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.