The Day the Weather Betrayed Me
February updates of life in Spain and business as a freelance writer and coach
It was Wednesday morning, and I was waiting for the bus to go to my flamenco class.
Twice a week, I take the bus into the city, and almost every time, I run into a woman from my neighborhood. We chat in Spanish about life, the cost of living, and, of course, the weather.
Up until that day, the weather had been terrible — weeks of no sun, constant rain, strong winds, and ugly gray skies.
Unlike the Spain I know.
But that morning, when I stepped outside in my big winter coat and looked up, I was surprised to see blue skies. A little spark of joy tingled inside me. Maybe today will be a good day, I thought.
At the bus stop, my neighborhood friend also seemed optimistic that the sun might stay.
Yet, just as the big white bus pulled up, the rain came pouring down — the kind of downpour that feels like someone turned on a shower above your head.
I climbed onto the bus, hoping it would pass. But when I arrived at the station, I found around thirty people huddled in the lobby, fearful of stepping outside.
I thought, Come on, it’s just rain. So I gently pushed through the crowd — and was quickly humbled by a gust of wind that nearly knocked me over.
My dance academy is about a fifteen-minute walk from the station, and I tried to press on, but the storm was relentless.
After walking maybe two feet, I ducked under a doorway, watching as the wind whipped through the streets. It felt as if the gods were furious, taking out their wrath on the poor citizens of Jaén.
This moment perfectly captured most of February: borrasca tras borrasca, one storm after another. Until, finally, in the last week, spring decided to visit in the middle of winter.
For someone who lives in a colder region, this might not sound dramatic, but here in Andalusia — where we get around 300 days of sunshine a year — the grayness hit hard. The sun was gone, and it felt like my joy and personality had gone with it. But luckily, dance and small joys helped me keep it away.
Life updates
This month, I got great news — my visa renewal was approved for another four years!
I also danced a lot: flamenco, salsa, a tap workshop, and even an impromptu jazz and lindy hop jam session with a friend.
There were birthday celebrations, too, and cozy movie nights with my partner. Some favorites: Escape Route, 28 Days Later: The Bone Temple, and Eternity.
Business updates
I let go of one of my long-term clients last year, so February was all about pitching — around 50 in total! I hit my goal, even if I haven’t found a new client yet.
With my VA work, I’ve been busy creating onboarding systems and nurturing client relationships.
My article about my late grandmother was published — you can read it here.
I also applied for two new positions. One was completely new to me, so I had major imposter syndrome and almost didn’t apply. Fortunately, my friend encouraged me to go for it. Even though I didn’t get it, I’m proud of myself for trying — it helped me see my skills in a new light.
The second role got postponed, but it reminded me that it’s okay to ask for the salary I truly want.
Money updates
This month, I’ve been focusing on helping myself — and others — with a money mindset and savings.
In a recent YouTube Short, I talked about how the problem isn’t not having enough money in the world, but how it’s distributed.
As a freelancer, my income fluctuates, and although I’m working toward stability, those ups and downs can impact my mindset. So I’ve been reminding myself to focus on what I’ve accomplished, not what’s missing.
Saving money, I’ve realized, is as much about mindset as it is about discipline. In March, I’ll be setting new savings goals — and sharing tips on how to build consistent saving habits in my upcoming newsletters.
So, that was February in a nutshell!
This month on Substack, I’ll be sharing stories about a special fire festival in Spain and my ongoing language-learning journey — stay tuned!
And in case you’re wondering, yes — I did make it to my flamenco class that stormy Wednesday morning. I arrived a little wet and cold, but dancing quickly warmed me up.