Welcome to “A Year Abroad” — our leap into a new life under the Spanish sun. This is our journey of swapping familiar for new, discovering what everyday life looks like in another country, and following a dream that’s been waiting patiently for its turn.
Last week brought about a big day for my son — he had his first practice with a local handball team.
El polideportivo isn’t far from home, but jumping into a new handball team can be challenging enough in itself. Add the fact that you are also doing it in a country where you still don’t fully understand the language and culture, and you know it takes courage and a leap of faith!
He hasn’t played since before summer break, so the familiar rhythm of drills and passes was a welcome return. For now, he’s training with the senior team, until the junior season starts in September. The Spanish instructions fly past him at lightning speed, but he’s taking it in stride, copying the movements and following the lead of the men around him. Sometimes you don’t need to understand every word to know exactly what to do. Experience is good to have, and el balonmano is still handball as we know it!
While he was sweating on the court, my husband and I took a walk downtown and checked out another part of the town, did some people watching, and enjoyed an ice cream. There were so many people out and about since the temperature was a little better. It’s been very, very hot the last few days…
Little by little, the apartment becomes a little bit more ours, as we buy a few things here and there to make it cozier. It’s funny how small touches can shift a place from “somewhere we’re staying” to “home.”
We’ve added a wool blanket – had to be wool, you know – for those cooler evenings, some small (fake — because our rooftop is basically a sauna at times) trees for greenery, battery-operated lanterns and strings of lights to make the nights sparkle. An outdoor carpet and a couple of lounge chairs for lazy moments. And yes, we now own two sunbeds. Because honestly — can you even live in Spain without one?
It feels good and we are starting to find our places here, one step at a time. There’s still a lot ahead, with the papers not done yet and school just around the corner, but for now, we’re enjoying the mix of new routines and little comforts that make this adventure truly ours. And M is out and about with friends almost every night – just as it should be!
That’s the latest from our Spanish chapter. Some days feel like home already, others still feel wonderfully unfamiliar — and that’s exactly the adventure we came for. For more daily moments and behind-the-scenes glimpses, follow along on Instagram at @lifeandlove_thelittlethings. See you in the next update!
One thought on “New beginnings and a more cosy place”