Civil Ceremony

     On May 11th, Derick & I got married in a town just outside  of Madrid. Villanueva del Pardillo is the town where I worked for two years and got married there. It would have been a six month wait if we wanted to get married in Madrid center but only three weeks in the little town.

I didn’t think that I would get nervous that day, I thought “just sign a paper & walk out” but the lady that married us was extremely nice, she talked to us about the significance about marriage, kids, becoming one household, Spanish laws and what it means. I got very emotional thats when I thought about my parents & Brenda not being there. It was the time t oread our vows, I wrote mine and Derick memorized his.  We invited a few friends to be with us for the ceremony & later found out about a seafood festival going on so we decided to go there and celebrate. Later, we came back to Madrid to meet with other friends that couldn’t make it for some beers. We also had a little dinner with other friends at this really nice restaurant called LaMucca.

We are so grateful to have great friends here in Madrid, will totally miss them when we move from Madrid.

Where will we settle? Only God knows. 

Still getting use to talking about Derick as my husband! In my eyes he will be  once he has a ring on his finger which will be in December jajajaja.

Education

Hearing all these things about Budget cuts in education here in Spain & back home just makes me anxious because I think of my nephews and one day my own kids education. It’s starting to look  as education is beginning to be a luxury & not a basic necesity.

I recently got an email from my University that the Californis system wants to cut $250 million from all CSU’s, coming from an Alumni that was on scholarships 90% and I am forever grateful for that help. I feel sad for the students that are in high school now that are minorities, low income family and with no role models to follow their foot steps. I’m worried for that generation who will have little or no access to education; what does this mean about our future?

I hope no more cuts are going to be made!!

Now, Spain is making cuts in Health! Have so many people used it excessively or wrong?

Talked to friends that are doctors in Madrid, they tell me that many people use it inappropiately and some do need/use it as it should. I guess there is everything in this world.

Legal or not legal?

Life in Spain as of now

Have hit some bumps in the road but it is looking clearer. Got my NIE denied which is a card so that you can stay in Spain legaly and not have to worry about the Little things but what  happens when you get denied. Well, first you appeal it as I did with a lawyer who is helping me along. You put an appeal, question why you got denied & wait for a 2 month or more response. I got really lucky because my fiancee is now a Spanish citizen, so we rushed the civil wedding due to my issue.

 Did the civil ceremony & celebrated with friends. Now, I am waiting for the certificate,  family book and another document to start my filling process for a card that says that I am legal for five years and can FINALLY work. Hopefully in those five years, I find a job (not being picky at all), save money, Derick finishes his PhD and we find somewhere to settle. Doing some private classes in the afternoon with kids & teenagers but doesn't pay a lot.

The settling can be anywhere in the world, huge question mark for us & family.

This all has been a process since November 2011 and we might not have it solutioned until December of this year (2012).

Homoligacion process: Started this process to get my degree approved in Spain so that I can work as a Psychologist or something in the field. Been waiting for six months but people say that they can last up to two years!! Received a letter from them not too long ago  stating that Valley College & CSUN  had to send them directly my transcripts, didn’t say why but they wanted to check if I didn’t make it up (who would make that up!) and still waiting & hoping the schools sent them over. Gotta call soon to see what is up.

San Gregorio Hotel & Spa

Where shall I begin? It has been two years no since my last post! Will give you a review :). Got engaged during my trip to Guatemala last year & now planning a wedding there while living in Madrid. The date is set for December 15, 2012 and the location is gorgeous! It's a bit of a challenge planning a wedding and nevertheless being thousands of miles away from the location; future mother-in-law & fiancés grandmother have been helping looking out for the venue, food, cake... & all that jazz. A friend of ours that lives in Paris is helping us a lot :), since she got married in Guatemala, she tells me what to look out for and what's a swell deal. We have booked the venue and florist for now.
The wedding dress: at first I thought of renting it in Guatemala but they don't rent and if I did, they wouldn't have enough time to fit it properly. Loved going with my friends Almudena & Beatriz to bridal shops here in Madrid, just getting into a $2500 gown is a nice feeling but we went to see what style fits me best and we found it.
 Found a store that sells gowns for less than 150 euros but it's in Paris, will be heading there soon to buy it and see our friends.
Now the food, dad wanted to cook since he is a chef and I prefer his food 100% than others but we (Derick & I) had a talk and decided to get a catering company because we want my dad to fully enjoy the wedding. So we are going with one that Derick's mom has really like at previous weddings and we are giving her the full right to choose whatever menu she likes since we can't taste it lol.
Cake will be ordered from a place that Derick's mom likes from Ciro an Italian bakery in Guatemala, it will be a poppy seed cake ( I want with lemon icing!).
The party is big, 200 people! Never thought I would have a big wedding but I'm so excited!!!!

Civil wedding will be in Madrid with our close friends. I head to the civil registry April 25th to get our papers and that will follow into going to a little town to ask for a date for the ceremony. Now, Madrid has an interesting way of doing things here, all paperwork will take you about two months just to process and wait another month (depending on the towns availability) and then you are set :).
We are planning to have a little get together with friends to celebrate: food, wine & beer.

It's very hard planning all of the wedding and not having my mom & best friends by my side. Always thought she & I would plan EVERYTHING but she is too far away and thats where speaking over the phone & Facebook come to place. I'm working on it!
One of my best friends is getting married next month, Johana! I can't make it to the wedding due to legal, money issues I have which I will speak of it later. Yeah, can't make it & it totally sucks.
Lost my best friend to a car crash about three years ago and I like to think that she is overlooking everything that I do that comes to  planning.

Miss them all but I am happy with my  life here in Madrid, difficult at times but that is life right!