Chasing my dream: teaching in Spain!

On Thursday December 12, 2013 I will embark on a plane with one suitcase and a lifetime of hopes and dreams. I'll be flying to Spain to teach school children English on a tiny island in the Mediterranean. My dreams will get me there but I need your help to survive the first few months. Please donate!

Friends and family...I need your help to make this dream possible!

The only thing between me and my dream is $1,931. This will fund my living expenses (food and rent) for the first few months before receiving my first stipend check from the Spanish government. After that, I will be living a student's lifestyle for the next 1-2 years.

Your donation will make this dream possible! Your help in any capacity - $5, $10, $20, $40 - brings me one step closer!

When I was 9 I was asked, "and what do you want to be when you grow up little girl?" My answer," I want to be an artist!" I'd never be more sure of anything in my life. I was almost as sure when I chose Fine Art as my undergraduate course of study instead of the more marketable web/graphic design option. I took a risk and followed my passion. If my last day on earth was tomorrow, I will have lived my life to the fullest.

Since then, I've committed my time to yet another passion of mine...helping people. I've done this working at a non-profit that feeds struggling low-income families in Alameda County every day. I let my heart lead the way again. The time that I have spent with this organization and the community it serves has permanently transformed the way I view the world and live my life.

During the course of countless conversations with people down on their luck or their health, I have concluded a few things: We have far less control over our lives than we think we do. Any sudden turn of events and our entire life can change course. The only way to truly live life is with humility and happiness...no matter what happens.
So, last April I decided to apply for the Language and Cultural Assistant grant through the Spanish Ministry of Education. I was absolutely certain of something: that this was perfect for me right now.

They say "Life is either a great adventure or nothing at all..."

I knew I would be taking a huge risk trading stability for the uncertainty of adventure. This was a stability that I'd fought to maintain since I started supporting myself at 18 years old! I found myself running out of reasons not to give this a shot.

They say "If your dreams don't scare you, they are not big enough."

Hmmm... was I too old? Naaah! Did I have all of the money I needed? Not yet, but I would find a way somehow! Would it be worth it? Worth selling all of my furniture and working a second job to buy a plane ticket? My heart said yes.


They say "Be careful what you wish for..."

A month and a half ago, I was finally awarded the teaching position and discovered I will be on the Balearic Islands off the coast of Spain. I will earn a small monthly stipend while teaching English to Spanish children.

Finally, it's time. I'm ready to continue following my dreams!
This is me...a 31 year old that has never lived farther than 1.5 hours from her hometown. I imagine that in many ways I will be the student myself, learning more from the students and the experience than I could ever conceive. This is a long-overdue, much-anticipated and very exciting growth opportunity. And I can't do it without YOU! Before I receive my first stipend payment, $1,931 will cover the remaining costs of room and board. Any amount you can contribute will help make sure I have a roof over my head and food on the table during those first few months.
Thank you for all of the love, support, encouragement and for helping me become a citizen of the world!

I look forward to sharing all of my experiences with you :)

Adriana*