Prelude

Beginnings start in many different ways. We see it all the time in stories. An entrance scene of a loving couple, a bloody duel between enemies, or a mystery yet to be solved with the clues left behind. My opening scene falls in neither of these categories. Sorry folks. I do not plan on writing the next year of my life around love, nor revenge, nor a mystery. Although these characteristics create page-turning novels, I have found that there is truly only one thing that I could possibly start with in my first chapter. Faith.

Faith can take on several connotations. I am sure that several scholars have debated about it over the years. I, on the other hand, have no desire in attributing to the words of these scholars. All I mean to say is that faith has guided me through this entire lengthy process to get to Spain. In order to more fully understand the frustration and yet patience I held throughout this year, take into consideration the following list of things I have done:

1. December 2010-I filled out the job application, received a doctor's medical certificate, and applied for a FBI background check
2. April 2011-I was accepted to teach English in Spain; I began the visa application but the necessary documents were out of date so I got a new doctor's medical certificate and re-sent my application in for my FBI background check
3. June 2011-I went in for my visa appointment in Chicago even without all of the necessary documents; they accepted my application but told me to come back in person to pick up my visa with all of the documents; and ah yes! I have not yet mentioned that my doctor's medical certificate had to be re-done AGAIN due to "incorrect wording."
4. July 2011-worry, worry, worry, worry, and maybe chew a few fingernails here and there.
5. August 2011-I received my new doctor's medical certificate and FBI background check by the end of the month and picked up my visa in Chicago.
6. September 2011-I finally bought my plane ticket, reserved some hotels in the area where I will live, and researched places to live in Spain. Currently I am undertaking the difficult task of fitting everything that I need (notice that I did not use "want") in my luggage.

With that said and done, I cannot imagine anything else getting me through this whole ordeal without faith on my side. With her constant presence, she has provided me patience and determination. Patience to believe. Determination to continue on.

Therefore on September 25th, when I climb aboard my flight to Madrid, I will clutch to the fact that I have conquered obstacles large enough to be worthy of being called internal demons. Doubt, confusion, despair, those are now behind me. Because now I am going beyond what I could have ever dreamed of. Thus, I am afraid I cannot leave you with any cliff hanger nor clue what will happen next for me. But that is exactly why I love life. When going beyond, you have no clue what is laid out before you. And that is exactly why I need to do this. With faith constantly at my side, I will soon venture into going beyond. Beyond what? Well, that is for faith to decide.