The Story of Us

Scene:
It's 2003 and Miss E is halfway through her Junior year at Arizona State University (Go Devils!)

I had taken my oh-so-dreamy Spanish professor up on an offer to study abroad in a small town called Alicante on the east coast of Spain.  Spanish was one of my majors so this was not only a great opportunity to go abroad {which I always wanted to do, but wasn't sure if I had the guts to actually go through with it}, but also fulfilled my remaining credits needed for my Spanish degree.  Perfect, right?  


So I pack up three boxes of sh*t my clothes, books and camera and head off the day after Christmas 2002 for Europe. I was scared, excited, worried and exhilarated all at the same time.  

Would I miss my family and friends? 

Immensely, but I'd be fine and so would they.  

Would I like my host family?  

Yes, in her late-70's, Encarnita was more like a grandma to me.  So sweet and patient and made the best food!  

Would I feel "home" in this new city?

Absolutely, from the 10th century castle that overlooked the city to the grafiti on the walls, Alicante became a comfortable place.  I came to know and love the little old people walking their little old dogs every morning on my way to the bus, the constant inhalation of cigarette smoke, the amazing coffee in the sidewalk cafes, the old movie theatres with their worn velvet chairs, the mercado that opened every Saturday with an array of meats, cheeses, fruits and vegetables, even the angry Spaniards protesting America and the Iraqi war through the streets.  This all became a part of me and shaped me in ways I never could have imagined.

My program consisted of 35 of the best people imaginable who became my travel partners and best amigos. We explored, we sang, we drank, we went to movies, we ate, we drank, we talked passionately, we drank, we danced (until sunrise!) and then did it all over again.  Oh, and fit a few classes too.


I met Hubs the very first day in Alicante.  As luck would have it he ended up living with a host family just down the street from mine. We walked to the bus together everyday.  Which turned into dinners at night and movies and then traveling.  We were very different people, but drawn to each other nonetheless. He was so mature! So determined! So unlike all the frat boys I had known! And so our love began.  

I was sure, being the ever-practical and emotionally supressed calm girl that I am, that this was just a fling. Just a Spanish affair, if you will. Blame it on the Sangria! I was sure praying I was wrong that I'd never hear from him again. After a semester of paradise, we parted ways at the Madrid airport, I got on my plane and broke down in tears.

Luckily for me, the story doesn't end there. I got a call from Hubs 5 mintues after he landed in Phoenix the next night and he asked me to a party. I declined (which he loves to still bring up!) but the next night he asked me out, I accepted and the rest is history.

A night on the town in Barcelona.
{Omg, I can't believe I'm showing this pic to the world.}

Alicante, Spain
The town where we studied.

The beach in Tenerife, part of The Canary Islands.
We celebrated Valentine's Day here 
(which became our "1st date" anniversary).

Hubs is on the left. 

The next three are some of our very best friends to this day.

In fact, the one in black (in the very middle) 

was the Best Man in our wedding.

Best Man, Me, Hubs, and J
waiting for the bus that (almost) never came.

So that is the Story of Us.  Or at least, a cursory version of how we met.  I'm thinking I'll continue to document our story through our engagement, wedding and through to today.  And I'll throw some more stories of our time in Spain in there if you all are interested.  


Let me know, no?


xoxo
Miss E