España, Day 3 or Then and Now

I remember the first time I went to Spain. It was over 15 years ago. I still remember how magical it all was, even the simplest things, ice cream in the Plaza Cervantes, cobblestone streets, loving how they give you a little snack when ordering my requisite Fanta naranja at a cafe. And may I add that the disgusting, fake neon orange, corn syrup-filled Fanta orange soda in the U.S. is nothing like Fanta naranja. I remember tears coming to my eyes when I saw an Andalucian flamenco show. I remember saying goodbye to a Spanish boy I had a desperate crush on. But that was then.

Now...

I'm with him.

Instead of a Spanish host mom's house, an Airbnb apartment is my dwelling.


















Now I have a kid and missing him like crazy. WhatsApp video chat all the way!
Now I have a research project to undertake and it's going all right. None of my fears about archival work were actually founded. Now that I know how it all works, I'm completely fine.