Category Archives: oh my thank you

Life Changes

Pretty much every single day I look around and think to myself

You have an amazing life.  Look at all that you have accomplished!  You achieved one of your biggest goals by moving to Europe.  This is so freaking cool!

Literally that has gone through my head at some point every single day for the past year.  And it usually happens during something completely mundane and normal – like going to the grocery store or on a run, for example.  Those small, unimportant moments remind me that I am doing those small, unimportant moments where people can only dream of living!  It is a humbling moment that reminds me how cool my life is.

gorgeous spain

But I would be lying if I told you I was able to move to Spain on my own hard work and dedication.  Yeah, there was hard work and dedication involved, but that alone would have never found itself in Spain.  It might have made it as far as the Spanish Consulate.  What really pushed me and helped me to achieve this goal were my friends and family back home.  And trust me, there is no fun in achieving your goals when you don’t have people to share it with!

As amazing as my friends back in Atlanta were to me, and despite how cool my life is, I also often catch myself feeling really guilty and selfish for taking on this challenge.  In the year that I have lived abroad, I have missed some really important moments in the lives of my friends – weddings, babies, promotions, …. more weddings (I’m almost 25 and from the South, don’t forget!).

Every time another major event takes place in the lives of those that helped me to get where I am today, I feel so bad for not being a part of their experience like they were for mine.  Granted, I might have the best excuse in the book, it doesn’t make it any less crappy.

Let’s be honest, I’m just mad I missed out on some killer cakes…

So I wanted to make a special thank you and apology to all of those that supported me in my journey.  Your friendship and motivation allowed me to achieve a goal I never would have been able to do on my own.  Furthermore, I want to sincerely apologize for missing your special day…or days, if that’s the case!  I wish I could have been there to celebrate with you and be the support you were for me.  While I can’t change this as it is now in the past, I want you to know that I solemnly promise to be a part of all of the big moments of your future.

‘How can you do that from Spain?’ you might be asking yourself.  Well I can’t.

But I promise to be a part of all your special days in the future because I won’t be living in Spain anymore.

That’s right friends, Life With a Fork, or Sarah as most of you know me, will be moving back to the good ol’ U S of A at the end of July and I couldn’t be more excited!  I love Spain and it will always have a special place in my heart, but it is time to come back to the people who allowed me to achieve my dream.  It’s my turn to help them achieve theirs!

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Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU to all my friends and family for all of your help, encouragement, well wishes, love, and support.  I would have never been able to achieve this without you!

– This is just a small glimpse of the things I’ve missed while I have been away. –

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5:45am is never a good look for me

That is until I checked the stats on website and saw how many visitors I had on this little blog yesterday.

< cue jaw to floor >

WOW! 

I am so glad you took time to visit my little piece of cyber space and read some of my ramblings.

Please allow me to formally introduce myself!  My name is Sarah and I am currently living in Madrid, Spain as an English teacher.  I am originally from the dirty South (aka Atlanta, Georgia) where the fare may be fine, but it doesn’t do fine things for my waist.  Some might call me young (even though I prefer to think turning 25 this year is a sin punishable by death), but it has taken me years to really understand my body and be in control of my health.  I currently eat what is commonly referred to as a “Paleo” diet, which basically means I avoid all grains and legumes.  I do indulge in the occasional dairy product from time to time so this is by no means a strict following.  The reason for this sort of lifestyle for me is simple:  I feel great when I don’t eat those things and I feel like shit when I do.  Not to mention, my ass looks better in a size 4 pair of jeans instead of a size 10.  But as I am sure you will find out, I don’t know everything. I just know what works for me and I want to share it with you in hopes that it can work for you too.

Well that’s basically it!  It’s a pleasure to meet you and I hope to see you again soon!

welcome! .............wait, where are you going?? Don't go yet! Those aren't my real glasses, I promise!!

For more information on me or any of this mumbo jumbo, click some of the links at the top of the page!  Also, if you are curious as to why I decided to start this little blog, check out this post.

I am really thankful to have you here and if there is anything I can do to help, just let me know!

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The Feast

So I realize this post is quite late considering we have already crossed into December, but I couldn’t let another day pass by before I wrote about The Feast.

The Thanksgiving Feast of 2011.

The first Thanksgiving Feast for most of the people I cooked for and a small piece of home to a special visitor I hosted during the holiday week.

The Menu:

Meat and Cheese Plate

Dates stuffed with goat cheese and topped with Pistachios

Roasted Pork (a whole turkey here in Spain will run you about 40 euro.  No thank you.)

Beef Roast

Mashed Cauliflower

Broccoli Casserole

Roasted Sweet Potatoes

Coconut Rice (provided by one of the feast attendees)

Herb Gravy

Grain-free Chocolate Fudge Cake with Cheesecake Swirl

In my opinion (and based off the 15 minutes of silence immediately after dinner was served), the food was absolutely delicious!  I have never cooked for that many people or in such quantities so I was quite impressed with myself when everything turned out so well.  Just goes to show that you can enjoy a hearty yet healthy holiday season with your loved ones!  I will begin to post the recipes for the various dishes, but for now you can drool over the photos.

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Thanksvember 2011: sleep tight

While I may be seriously missing my Queen size bed with Ritz-Carlton feather top mattress and down comforter…

I am thankful for the 1.5″ thick piece of foam I bought to go on top of my twin size bed here in Madrid.

Thanksvember 2011: face time

I have to make a quick post on how thankful I am to have these things so I can keep in touch with my family and friends back home.

Thanksvember 2011: New Friends

At the beginning of Thanksvember, you heard about my not-so-old old friends.  You have also heard about my ‘work friends’ aka ‘my real friends I met at work’.  I love them all dearly, as you know.

But this blog started as a result of me making a massive change in my life.  And with change comes new people.

And new friends.

Going through my TEFL course and opening myself to new experiences has brought so many great people into my life in such a short amount of time.  It really feels as though I have a home here in Spain and it couldn’t be more comforting. (Speaking of home, there will be more to come on my roommates.  They deserve their own post.)

I would love to go through everyone I’ve met and write a short anecdote about each one of them because believe me, they would be hilarious.  But I don’t have the patience for that and frankly it would be quite boring to anyone else reading this.  Instead, I will group them as a whole and say THANK YOU for coming into my life and making this new change completely worth while.  They are all amazing and talented and I look forward to many more memories to come.

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Some of these lovely people also have great blogs you should check out!

Gina R. Cooper

Have Love, Will Travel

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Thanksvember 2011: Home of the Brave

While my thankfulness extends beyond today, this Veteran’s Day I want to make a special thank you to the men and women of the United States Armed Forces for protecting and humbly serving our country.  Your courage and bravery surpasses my own abilities and I am ever-grateful for those retired and those currently serving our nation.  Our country will always be the land of the free so long as it is also the home of the brave and I thank you for taking the step I was never able to make myself.

I have two very special men who have been a part of my life that I would especially like to pay respects to.  While their times in the service never crossed, their courage and strength mimic one another.  I am thankful to have known both of these gentlemen and they are definitely role models in my life.

My grandfather Pierre

My boyfriend Kirby

As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.
~John Fitzgerald Kennedy

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Thanksvember 2011: Vices

At this hour, and with barely any sleep, I am only thankful for one thing.

standard cafe con leche

cafe con crema de coco

holy 6 am...

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Thanksvember 2011: my students

From one of my students after class:

I am really enjoying coming to your classes.  You are so fun and you make me feel comfortable to talk in English.  I am not afraid to make mistakes in front of you.  Finally, I don’t hate English Class anymore.

I became an English teacher so I could move to Europe.  I knew living in Madrid was going to be amazing.  What I never expected was how my job would affect me.  I thought it would just be something to pay the bills. After each class, I am discovering more and more how lovely and talented my students are.  Their determination to learn and practice the English language is absolutely shocking to me.  We all know I never cared to practice my Spanish.  Case and point: ham hock when I wanted pulled pork.

For the most part, I teach in companies all over Madrid.  From advertising agencies, to pharmaceutical companies and even a very large motor company that happens to rhyme with ‘sword’.  I also teach private students in the evenings.  These are college-age students looking to learn English to prepare for the job hunt after graduation.  However, it doesn’t matter which company or which student I am with.  They are all so different, yet so rewarding.  There is no way to explain the excitement I get when I hear a student use the English language in conversation the way I have taught it.  I can really see the fruits of my labor changing people’s ability to communicate.

I am very thankful for this experience to meet new people and make a difference in their life.  My students are absolutely incredible and I am looking forward to getting to know them much better throughout the coming year.

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Thanksvember 2011: Thunder Thighs

I am thankful for my muscular legs and the work I put in to sculpt them.  They walk my happy ass all over this city without losing a breath.  Yeah, I might have trouble jean shopping.  But who cares?  Why would I want to cover them up with jeans anyways?  Be thankful for your body and proud of the work you have done to reach your goals.  Thunder thighs are two trophies you can always show off.  So be thankful and let ‘em show, ladies.

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