Goodbye

I'm finally done. Done packing it all that is. Tomorrow the storage company will pick it all up, and it will then be time for me to say goodbye to my wonderful appartement and to Madrid. They both sheltered me through the last two and half years, since I first arrived starting a brand new phase of my life. Remembering who I was then makes me realise how many/much things/I have changed. For the better I think. I do leave with plenty of good memories, with old and new friends, wiser and happy, and definitely looking forward to what's expecting me next.

Next post will probably be written from Germany, so till then, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you all!

More dirty games

As I happened to mention on Monday, I have some issues with my old job. On my last day, the 'finiquito' they showed me stated they owed me nothing, when the reality is that they do owe me vacation days and expenses (a grand total, mind you, of 1400 euros!) So I obviously refused to sign the damn paper and wrote my boss and HR an email demanding it to be corrected and faxed to me by Friday the 16th. That's today. And of course I still have not heard from my boss. I still did not receive any fax.

I am so tired of their dirty games. The funny thing is that I know for a fact that she expects me to come to the office today. She's not so bright you know, does not read very well. Meaning she read my email between the lines and is waiting for me this afternoon to sign the paper, return the mobile phone, and train my replacement for a few hours. But that ain't gonna happen. I am not going and I am keeping the phone until this issue is resolved. Besides, I really don't wanna see her fake face again in my life!

To do

Looking at my gigantic to do list used to literally depress me and/or stress me. I can however happily and proudly say that it has notably decreased. If I continue like this, I might even be able to enjoy a few moments of freedom in Madrid before I leave. Freedom being a few hours of shopping (still need to buy a few xmas presents!), visiting friends, or (hopefully and) spending time with my father.

But I can't get carried away with joy yet. First things first. Got a gazillion things to do!

Roller coaster

I feel like I am on a roller coaster these days. I am surrounded by boxes, some closed, others unfinished and open. I stress out about not being able to finish the packing on time, and minutes later I realize I have plenty of time ahead of me. I worry about how to solve the legal issue of my company not paying me everything they owe me, and then just feel thankful to have left and the hell with them. The fact is I go from happiness and relief, to stress and irritation in a matter of seconds: I love the appartment M chose and rented, but get all frustrated when I see that we can't seem to agree on oh so many things about it.

I am happy about my decision, of that I am sure. I spent a wonderful weekend in Hannover and felt relieved when I saw all the pieces of the puzzle fitting together. I soon forgot about how nightmarishly my trip had started, when the airline made me pay a fortune for 18 kgs excess baggage, after my 'savior' sat next to me in the plane: a very nice Spanish lady, whose daughter followed the same exact path I am about to embark on. She left everything she had in Spain (job, appt, etc.) to move to Hannover and be with the man she loved. Funny coincidence, right? Or maybe not?

Last day

This is pretty much my face today, my last day in the office! The words are lacking to describe my happiness, but Garfield's face is self-explanatory don't cha think?

Our future little love nest

The days are flying by. I can't believe I only have today and Wednesday left at work. It's thrilling, and it honestly feels good to know that it's my last hours working with this awful team. And it feels even better to know where I will be living in Hannover. Yes, you read that right, we already found our little love nest: a small attic apartment in the central List neighborhood. We're signing the contract this week! Meaning we'll do lots more than originally planned in my trip there this Thursday. Not only will we go to see the language schools, but we'll also be able to go to Ikea and choose some of the furniture we need to buy. Hopefully this won't involve a big argument, as we can't seem to agree on the same pieces: M's priority is the cheapest price, whereas mine are nice design and good value. Call me spoiled, call me whatever you want, I need to feel comfortable in my home even if this involves spending a bit more. Especially when I am moving to a foreign country.

Quality time

I have always been very close to my mother. I am sure being raised by her alone has a lot to do with it. Communication has always flown between us, with the exception of a few tough years when I went through the natural teenage rebellion. It's therefore quite hard to live geographically so far apart. We've gotten used to it of course, given that it's been ten years now. And it surely makes us appreciate and savour the times we spend together much more, even if saying goodbye is always just as hard.

She just came to Madrid for a last visit before my departure. We went Christmas shopping, we saw a terrific expo about the Traces which I definitely recommend, we went up to El Escorial to see Uma b. and the Mountain family, we saw an interesting little Argentinian movie on DVD, and we chatted and talked for hours. And I realised that the roles are starting to change and invert themselves: up to now she was always the one with the answers and I the one asking her questions and her advice. But not so much anymore. Is it because she's more confused now, or rather because she now sees me as an adult to whom she can confide her doubts? I reckon it's a bit of both.