Review of the past several weeks...

November 30, 2008
Wow so I realize it has been a long time since I have written! Things seem to have been non-stop for the past month! Since I last wrote I have done so much! I am currently procrastinating working on a final project but I am going to write about a few things:
I took a trip with the school to Mérida, Cacéres, and Trujillo. In the Extremadura region of Spain. We saw Roman ruins in Mérida! A theatre and an anfiteatro (think coliseum but smaller), a castle sitting on top of a hill overlooking the Spanish country side In Trujillo, and spent a night in Cacéres were we saw the Montezumas house and toured the old part of the city. We had free time that night so Emily and I waundered around the town. There was some event going on that included a few stages and music. It was neat to see and people watch since everyone seemed to but out in the town square!

Then started our series of trips!

PARIS! We have a few days of at the end of October early November so Emily and I packed up and spent 5 days and 4 nights in PARIS! It was truly amazing. My favorite things were Musee dÓrsay (the museum that holds Monet´s Water lilies), the Eiffel Tower (at night especially, we found the look out spot and spent a good amount of time up there. Every hour it sparkles!), and my favorite Notre Dame (we got there during the day got to go in, hear an organ concert (AMAZING), then left, had coffee, and came back to see it all lit up at night!). I have taken a year of French and while I couldn´t communicate too well having some of the food vocabulary helped at meals :P Emily and I also took advantage of our Spanish and tried our best to use it as much as possible. The best was when we were discussing where we needed to go to find a metro while looking at a map and some guy at a booth close by heard us and responded in Spanish. I will go back to Paris some day there is so much to do and see and it is truly an amazing city!

LONDON! Not even 4 days after getting back from Paris I got on a plane and went to meet my friends Bill and Bern and the other SMU people who are studying there. I stayed with them in their flat and they showed me around the city. The first night we went a show called The Lady in Black. VERY scary but amazing! The next day rained a lot but we walked around taking everything in. I really enjoyed seeing Shakespeare´s Globe theatre! The outside anyway, it was closed under renovations for the season! It was really good to see some familiar faces but I experienced a bit of a shock being able to understand everything. It will definitely be interesting to get back to the states!

(it rained a lot and I didn´t have an umbrella yet...)

MADRID! Two weeks after London Emily, Hanna, and I headed to Madrid on an overnight bus (not comfortable). We got there around 7am, dropped our stuff off at the hostel then set out. It was still really early so we had to go without a map. Wandering around was a lot of fun though and soon came across the Museo del Prado! There was a special Rembrandt exhibit then we looked around the permanent exhibit staying, for the most part, in the area with Spanish artists (Murillo, Velazquez, etc) after we walked around some more then were finally able to check-in at the hostel. After a much needed nap (and me trying to cancel my cell phone I lost somewhere) we headed out again. We found a park and were able to play in the leaves. We got to see the sunset (after seeing it rise the same day). After lots of walking and taking in the city we had dinner then headed to bed. We were up early again the next day to check-out and see more of the city. There is a spot in a Plaza that is the center of Spain, or kilometro 0, I thought that was very fun to see! We toured the Royal theatre and the Royal Palace. Both very interesting. The Palace was incredible. Each room was different with so many details! Madrid was a short trip and were back on the but by 6 that night for the 6 hour drive home. It was a huge city and fun to see but I think I am partial the smaller scale, more personable Sevilla!

(statue of Cervantes...Hanna and I are taking a Don Quijote clase next semester)

BARCELONA! Our most recent trip and our last L We stayed in a hotel very close the Sagrada Familia (Gaudí ´s big cathedral that was started in 1909 and still isn’t finished!) We saw another Gaudí house called Casa Batlló. We decided to take the tour and spent a while walking around taking everything in. Gaudí didn´t use straight lines or regular angles so there is always something to look at in his structures and at the same time are really simple! That was first day which we finished off by walking around the town taking things in, we found the Port and sat for awhile. By the time we took the subway back to the hotel we were very tired! We walked a lot more the we realized! The next day we got up and headed to find the Cathedral of Barcelona. The outside was, of course, under renovation, but we were able to go inside. A gothic Cathdral in all its gloria it was amazing! (Through my art history of Spain class I have really developed an appreciation for the arquitecture here!!) After the cathedral we wandered around the Gothic Neighborhood. Lunch that day was one of the highlights of the semester. We had talked about having a picnic for awhile (especially in Paris but never had good weather). So for lunch we went to a huge marked and went around looking at everything and finding food. We had jamon (almost tasted like pepperoni but more Spanish), cheese, fruit (ALL FRESH), tomatoes, carrots, bread, and chocolate (50 euros a Kilo…but 6 euros worth was the perfect amount for both of us!). We ate the food in Gaudí ´s Guell park overlooking all of Barcelona! Amazing! After we headed to the Olympic Stadium for 1992. It really exciting for me to see an Olympic torch and complex in person! It is situated on top of a hill and the sun went down while we were up there. The sky was beautiful! After we made our way to the ´´magic fountain´´ which changed colors and shapes with music. It was cold but fun to watch! We called it an early night to get some things done for classes and so we could be up early the next day. The next day was raining so after checking out of the hotel (and saying goodbye to Gaudí avenue) we visited Another Gothic Church: Santa Maria del Mar (Saint Mary of the Sea). It is a ´´small´´ Gothic church but huge. The ceilings are really high with a 6 second echo! (we know I coughed and Emily counted :P ) Then we went to a history museum, had lunch, saw the Mediterranean Sea (I touched it!) and walked along the coast. Soon after we had to catch a but the airport for our flight home. I really like Barcelona! I think of it as Paris meets Sevilla!

(Sagrada Familia)

(Casa Batlló)

Our Thanksgiving Celebration...Apple Bread in front of the Sagrada Familia


Gothic Arquitecture

Being Silly

Parc Guell

Park Guell

Olympic Stadium :D (notice the torch!!)

I touched the Mediterranean Sea! without falling in :P

It has definitely been a whirlwind these past several weeks. It was neat experiencing the US elections here. People were a lot more into it then I had expected (and everyone is really happy now :D ). However, it does get old having people talk to you only because they think you´re from the US and want to know how you voted. It was weird not being home for Thanksgiving but at the same time it wasn´t. I was actually in Barcelona and Emily and I had our own Thanksgiving celebrations with apple bread in front of Gaudí ´s Sagrada Familia. Advent started today and I definitely miss being at home or around a familiar church to celebrate it. I can´t believe December is starting and that I only have a little over 2 weeks until I head back...not quite sure how I feel about that yet.

I hope all is well with everyone. Miss you all!

¡fotos!

So I haven´t been able to write anything lately so I thought I´d put some pictures up :)

Emily and I in the Gardens of Alcazar in Cordoba

The gardens were gorgeoous despit the weather that day!! (rainy and cold)

Ok these are really out of order but we went for a walk on Monday (no classes) and we saw this kitty! I thought it looked like Suki and Simone in one! so cute! but really skinny.

Towards the end of our 3.5 hour walk! My beloved map!!! :( :P

Calatrava designed this. My piece of home :D

Calatrava Street :)

Towards the end of our walk again. The bridge was really pretty!! I love how you can see Giralda in the distance!

Hospital de the Caridad. Actually not a hospital but a beautiful Baroque Church with housing attahed for older people who have nothing.

Only part of the Muralla (city wall) of Sevilla is left standing. At one point the wall surrounded the city. I like this key hole door.

Cadiz! We went to the beach. Then waundered around the city, got lost, all that fun stuff! You can see the cathedral here. It was Baroque Neo-Classical. Gorgeous inside!!

Not quite sure why this transfered side ways but i love this picture! We were in the Alcazar in Sevilla. This is the baños or baths. Kind ok like an old spa. The water in it was really really still and all I could think of was how many bugs must in there :P no really it was really interesting.

Bullfight! Novillo. Novice bullfight. The person is a Noivero. This particular noviero did really well and recieved the respect of the crowd and one ear of the bull. It´s a good thing, really! I really enjoyed the fight!

Mezquita in Cordoba! This is the picture from the last entry I said I would add then forgot. (read the last entry for details on this one...)

Alcazar in Cordoba. :)

Hope you enjoyed the show :D More soon, hopefully!

stories from abuela

...so I started writing an entry for the week before last but stopped for some reason...here is what I wrote then and this past weeks updates!!

September 28, 2008

What a week. It went by really fast because I was kept pretty busy. This was the final week for intensive classes so I have a test, paper, and a final exam all for the same class. Luckily I am starting to understand the grammar more and more and had little trouble. More than anything it is hard to believe that the first three weeks are over. We start the continuation period on Monday, 3 new classes along with my dance class and cultural realities. I am looking forward to taking Art History of Spain, Managing Cultural Diversity, and Women Writers of Spain. The only thing I think will take a while to get used to is have class from 4pm-9.30pm on Mondays and Wednesdays. I guess I can’t complain too much though because no classes on Fridays!!
Along with a lot of class work and studying I was able to see more of the Spanish Culture through a night at the Theatre for Flamenco, a Novillada, and a trip to Cordoba. Wednesday was Flamenco. Emily and I attended the show at Patio de Sevilla with a number of other students. I wasn’t sure what to expect but I enjoyed the show very much, the guitar music, the dancing, castanets. The dancers were really good. Everything about Flamenco is really controlled and precise. The only thing was that it was very much a tourist destination. We were surrounded by a group of French people (I have nothing wrong with French people! I just thought it was interesting!). I definitely want to take the time to go to see a show that isn’t geared so much to tourists.

The Novillada was definitely a highlight of my weekend. A Novillada is a novice bullfight. It took place in the Plaza de Torros here in Sevilla. A lot of people came out of it not too happy because the bulls do get killed. I however was over look this and took it for the culture aspect. Before we went a friend recommended a book from the center’s library that gives details on why things are done. I spent my siesta reading through it. During the fight I definitely didn’t understand everything and had a lot of questions but I knew a few things that made me appreciate it more then if I went in not knowing that to expect. One thing I read about then had the chance to see was the noviero (novice) asking for permission from the president to kill the bull. Everything in the fight is determined by the president, from the beginning to the change in stages throughout. The noviero takes his hat off and ‘offers’ it to the president sitting in a balcony in the stands. The President acknowledges this and gives permission. Then the noviero dedicates the kill to the people by ‘offering’ his hat to the stands. When he has finished this he tosses his hat over his shoulder. According the book I read through there is a lot of superstition in bullfighting. So depending on if that hat lands up or down it determines the fate of the noviero. If the noviero is not happy with how the hat landed he will turn the hat over to ‘change his fate’. I found this interesting when I was reading it but then to see one of the novieros actually throw his hat then look back to see if it landed the right way, and then turn it over was exciting. I want to go back with someone who knows a lot about the fights and be able to ask questions about specific things. I really enjoyed it.

Saturday Emily and I got up early and went to meet other students, our professors, and the bus to Cordoba. Cordoba is a town a little over 2 hours from Sevilla it is quite a bit smaller but interesting nonetheless. Our destinations in Cordoba were an Alcazar, a synagogue, and the Mesquita.

October 5, 2008

So it’s been awhile since I have written! The past two weeks have gone by so fast. I left off in Cordoba. My favorite part was the Mesquita, or Mosque. It was taken over and turned into a Catholic cathedral at one point. The in side is quite amazing. (see picture!!-not ony my computer right now so I will add the pictures when I can!!). The Alcazar was pretty neat as well. An Alcazar is basically a palace. There is one in Sevilla too and both an amazing gardens with tons of pathways, trees, fountains, flowers, walls. It was a lot of fun to walk through.

After Cordoba starts the next week which I am going to write about…It was the first week of continuation classes so started a whole new set of things to figure out. My schedule isn’t too bad aside from having class from 7.30pm-9.30pm then having to walk 25ish minutes back to the flat in time for dinner at 10! Luckily my earliest class is at 10.15 so I don’t have to worry about waking up too early! Besides continuing my dance class and Cultural realities I am taking Art History of Spain, Women Writers of Spain, and Crossroads: Spain and Immigration. See a theme J I have only had 2 classes of each but I think I am going to really enjoy them. The Crossroads class especially, it is a bit more current event oriented. I said earlier a different set of classes but I had problems with one and decided it would be best to switch.

I can’t believe it is already October! The weather has been amazing here still pretty warm in the afternoons but before then and the nights are perfect long pant weather. I still miss fall a lot though! When we went to Cordoba it rained the entire time which annoyed a lot of people and we ended up heading back to Sevilla early. I, however, quite enjoyed it. I think a place is completely different in the rain. The colors are different, the way you see things is different. It is special because a lot of people stay inside so visiting a place when its raining is a unique experience.

This week was the first week with no classes on Fridays! It was really nice to have that extra day to explore. I spent it by myself looking for an English Bible. I wondered around and visited 7 different books stores. It was a great way for me to work on my knowledge of the city and to build up confidence talking to people! At one place I asked where a good place to look would be and the guy answered with directions and I understood what he said AND knew the exact streets he was talking about! It was quite exciting.

Saturday Emily and I decided it would be a good time to head to the beach. We spent a few days before trying to figure out the best way to get there (train or bus; bus). Which included a stop at the Tourism office here in Sevilla…we had to ask the guy at the desk 3 times to explain something until we understood completely. Needless to say we both felt a bit stupid but he was really nice and laughed a long with (or at) us. So Saturday morning with left around 9 for the bus station and by 11 were on our way to Cadiz. Cadiz is about an hour and half away and sits right on the Atlantic Coast! We were worried it was going to be a bit cold but the day turned out to be PERFECT! We got off the bus close to the beach and spent a few hours in the sun and swimming in the ocean. It was really relaxing! Plus, I think I have only been to the ocean 2 other times, one being at the beginning of this trip! After some time we went to a restaurant for lunch then headed to find a tourism office for a map. We had to find the bus station to get back on the bus because we got off at a stop not the station! We walked just about the entire length of the city the entire time but we had the opportunity to see a lot of the city. We literally lost ourselves there! We saw the Baroque/Neo-Classical Cathedral, which was amazing on the inside (the part we saw at least it was kind of expensive to walk around) and also city hall where a wedding was taking place. We finally found the tourism office but of course being a Saturday (and there are no tourists on Saturdays) it was closed. We ended up having to buy a map at a little book store. The lady was really nice and helped us find where we were and where we needed to go. Once orientated, we walked through a few of the streets, had some really good ice cream, and went to find the bus station. The map made the streets look A LOT longer and the city A LOT bigger then it actually was. We were all turned around for awhile because we didn’t think we had gone far enough. We finally found the station and were able to visit the Plaza de España which in Cadiz is a monument and A LOT smaller then the Plaza de España in Sevilla!! Cadiz was really interesting because I believe at one point the entire city was within walls. We walked on a few and you could tell where the city grew beyond the wall. It was really neat! When the bus left at 8 we were on it and ready to head back. Being in the sun and walking around all day really makes you tired! Amazing day though!

Today is Sunday; normal Sunday, homework and time to lay low. I went to the Cathedral for mass this morning and had the opportunity to finally hear the organ! It was amazing. I don’t even know how to describe it. After mass I sat in a park for awhile. Once again a beautiful day! I was sitting on a bench a lady came up to me and asked me a question in something that wasn’t Spanish. I just looked at her and she asked me if I was Spanish (in Spanish) I said no, then she asked me if I was Russian! I said no. She then apologized profusely and walked away. Russian! That is definitely a new one!

Carmen and Abuela are both doing well. The food Carmen makes is always amazing. I love trying all the new dishes, and definitely have my favorites! Abuela has had more energy lately and at lunch the other day she started telling Emily and I how to make Gazpacho by hand. Carmen cut in reminding here that everyone has a blender now. Abuela shrugged her shoulders and was silent for a few minutes. Then she said that the man who invented the laundry machine is the love of all women. Now I don’t know if the washing machine was actually invented by a man or not but it was really funny. She really likes telling us stories (whether we understand or now) and mentions how each meal is a class for us. She even refers to Carmen as “professora” . Which is an appropriate name seeing that we have learned a lot about Sevilla and things in general from Carmen. After dinner then other night Carmen had started clearing the table then called us into the kitchen to show us the different types of spices and what there names are! Whenever we have a new dish we end up going through what is in it and we don’t always know the spices, so she showed us!

I met with José (my intercambio) again this week. We meet at the school and walked around the center for an hour talking first in English then in Spanish. He is really good at speaking English and spent a good amount of time explaining to me the history of the Jews in Sevilla. By the time it was time to talk in Spanish my confidence had died a little bit! He is really patient though and helps me through. One topic that is really hard to talk about is the weather. Neither of us understands the temperature system of the other so were limited to talking about floods and other natural disasters. Like usual the topic of the weather is reserved for when the conversation has hit a dry spot but so far it has passed quickly.

Things are going well overall but there are definitely ups and downs. It is easy to get frustrated with the language but I feel like I am progressing!! I can’t believe it has been over a month already!!!

OH! News! Emily and I are officially going to PARIS over our fall break! We are both really nervous but excited at the same time. I know what you might be thinking, you’re supposed to be studying in Spain, true but we’re in Europe! It will be a challenge but I have a list of phrases to review my French and apparently everyone speaks English there. I am not going to depend on that but if need be I have become very good at play charades!

I'm starting to like warm milk...

Wow another week gone! I now have two weeks of class behind me! It is really hard to believe. Classes this week went well. Complete with our first test and second paper! In my grammar and expressions class we have a whole new set of vocab just about everyday. Wednesday’s list was all about the different type of fresh food available in sevilla. So naturally during the first part of our class the professor took us on a short field trip to a local market! It was a typical market with your fruit and vegetables, meat and fish. The variety of everything was what made it different then anything I have seen. The fish especially, is all fresh from the morning and there are so many different kinds! From tuna to 5 different kinds of fish to something I think was squid! I wish we could have spent more time going through but naturally we had to make our way back to the school.

My ‘visita obligatoria’ this week was to the Cathedral. I had been there before but only for mass, never as a tourist. I had Professor José as a tour guide again, smaller group though. The Cathedral is amazing half gothic half baroque, so much history behind it. The organ in the middle is HUGE. I hope to be able to hear it sometime before I go. Apparently if you are lucky you can find a mass where there is music. According to José the organist had to go through an intense series of tests to qualify for the job! Part of the Cathedral is La Giralda, the highest point in Sevilla. We climbed it…34 ‘floors’ up no steps all ramp! It was definitely better then stairs! The view from the top is amazing. Sevilla is a beautiful city, all white. I could have stood up there forever just looking. There is so much is so little space it’s amazing. One of the bridges over the river was designed by Calatrava. Every time I see it, it reminds me of the art museum in Milwaukee. It is like a little piece of home here for me :)

Calatrava's bridge in Sevilla!!! View from the cathedral...my side of town :)

An important part of being here is meeting espanolas and getting to know the city from their point of view. While I haven’t had the guts to go up to someone and introduce myself yet I do have the opportunity through the school to be connected with and intercambio. An intercambio is an Espanola who is learning English. We are paired together and then it is recommended we get together for two hours every week one hour of Spanish one hour of English. This week was the week for intercambios. We were given a name, a phone number, and an email address. I had to call my intercambio…quite the terrifying experience knowing that you are calling a complete stranger who doesn’t even speak the same language. Luckily It was a lot easier then I though it was going to be and I successfully contacted my intercambio, José. We met for the first time on Monday. José is in his late 20s early 30s, is an engineer, and is currently between jobs waiting to here back from an exam he took to get a job for the government. He lives in a town outside of Sevilla called Tomares. We met outside my flat and went for a walk around Los Remedios (my neighborhood) and through the local park. José likes to talk a lot! He has really good English and was really good about helping me with my Spanish, almost like a professor would correct grammar and repeat stuff in English if he thought I didn’t understand. After general conversation her suggested the idea of having a ‘theme’ or subject for each time we meet so we didn’t have to go through the always awkward process of trying to find something to talk about. I got pick first and out of all the easy subjects I choose la media ambiente, the environment. We had just talked about it in class! He was surprised but went on to talk about the alternative energy in Sevilla, solar being the biggest but still really expensive for the general population to use. I understood almost all of what he said and apparently remembered because on my test the next day got full points on the writing portion about the environment! When we were heading back José mentioned how the neighborhood I live in is generally know as the “posh” part of the city. I can’t remember the last time I heard the word posh but by the time it set in we were walking past a man in a full suit pushing a very expensive looking baby carriage, apparently not normal in most of the city. José went on to say how the women were usually all dressed up in their pearls and heels. I look at every woman I see and a good portion of them are wearing pearls! Los Remedios is a lot more modern part of city. Lots of apartment buildings, and the streets are in blocks not is the random placement of the other side of the river or even in Triana right next to us. I really like it here and am lucky to have been put in such a great place!

This past Thursday there was a welcome party for students and intercambios. A lot of intercambios (including mine) were unable to attend to it turned into more time for us to get to know each other and practice our Spanish. It has gotten easier in the school but out on the streets is still hard. The accent here is so different then anything I was ever taught! Although I successfully bought stamps the other day:)

Overall I feel like I am really getting used to being here. The main thing I think is that I don’t mind warm milk in the morning with my breakfast! I do miss the cold skim milk I was accustomed to for so long! I have been sick for over a week now, but I woke up the other day with a different view of things. I really like my walk to school and have started noticing the same people walking to work and the kids in their uniforms making their way to their bus stops where gigantic coach buses pick them up, plus the lady down the street who mops the part of the cobblestone sidewalk in front of her store, the view of la Giralda, and the torre de oro as we walk across the bridge, the guys that hang out the free newspapers on week days who I think have come to recognize us. I am learning my way around I know street names. I don’t get lost :P This is my city for the next few months! It is hard to believe.

Emily and I have continued our exploration of the city through various wasys. Friday night we went out at 11 which is about an hour too early for most of population. We made our way to the Museo de Bellas Artes were part of an event called “La noche Larga” was Talking place. La noche larga or the long night is an event that started in Madrid where the museums are open until 3am with free entrance to everyone various musical and video presentations. We happened across a classical guitarist, who was very good. We listened to him for awhile then walked around the museum. It was very busy though and neither of us felt like staying too long. We plan on returned soon since student IDs should allow us to get in free!

This past Saturday we got up and went to the local market and dfter we made our way to Parque Maria Luisa. The park is huge. Lots of trees, little ponds, a waterfall. At one end of it we came upon the Museo de Artes y Costumbres Populares. We were able to get in for free with our student IDs so we walked around for awhile. My favorite was the display of ceramics and the area they had set up that showed how the ceramics were made and painted. Afterwards we made our way outside and found a place to get something to drink (granizada (?) frozen lemonade YUM!!) and then sat in the shade for awhile taking everything in. There were a lot of families out, lots of kids running around. We noticed that a lot of the families were dressed the same. At least all the kids in the families had the same clothes on sometimes to match the father. There are a lot of horse carriages around for people to take rides and around the Plaza de Americos there is a miniature horse and carriage designed for just kids. It was so cute!!

Today, Sunday, has been pretty laid back. We attended a mass at a Evangelical Baptist church of Hermanos Betnia…or something like that. It was different then I was used to but we met other students and people from the parish were really nice and accepting. It was an interesting experience for me at least. The rest of the day was spent doing homework and, for me at least, reading the newspaper. I still don’t understand everything I read when I read the newspaper but it is getting easier! We took a walk around the local park before dinner. Tomorrow starts the last day week for intensive period classes! Another test and paper before the exams so it is sure to be a busy week!

:)
J

Everything is so new!!

I have officially been here in Sevilla for a week and 4 days! But with so many new experiences and a completely new environment it feels like at least a month! Since I last wrote we started classes. This is the ‘intensive period’ where everyone has a Grammar class from 9-12.45 with a half an hour break from 11-11.30. It is really hard adjusting to a class that is that long! Luckily my professor is really good and pretty funny. We’re not suppose to speak in English in the school but he sometimes resorts to spanglish to make sure we understand. It is a Grammar and expressions class but we spend have also spent sometime on current events. I have started reading news stories online (I am too cheap to buy a papereveryday) but there are 3 free newspapers that are given out on street corners on weekday mornings so I collect those. They are not the best but they have basics. We have also started watching the news here at our house. Carmen (our señora) sometimes listens to the radio and keeps us updated if things happen. For instance the train crash in LA today, all the happenings in Bolivia, and hurricane Ike. I feel kind of detached from everything but I am trying to keep up.

Along with the grammar class I have started my Cultural Realities class. Once a week for the rest of the semester we meet with topics on cultural issues (mainly how we are dealing in integrating into Spanish culture) and then we talk about it. I have only had one of these classes but I am confident it will go pretty well! My third class is a regional folk dance class! We are learning a basic Sevillana. Which is a Flamenco. It is kind of difficult to get coordinated with moving both hands and feet. We have the class twice a week and the professor tells us each time that we are not allowed to go home and practice because Flamenco is so hard to learn and there are a lot of exact movements that if we learn something wrong it is hard to remember. I like the class it is definitely different than anything I have done before!

Part of the intensive period of classes Thursdays are only 2 hour classes and then we have ‘visitas obligatorias’. Obligatory visits to cultural and historical sites in the city. This past Thursday I was scheduled to go to Italica. Italica has ancient Roman ruins. There is an arena there that is the biggest just behind the coliseum. We walked through the arena and the city with one of our professors as a tour guide. We had José. Really easy to understand in Spanish and tended to speak a lot of spanglish to make sure he got his point across. It was ridiculously hot and so paying attention was hard. He was struggling too because by the end when we were standing in one of the areas of an ancient gigantic house and pub he said “Tomas sus fotos and lets get the hell out of here” Exactly like that. (take your pictures…).

It is getting a little bit easier understanding what people say when I hear someone talk in Spanish. At least in class and at home, everyone talks slowly but out on the streets the Andulusian accent is difficult to understand! A lot of ‘eating S’s’ and and the ‘th’ sound. Plus everyone talks fast. I am sure it is the same for people learning English with all the slang we have! I hope the day comes soon when my friends and I can go into a restaurant or bar and ask for something in Spanish and not have the waiters respond in English. It is really disheartening, but this is such a tourist city it is hard for us to blend in with the locals. However the other day our Abuela told me that because of the dark hair and eyes when she looks at me she doesn’t think American. And I was walking to class the same afternoon and someone asked me for directions! Good for me I guess! I can walk by the tour sites and not have people calling after me about going on some bus or boat trip.

Along with classes and getting to know people I am continually getting to know Sevilla as a city. In the past week Emily and I have taken advantage of every opportunity to get a look around. We spent one night on a walk through the famous Barrio (neighborhood) of Santa Cruz. It was built by the Romans and for what I got from it the roads or so tiny and wound in every which way that it was meant to get people lost if they were native to the area. It is quite the tourist section now but it is quaint with its little restaurants, shops, the occasional plaza with ceramic tiled benches, and gardens. Another night the two of us went for a walk to see the famous Alfonso IV hotel and the University. (Carmen has been really good about telling us places to go! From cultural to where all the ‘jovenes’ (young people) hang out) We have to go back to see the ceramic inside but the outside is gorgeous! When one of the princesses of Spain got married at the Cathedral all the kings and queens of other countries stayed at this hotel! The University has the same amount of history behind it. It used to be a tobacco factory and at some point the factory shut down and moved somewhere else and there was a gigantic empty building. We walked through and it looked old but with the grand staircases and giant open court yards (all paved over though) you would never guess its history. After walking through we continued to walk not knowing exactly what we were going to find. We came across a huge building with ceramic tiles around the windows and doors. We realized shortly after that this was the Plaza de España. The Plaza de España is a military building but you would never know it from the outside. It is huge red brick with ceramic tiles in a semi circle with towers on either end and a pretty amazing entrance. In the center is a huge water fountain. The water shots up into the sky almost mimicking the look of the towers. You can’t go in the building but there are open staircases to climb and get a view from higher up. There is what looks like a moat in a smaller semi circle with bridges all ceramic tile (blue, yellow, white and green) and red brick. It was all very amazing. On top of everything we went around 8.30pm when the sun has just sent and the sky is still a deep blue color. It was clear and the moon had risen it was all very magical.
Other things we have seen this week include the Virgen de Macarena and the NAO Victoria. Holy Week is a very important time of year for Sevillanos. I don’t know too much about it but each Barrio has it’s symbol (?). There are what I can only describe as floats that carry the VIrgens through the streets to the Cathedral. The Virgen de Macarena (La Macarena is a Barrio or neighborhood in Sevilla) had to be moved from its home church for some reason and spent a week in the ayuntamiento (city hall). Carmen told us about her and we took advantage and went in to see her. The entire platform is made out of silver and gold with lots of candle holders. Her vale is hand sewn and really long (that really does not do it justice but I don’t know how to describe her!

The NAO Victoria is an exact replica of a ship that sailed from Sevilla in 1519 I believe. It was free and close to our flat so Emily and I went over. It was neat to be on a boat like that. It wasn’t really museum like where there are things telling what is what we just went on the boat. It looked like a hobby almost where it was built by people and then they spend the time sailing it around.

The most recent place we went to was Plaza del Museo. A plaza right next two the Museo de Bellas Artes. On Sundays artists show up with their art and it is displayed all over the plaza! There were a lot of people there walking around. The art was really good! My favorite were the very realistic paintings of important areas of Sevilla and also of tradional doors and windows with flowers.

I am slowly getting used to life here. I really enjoy having to walk to the school everyday and having to use a different language to communicate. I was worried about the food but so far I have tried and liked everything. It is not easy though. It has only been a little over a week and have already had moments of needing English, my family and friends back home.

Keep in touch :)

And the Adventure Continues

I can’t believe I have been here for over a week now!! The rest of my stay in Germany went very well. Diana, Peter, and I went to Ludwigsburg to visit the palace there. The palace is a Baroque Residential Palace that was modeled after Versailles. It was very impressive and included a dining room with birds painted on the ceiling that are made to look like they are holding up the chandeliers. When we stand in the middle of the room (under the main chandelier) and clap loudly, the echo sounds like wings flapping! The grounds of the palace are gardens with lots of flowers and trees. A Baroque garden in the back has low hedges with intricate designs. There is also a fairy tale themed part of the gardens that has fairy tale related areas including a magic mirror from Snow White that comes to life when you say “mirror mirror on the wall…”, in German of course! The rest of the day was spent getting coffee and cake (very, very good German cake) and me getting ready for my flight out the next day!
Of course, I am now in Sevilla at the start of my semester abroad. Things have been going extremely well. The day we got here was spent in orientation, sleeping, and getting to know other students including our roommates. My roommate is name is Emily. She is from New Mexico. We get along really well and are both extremely excited about getting better at Spanish and getting to know Sevilla. At the start of all of our walks so far the first question is “ingles o español” always español! We already have a list of things we want to do and see for the rest of the semester. I am really lucky to have been placed with her!

The second day we had to get up early and go on a walking tour from the hotel to the school. At the school we were shown around and then had to take a test in Spanish for placement for classes. Afterwards we made our way back to the hotel, gathered up our belongings and were put into cabs and sent to out host families!

Emily and I took the short ride to our apartment to meet our host mother, Carmen, and her mother we were instructed to call simply “Abuela” (grandmother in español for all those who didn’t know J). Abuela is 90 years old and is getting over a broken hip L It is hard for her to get around but she can be pretty funny. Apparently last year one of their students taught her how to dance, so she showed us her dance (from her chair) and then she said “I can be American” and proceded to do a ‘fist pound’ with Emily. Both Carmen and Abuela are very nice and have made us feel welcome. Meals are always an experience since we are forced to speak in Spanish to communicate with either. Abuela has a hard time understanding us so she constantly says to wait for her daughter so translate. At a recent meal my roommate said something to her she understood and responded then after a short pause both realized they had been understood and it was very exciting! It hasn’t been too hard to get used to the food here but it will definitely take some time. For instance I already know I do not like warm milk (breakfast is simply bread with jam or butter and warm milk…) There is always fruit for desert at meals, my favorite being ciruelas (plums). I think our placement with Carmen and Abuela is going to work out well!

Saturday we spent on a bus trip to La Rabida, which is where Christopher Colombus sailed from when he discovered America. There are a monastery and a museum dedicated to him and his travels. One of the rooms of the monastery has flags from different countries and boxes of dirt from when people first landed there! The museum has replicas of all three of Colombus’ ships. We were also suppose to spend the day at the beach but is rained all day. Instead we were given the choice to head towards the beach and spend the day in the town that is near it. Of course we went! It was the town of Mazagon, right on the Atlantic Ocean. We wandered around, had coffee, and ice cream. My friends and I strolled through the residential part looking at the different houses. The rain let up halfway through but it was still cold. We were able to spend time on the mostly deserted beach wading through the water and collecting shells! There were so many! Everyone boarded the buses at 4 and we headed back to Sevilla. We spent the night relaxing until dinner at 10. After dinner Emily and I walked through Sevilla and then met up with friends at midnight. Everyone goes out at night here. Sometimes until 6 in the morning! I don’t think I could have done that (we were back by 3:15) but it is definitely part of the culture!

Today is Sunday, a pretty low key day in general for Sevillanos. Emily and I went to Mass at the Cathedral then found a cafeteria (Café) for coffee and bread. The Cathedral is amazing! Huge and ornate, I’m not even sure how to describe it! There were so many tourists out! More then we had seen all week. We both agreed that we hope sometime soon the waiters at restaurants and store keepers won’t automatically start speaking to us in English, we don’t want to be tourists anymore!

Spanish is getting easier all the time. Emily and I speak it as much as possible together and on Monday English is banded from inside the school! Classes start Monday as well. It has been great the past few days but I am looking forward to having classes to think about.

I hope all is well for everyone! Keep in touch! I will write again soon :)

Germany!!

Rottenburg, Germany the town where I spent the first year of my life! I can't believe I am here! After hearing so much about it I am finally walking the streets and seeing the sites I saw 20 years ago!

After a long day of travelling I was finally greeted by our friends in the Stuttgart Airport. The drive to Rottenburg was only 45 minutes or so. I haven't really had a problem with jet lag! Just sleeping until noon the first day!

Diana and I have done so many things in the little time I have been here! We walked through Rottenburg, saw the major churchs (3- 2 catholic and 1 protestant) walked passed all the little shops. She actually had an errand to run which took us to the knife shop. When the man working found out I was from the US he said he had been a POW in Ohio in 1944. Diana had to translate because I couldn't understand a word he said! It was very frustrating! The more we walk around and visit different places the more I wish I could speak German! Later that day we walked up a hill to Wurnlinger Kapelle. Which is the Chapel of Wurnlinger. It sits on the top of a hill and can bee seen for miles! It is white and shines in the sun. The view from the top was beautiful! It has a small cemetary on the top that was beautiful with its carefully tended plots and bright flowers.

The next day we went to a 11th century castle about 30 minutes from Rottenburg. It was really neat to see. Nothing like anything we have in the US! I took lots of pictures but am pretty speechless about how amazing it was. The view from there was also completely amazing! After we went to Tübingen. It has a pretty big university the is spread throughout the city. We went to the church there. Tübingen is Protestant. It was very ornate. We also jumped on the chance to climb to the top of the bell tower (not a good idea on the hour when you're right next to the bells...) 171 steps up! But again the view was amazing! Then we waundered around some more just to take in the sights. We saw a building that was built in 1492!! Everything really interesting. The coblestone streets, small doors, and large amounts of windows-some with flowerbox- are beyond words. Diana also showed me the 'postcard' view of the city. A view I have seen everyday for the past 2 years. We have a poster framed on our living room wall of the scene. It was neat to see it in person! By this time we were exhausted and opted for heading back to the house and relaxing.

Tomorrow is my last day here! I can't believe it is almost over! I came so fast!