as always, it's a beautiful experience and I highly recommend that anyone in the Providence area should look into either attending a lighting, or volunteering.  It's a great non-profit organization that promotes the arts in Providence.  I love WaterFire because it's like a family and it's always great to take part in any of the events.  I generally go on the wood boats with my dad, but have from time to time volunteered in other areas.

Unfortunately I'm at a disadvantage because I'm about an hour away from Providence so a lot of weekday or weekend morning events I can't attend because of work.  Since I can't make it for weekdays, I try to sign up for as many weekend evenings as I can.  

So far there haven't been too many lightings due to issues with the tide levels, but there is in fact one tonight starting around 8pm and will start to pick up more over the next few months until the final lighting of the season in November.  I know I've truly enjoyed being welcomed into the WaterFire family over the past few years. 

Concerts

I don't actually go to that many concerts during the summer, unless it's Blues on the Beach down in Westerly.  This year however as part of my early Christmas gift, since I won't be home for Christmas, is a Beach Boys concert at Monhegan Sun in a few weeks!  I'm beyond excited because next to the Beatles, the Beach Boys is my favorite band of all time.  I've always wanted to see them play, and while it may not be all the original members, I've never been so excited for any concert before.  And I think my mom is just as excited as I am!

source

Family/Friends

This is probably self-explanatory, but spending time with my friends and family is also a huge part of my summertime in Rhode Island.  Hopefully I'll even get to visit one of my childhood friends in Maine who I haven't seen in a few years!  There's so many people I want to spend time with before the end of summer.  Even doing small things like getting Del's lemonade, going for a walk on the beach, or playing mini-golf is quality time with the people I care about.  Time that in a few months will be much harder to come by, so I'm trying to appreciate what I have while I still have it.

Throwback of the brother and I, you're welcome.

What are your summer plans so far?  Are there things you also like to typically do this time of year?