Six years hearing

Time seem to be flying. I was making a presentation today about how it is better earlier implantation of cochlear implants for best speech and language outcomes of children and then I remembered. Today it was the 6th year birthday of Luca's CI hearing. What an stressful and wonderful day. I can't believe we are so far from that day already, and that even though we are over the hill, the journey is  not over yet. Once thing is for sure, Luca continues making me smile and making me proud, everyday I go to bed thinking how lucky I am to have such a precious child with me. He really makes me happy and give sense to my life.
And so many celebrations. In a few days, I will be having a birthday too. A big one! And since I am surrounded by people who are 15-17 years younger than me, this one is hitting me hard. And I wish I wasn't so loud, I think everybody around me knows I am going through this birthday/crisis, I can't hide it, but at the same time, I feel so happy to having one more birthday. Like my friend just told me, I will never be this young again. And I am still enjoying life very much, fighting hard, laughing hard, reminding people about sharing the road, helping people with all the audiology knowledge I am acquiring, making people laugh (I think my classmates might think I'm a bit of a clown) and showing the beauty of plants to those who have never been told. I am also as close as I can be to all of my family, far and close, and I am constantly making new friends while preserving my good old friends. How enriching this life can be, I have to say, I have lots more to do and enjoy and say and goof about.
Let the celebrations begin!

Cold February

What a winter! Wouldn't you say? Well I guess it depends on which part of the world you live in. Here where we are it has been quite a winter, and it is not over!! Let me see...oh man! my car is covered in snow again! and I thought it was over for now!. We had a wonderful spring week and we thought we had passed the worst part! and we probably have but being cold again feels way colder than before. We get used to the nice conditions too quickly.
During that wonderful wannabe spring week, I was so inspired that I decided to start the quilt I have been thinking about and designing when I am procrastinating about studying. Yes, I have a power point design for it and I love it!!. I made new cushions with cool fabric that I had bought from Ikea long time ago, and I am going to cover a blanket I made for Luca when he was just a baby and that is ripping apart. I bought some fleece and hopefully before that Spring really hits I will be done with it. For now, I am in the middle of midterms so I guess it will have to wait one more week.

Que invierno no? Bueno, supongo que depende del rincón del mundo donde os encontréis. Aquí ha sido demasiado, y no hemos acabado con el! A ver....jo! mi coche esta cubierto de nieve otra vez!! y yo que creí que esa parte ya había terminado! Hemos tenido una semana maravillosa primaveral y pensé que habíamos pasado lo peor! y lo mas probable es que así sea pero el frío se siente mucho mas frío después de esa semanita. Nos acostumbramos a lo bueno rápido.
Durante esa maravillosa semana-quiero-ser-primavera, estaba tan inspirada que decidí empezar una mantita en la que he estado pensando y he diseñado, cuando no quiero estudiar. Si, tengo un power point con ese diseño y me encanta!! Hice almohadones con una tela muy bonita de Ikea que compre hace mucho, y voy a cubrir una manta que le hice a Luca de bebe y que se esta despedazando. Compre forro polar y espero que antes de que llegue la Primavera la haya acabado. Pero ahora estoy en plenos exámenes así que tendrá que esperar una semana mas. 

A lot of things have happened around me lately that make me re-evaluate my life, my meaning. It is good to have friends around to remind me of the important things in life, the good things in life. Oftentimes, my friends, my family, is far away, and we can only communicate electronically. It is hard and good at the same time. You have them readily right there in your phone, that part is really nice. But the face to face part is very important and nice too. I have a good friend who used to live here that I only knew for a few months but it seemed to me that it was years. I guess we hit it off right from the start, that's what happens with me and those who though the years have became really good friends. She came and visited, and I only got to see her for 1 hour, but she told me she was moving back here. I was so happy! It is nice to have a person to talk to, even if you have to handle kids in the middle. I miss having my good friends around. But I cannot complain. I have an amazing group of friends here, well not one but several, unconditional really good friends. It is just painful when one of then leaves, and this happens more often than not.
The other day we were invited over to some new friends' house. We were to cook paella together and it was so nice. Such great people and such a wonderful time. I am always surprised to continue meeting great new people, life is meaningful like that. Enriching too, I always learn something from everyone I meet. I am the eternal learner, I know. And here is the paella, not bad huh?

Muchas cosas han pasado a mi alrededor últimamente que me han hecho re-evaluar mi vida, mi significado en la vida. Es bueno tener amigos que me recuerden las cosas importante, las cosas buenas. A veces, mis amigos, mi family, están lejos, y solo nos podemos comunicar electrónicamente. Es divicil y bueno a la vez. Los tienes ahi a mano, en tu teléfono, esa parte set a muy bien. Pero el cara a cara también esta muy bien.. Tengo una buena amiga que solía vivir aquí y que solo la conocí durante unos meses, que según yo eran años. Creo que nos entendimos desde el principio, y eso es lo que pasa cuando conozco a las personas que mas tarde acaban siendo buenos amigos míos. Vino de visita, y solo la vi una hora, pero me dijo que se mudaba de vuelta. Me puse tan contenta! Da mucho gusto poder hablar con alguien de frente, aunque haya que lidiar con niños por en medio. Echo de menos el tener a mis buenas amigas cerca. Pero no me puedo quejar. Tengo un grupo increíble de amigas aquí, bueno no unos sino varios, amigas incondicionales. Solo es que duele decir adios y esto ocurre mas a menudo de lo deseado.
El otro dia nos invitaron a la casa de unos amigos nuevos. Teníamos que cocinar una paella juntos y lo pasamos tan bien. Que gente mas maja que y que buen rato. Siempre me sorprendo de que sigo encontrando gente nueva, la vida tiene sentido así. Es enriquecedor, siempre aprendo algo de la gente que conozco. Soy la aprendiz eterna, lo se. Y aquí esta la paella, no esta mal verdad?

Ah! and Happy International Cochlear Implant day!!!
Ah! Y feliz Dia Internacional del Implante Coclear!!!

And here is my creative master builder!
Y aqui esta mi constructor tan creativo!

google maps

One of my newest entertainments these holidays has been to look up the places where I've been living in the past in google maps. When you get to a street view it is amazing the things you can see! I was frustrated because I couldn't remember a single thing about Japan, a place where I've lived for 3 years! But after a good day of searching I finally found my house!! I was so happy! The thing about Japan is that the streets don't have names, so how in the world do they know the addresses, it is still a mystery to me, but finally after thinking about where did I hear the sound of the trains going to sleep at night, I was able to figure out the location of my house, and I learned more interestingly that the name that was part of my address was nothing but the name of my apartment building. I can even see the lifestyle in those different places, whether people walk or ride bikes or wear things to cover their mouths! If I  had only had all these resources back then..I would have discovered so many more things about the place where I lived! But at least I got to experience the unknown in a very mysterious way…and that is probably part of the reason why I can't remember a thing today, it is all blurry in my mind, like it was back then with the language barrier. (And of course this was in NPR today, so appropriate! http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/12/30/258376009/how-language-seems-to-shape-ones-view-of-the-world).  I guessed 75% of the time, and it was great! I almost feel like I am traveling again to all those places! I even saw where my sister lives in another country, it is so interesting, and fun! If I could just travel to those places it would be better, except for the tiredness and the jet lag, but hopefully one day I will be able to relive moments like I did in the past, and this time with my little life companion, Luca.

Una de mi principal entretenimiento estas vacaciones ha sido buscar los lugares donde he vivido en el pasado en google maps. Cuando llegas a la vista de calle es alucinante las cosas que ves! Estaba frustrada porque no me acordaba ni una sola cosa de Japón, un upar donde vivi durante 3 años! Pero después de un buen día de búsqueda, por fin encontré mi casa!! Estaba tan contenta! La cosa que tiene Japón es que las calles no tienen nombre, así que como narices encuentran las direcciones, aun es un misterio para mi, pero después de pensar un buen rato donde escuchaba el sonido de los trenes cuando los aparcaban por las noches, fui capaz de averiguar donde estaba mi casa, y lo mas interesante es que aprendí que el nombre que estaba en mi dirección no era ni mas ni menos que el nombre del edificio donde yo vivía. E incluso puedo ver como vive la gente en otros lados, si van andando o en bici o si se cubren la boca! Si en aquel entonces hubiese tenido todos los recursos que tenemos a nuestra disposición en internet ahora…hubiese descubierto muchas mas cosas sobre los sitios en donde vivi! Pero por lo menos pude experimentar lo desconocido de maneras misteriosas….y eso es en parte por lo que no recuerdo nada hoy por hoy, todo esta borroso en mi mente, como lo estaba en aquel entonces con la barrera del lenguaje. (Y por supuesto esto estaba en la radio NPR hoy, que apropiado! http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/12/30/258376009/how-language-seems-to-shape-ones-view-of-the-world). Me imaginaba el 75% de las cosas, y me encantaba! Casi siento como si estuviera viajando a esos lugares de nuevo! Incluso vi donde vive mi hermana en otro país, es tan interesante, y divertido! Si pudiese viajar a esos lugares seria mejor, solo que me cansaría mucho y tendría el rollo del cambio horario, pero espero que algún día pueda volver a vivir esos momentos como en aquel entonces, y esta vez con mi pequeño compañero, Luca.

Gratitude

As we start a new year, lots of recaps about our lives go through our minds. I don't feel anything special about starting this new year, it feels like one more day, but as I watch my favorite thing in the world, TED talks that inspire me, I realize that I shouldn't take things for granted and I should appreciate every bit of my lucky fortune and my happy moments. Here is an inspiring TED talk through the lens of a photographer. Enjoy and happy 2014!

Cuando empezamos un nuevo año, hacemos recapitulación de nuestras vidas en nuestra cabeza. No siento nada especial acerca de este año que entra, siento que hoy es un día mas, pero mientras veo una de mis cosas favoritas, los TED Talks que me inspiran tanto, me doy cuenta de que no puedo dejar de valorar la muchísima suerte que tengo y mis muchos momento felices que paso a diario.  Aquí os dejo un TED Talk (en ingles) que me inspiro visto desde la lente de un fotógrafo. Que lo disfrutéis y feliz 2014!