Here's the thing, I came into a new year with a clean slate and a lot of change on my mind. If there is one thing that scares me, it's becoming stale. you know, when you are at the point where the things you do become monotonous, there is no excitement anymore, and you aren't learning as much as you want to. Lets look back into my last two refreshing years of coming into my own identity, and then explore why I am getting ready for one of the great adventures of my life.
2008- MY year... a lot happened in 2008 that I love to look back on. This was a year of maturing and coming into a new person. I had a new job working with kids in an after-school program in Norwalk. They were an amazing group of kids. We went on trips, they gave me a lot of insight into my own life and made me realize a lot about myself. Leaving the center last September, was a testament to how fulfilling that job was for me and leaving was a difficult thing for me to do. The kids fought for me to stay,offering their snack money as extra incentive for my paycheck, telling me that they will write a letter to get me fired in the new job and then I would have to go back to the center, coming up with all these schemes to get me to stay. Their beautiful and concerned faces told me they had become attached and had a great deal of respect for me, and didn't want another person to leave them. But an opportunity came knocking as working as a victim advocate in new haven and I decided to try it out, unfortunately leaving the kids.
Aside from that, I had enrolled in bartending school, a path that would change my life and led me to wonderful guy named Alejandro Morales, who would become the greatest love of my life, and someone that I could be myself around.
After learning all of the drink recipes, I passed exam and the course and was ready to find a bartending job. Even though they would help me find a job, I decided to find one on my own. The place I found was DUO in Stamford, a place that would change my perspective on life. I had never thought of working in any type of Asian restaurant, but I went into the interview and landed the job. Unfortunately, I didn't end up to be what I expected and I waitressed instead. I can still remember the first day, it was late march, when I met all of the staff. I can remember seeing alex for the first time, his beautiful chocolate eyes looking up at me just barely seen under the brim of his hat, and his warm smile with deep dimples. It took a while to get to know Alex, and for a reason that I have a lot of respect for. He figured that I had someone and he didn't want to waste his time if I was taken. He respected me and did not treat me like a lot of the other guys, he was understanding. But slowly I got to know him, and to see that he was a romantic just like me. Even though we both quit Duo, and I started a job at Bistro Basque in Milford in August, Alex and I stayed in touch, and would eventually take our relationship to the next level as being officially together. My holidays that year were fabulous, and Christmas was so nice with Alex by my side, and enjoying the holiday together happily. My father especially became fond of Alex that day, as he helped him cook Christmas dinner.
Love, jobs, those were just part of the fun of 2008, this was also a time for me to let loose with my girls. In January I decided to call up my friend Carla, we had both just gotten out of relationships, and in one visit, our level of friendship skyrocketed. We decided to take a trip to New York in early march and had one crazy night. Mandy, Carla, and I decided to make a trip to New York and see a flamenco show. We ate at Grand Central, we watched an amazingly sexy show, had lunch, bought rain boots, and met up with my friend Caitlin. Then the debauchery started. Caitlin and her friends wanted to go to a male strip show, after a lovely dinner at Carmines. The strip show was an experience, but once was more than enough, but it made for a few laughs. Now what happened after the show is why I call Carla "magic" because no matter where we are, she knows how to make connections, and whether it is making new friends, or getting something discounted, or free even, she knows what to say and what to do. We ended up going into a few bars, VIP, with one of the strippers, just because Carla was able to talk with him after the show. I don't know how she does it. After a few bars, we met up with Caitlin and finished the night with a house party. Overall it was one crazy day in New York, and a chance to express my freedom. The adventures didn't stop there, another trip to new york was in the works for my birthday, and a lovely dinner at DUO, with my family and my girls. Then in the summer, Kasia and I decided to explore the CT wine trail, and learn about wine, we almost made it to 14 of them, and in August, I went to Tampa with Carla. So many good times to remember with Carla.
In short , 2008 was my year, and in a meeting with the staff at my victim advocate job, we were asked how we feel about 2009 coming at 2008 ending. I said that this was an amazing year for me, filled with excitement and change, and I am very sad to see the year go, but looking forward to the opportunities of 2009.
2009- So far it has been a real roller coaster of ups and downs. I was really stressed at my job as a Victim Advocate, feeling like was sinking. It turned out to be a great learning experience, but I just couldn't seem to grasp my workload. In April, I was let go, but I fought until the end, constantly working to meet the demands, and many tests. But I will always remember my experience, it just wasn't the best fit for me.
The ups were good ones. One was meeting my friend Courtney through Bistro basque and having someone local to hang out with, and someone who is in so many ways, just like me. Enjoying day trips with Alex was also what kept me going. We did many fun things this year. We went wine tasting, to Lake Compounce and Six Flags, walked around Flushing Park while drinking bubble tea, a few days at the beach, especially for his birthday, dancing in Stamford, The Big E, Mystic aquarium, Mohegan Sun, Korean Barbecue, and so many sweet moments between the two of us. The best times are those loving moments. He just knows how to treat a woman, and he knows how to be romantic. I love how he thinks of me, just as much as i think of him. He just makes me so happy. We also spent a lot of Sunday nights dancing Duranguense, norteno, cumbia, and many others at clubs in Queens. I have seen some great live shows including Diana Reyes, Tucanes de Tijuana, and K-Paz de la Sierra. It is so cool to go to clubs where people actually dance, getting away from the daily grind. The whole place moves and is filled with the Mexican cry. I love being with Alex because it is always a cultural experience. His love is what I have been looking for.
Another great "up" this year was heading to Ireland with Mom and Mandy. Everyday was a tea party. High lights of the trip were plenty; learning to get used to the driving on the other side of the road, drinking Guinness at the Guinness Storehouse and being disappointed they did not make the shamrock at the top of the Guinness, visiting with my mother's friends and showing us some Irish hospitality, a comforting home cooked meal, good laughs, a tour of Sligo and even a little history about our family, draining the battery of the rental car and being so tired that we couldn't help but laugh, hearing" would you like to speak to himself" and "grand," driving up the mountain in Sligo and seeing where the Spanish Armada landed in Ireland, seeing remains of an old boat, enjoying the Perfect weather, driving around and seeing the landscape, being blown away up at the Cliffs of Moher, literally, seeing the original home of the Claddaugh ring, eating lamb and traditional Irish food, going out dancing in Longford and enjoying the Irish nightlife, Exploring Bunratty Castle and the Irish town, eating at Dirty Nelly's, Enjoying the bed and breakfasts, and most importantly, spending a week with my mother and sister, and feeling like three friends out on an adventure together. I will never forget that trip.
With all of the ups and downs, and thinking back to the feeling of traveling, I was looking for something that could change the roller coaster I was riding on. Thankfully I was able to keep my job at the restaurant and get extra help from the state, while I looked for another job, but finding one was a big problem. There just is nothing out there that interests me. I applied and applied, but nothing was coming up. So in August, I decided to take the bull by the horns, wanting to have a job that allowed me to travel, and looking closely at the requirements for jobs that I was interested in, but not qualified for, I decided to apply for a working abroad program. After months of planning and applying, I am officially headed to Peru. So for the next two months, that's where I will be writing my blog. So keep checking in, to see where my adventure takes me. And I couldn't have made this decision with out the support of my loved ones. I am so lucky, well blessed, to have supportive friends, family, and an especially supportive boyfriend in my life. There is nothing like having friends and family backing you in accomplishing your dreams. This is the first time in my life where I really feel comfortable leaving and doing it because I want to do it.
Buen Viaje!!!
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