Let's go on a paseo.

Walk with me y te cuento.

It’s been rainy and windy the past few days at around 20°C. A stark contrast to the sunny sauna we had a few weeks back during semana grande, the week-long fiesta. The sun draws everyone out and together, painting smiles on even the crankiest faces. There were dinners and wine, concerts and beer, fireworks every night, and even costumes of the belle époque years.

Mikel had a friend visiting. I had an ex-colleague around. Long-lost family came and went. All. At. Once.

It was great! I had fun. But I was spent.

I ended up with a tinge of either COVID or COVID-paranoia mixed with a hangover. I sulked a bit. Drank tea and Frenadol a lot. Cleaned up and organized the apartment…

I feel much better now. And more balanced!

Let’s duck into the library.

When I went to Sydney for Patty’s wedding, one of my loveliest souvenirs was a taste of her new home and her new life. We had a barbecue in the park where they walk their dog Hopper, drinks at the taqueria where Mon hangs out with colleagues, and bought munchies in the closest store to their apartment that closes the latest (they shut so early there!).

Patty, my only sister, is one of the most important people in my life. It was my first visit since she moved continents and I was so happy to sharpen my image of her day-to-day. When she tells me she’ll be home soon, I can trace her steps from the train station to her door.

I not-so-secretly wish that for myself, too: that my favorite people experience my new world and my simple, fiesta-free days. I’d like you to imagine my sunsets from memory and not from IG story; or remember the feeling of drenching rain when I tell you I forgot to wear my chubasquero today.

Quick beach check.

Living away is bittersweet. There’s so much I appreciate but also so many people I miss. And the only way to connect is through a screen. I’m so tired of screens.

Then why’d you start a freaking newsletter, Janine?!

I know. Sounds dumb, right?

Might sound less absurd to know that I hope to swap social media scrolling for writing these articles out. I could spend 30 minutes or more every day consuming random content. That’s at least 3 to 4 hours a week, which is more than enough to get this to you–and call you up too!--should the time difference and our schedules permit.

So that’s the hope: to trade wasted digital consumption for meaningful conversations and content creation.

Will it work? I don’t know. But it might! Since starting this…

* I’m excited to write!

* Patty and I made time to record our conversation.

* Elisa messaged me and we got on a call.

* Drea and Andrew commented on my first post.

* I got 11 votes on my first poll.

And YOU subscribed. I’ll take that as a sign to keep going.

Almost home.

Your turn. How are you?

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit janinayramirez.substack.com