Hello everyone.
I apologize for being so elusive and non-updating, but I am truly busy and focusing on my work and relationships here in Edinburgh. I received my appraisal for my work this Wednesday and it was all positive!! I have even been allocated my own projects which will encompass meeting with different departments to hammer out solutions. I find this all very exciting and quite stimulating in terms of having something different to do in my job. I was really surprised that there were no criticisms about my work ethic or performance in my position, but at the same time, COMPLETELY relieved. I have been working extremely hard, and as a result, have been offered to be sponsored for my work visa once my visa expires in 2014 which would mean... I would be moving to Edinburgh indefinitely. I will come home in January 2014, but would be returning to Edinburgh after the visa is approved which could be 2 or 3 months, but that would mean that I could apply for the visa from Edinburgh upon renewal, which means, I wouldn't have to come home again. Unless of course to visit!
I have known this for a while, but it was confirmed recently so hence I am sharing it with all you lovely people who still care about my life abroad!
Anyway I have to recharge my camera, then I will be able to upload the lovely pictures I have from Barcelona. Honestly it is just from a couple excursions since I didn't want to look too touristy - pick pockets are really bad in Barcelona so I didn't take pictures of everyday things, just the good stuff!
Seriously though... the food was amazing. Tapas like Tuna Tataki with guacamole, beef tartar, tuna tartar, fried artichokes, beer battered chorizo sausage, any type of cheese with any type of cured ham you could imagine, and mains like truffle stuffed ravioli with parmesan sauce, rare steak with a mushroom cream sauce, and catalan cream which is basically Crème brûlée.
I already miss Barcelona, and the people I went with, especially Ish and Tim, they changed my life. It is truly eye-opening to be in the presence of such diverse and beautifully self-confident individuals. I consider them good friends now and I am very happy to have met them. Ish lives here in Edinburgh so we've gotten to know each other pretty well, and we even went out to Cramond on Sunday last to eat in an authentic pub on the beach, then walk up and sit on huge boulders, contemplating anything and everything. Tim on the other hand lives in London and has offered to let me stay with him should I choose to do so in the future! I even helped him get his first ever tattoo!! I went with him and sat through the 2 hour process and it reminded me of how much I really want another. Alas, sometime in the future I will get my next.
Okay, it's late here and I have to go to work tomorrow.
Love you all and I hope you are all well wherever you are.
Ar xX
