Typically I have a plan for what I want each post to tackle before heading into it. This time I really don’t. I did know I wanted to post this on Christmas Eve but between the chaos (and stress) of the past two months and writer’s block, I drew a blank. This included two attempts at a blog post before scraping it two paragraphs in.
Instead, I decided to write what I feel and see where it leads. And if this ends up scrapped too? So be it.. So if you want to read about the current status of my year as an expat in Europe and the current status of my travels, keep reading.
The holidays are typically associated with being surrounded by others and heading or staying home. But I always knew, especially in recent years, that I wanted my holiday season to look and feel different. Sure, I will be surrounded by people but it’d be with people in hostels or other travelers crowding tourist sites. I just knew that I wanted to spend my holidays abroad.
In fact, I even made a post about what cities I’d like to visit during the holidays. Yes, shameless self-plug. My itch for travel was at an all-time high this time last year when a lot of other aspects of my life were at an all-time low. I was stuck in an overpriced apartment in a city I hated and overall wasn’t happy. The job I had caused my to stay in said apartment in said city for New Year’s and I just remember thinking… this has to change.
Something more.
Last year I told myself I wanted to try as hard as I could to make sure I spent the holidays in a new place. I dreamt of visiting French Christmas markets and seeing the Duomo in Milan with the huge Christmas tree out front. So while holidays for some means being around their family, home, etc. I knew for me it would be best experienced having new experiences. That’s exactly what I’m doing this year.
While I’m not going to say exactly where is on my itinerary (but stay tuned for blog posts!) I am happy to report that I’ll be traveling while I have a break from work. The fact that I’m in Europe during this time and will be going to countries that seemed so out-of-reach is amazing. As of writing this post, I am mere hours away from waking up and heading to the airport to my first destination.
Europe for the holidays.
Even had I decided not to travel to a different country and stay in Spain, that would’ve also been amazing. I mean, Madrid and Seville? I still haven’t seen this two wonderful cities and can’t wait to go. As mentioned earlier, the past two months have been really stressful and chaotic and I’ll admit, it put a damper on the experience a bit. Thank you, Spanish bureaucracy!
However, when I take time to reflect, I have to be grateful for this experience. I’m able to take a two week vacation and go to several different countries. For the price one round-trip ticket to Europe from the U.S. would cost. Life isn’t perfect now but I have so much to be grateful for and I’m so excited for this holiday break and for the rest of the year, and 2020.
Whether you’re reading this when it comes out, or weeks later, I hope you try to look at the areas in your life deeper. How do you define your happiness? What do you want certain areas of your life to look like? Is there something you can do to make yourself happier? What’s stopping you from doing it?
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