Cositas (Little Things)

Well, I haven't written for a couple of weeks, so I thought I'd give another update on what's been happening in my life. 

1). I've started becoming a "local" at a coffee shop just around the corner from my casa. Every week morning around the same time, I go in and order the same thing (más o menos - more or less). Several of the people who work there know me now! [Stay tuned for a post about becoming a local!]

2). I went out for Tapas Thursday with some of the people from my program. 

Left to Right: Kathleen, Hannah, Tiffany, Carli, Addi, Me, Jill, and Dan.

3). Lola, my Señora, makes the world's best paella! Paella is a Spanish rice dish with meat (often with seafood, but not in Lola's).

4). Chocolate con churros is delicious - especially when enjoyed with friends!

Some of my housemates! Left to Right: Sally, Kelsey, Monique, and Me.

5). This last weekend, I visited Portimao, Portugal and fell in love with the beaches there. [So stay tuned for a post about my experience there!]

Here is a glimpse of how gorgeous it is there:

And here are a few random things that I have learned while being here:

• Women greet each other and men with two kisses, one on each cheek. Men, however, shake hands and if they are more familiar, they give each other a pat on the back. 
• Spaniards celebrate their birthday and their Saint's day. 
• You can drink una cerveza (a beer) pretty much at any time of day here. 
• Patriachica is a Spaniard's loyalty to their neighborhood first, then their city, and then, if at all, their country. This is the reason why it is a good idea to become a local at a coffee shop/restaurant/bar - the people will recognize you and give you service quicker and tend to be friendlier. 
• Spaniards have many, many acquaintances and few friends. 
• Spaniards tend to shout a lot. 
• Marianismo refers to one's devotion to the Virgin Mary - but there is more than one. Just like patriachica, each Spanish neighborhood/area remains very loyal to his/her own version of Mary. 
• People rarely decorate the inside of their homes (like around Christmastime or other holidays). A Christmas tree represents a Protestant, so they are very rare in Spain. Nativities are Catholic and will be everywhere starting in December. 

That's all I have for now! ¡Hasta luego! Till later! 

From Seville, Spain to Portimão, Portugal and Back: My Weekend at the Beach

I have always heard that Portugal’s beaches are some of the most beautiful ones in the world, but I don’t think that anyone could believe it until they actually experience it for themselves. To say my weekend in Portimão took my breath away is an absolute understatement. The entire time that I was there, I kept thinking, “Is this real?” 

The beach of Portimão, Portugal.

Waves on the beach of Portimão.

Originally, I thought that I could blog about the similarities and differences between Spain and Portugal, but to be honest, I don’t think I learned enough about Portugal to write an entire entry about that. I've lived in Seville, Spain for almost three weeks now and there are still many more cultural nuances to learn. I was only in Portugal for about two days, most of which was spent relaxing on the beach. 

Laying out in the sun: Carli (right), Addie (middle), and Me - Joy (left).

Portimão is about a three-hour drive west of Seville, which makes the two cities quite similar geographically. The weather was absolutely perfect while we were there – probably in the upper 80’s or mid 90’s.

Reading a book in Spanish on the beach.

Almost as soon as we arrived in Portimão, we all headed for the beach. After laying out in the sun for a while, we headed for the beautiful blue-green waves of the Atlantic Ocean to cool off a bit. It was absolutely relaxing and we thoroughly enjoyed being gently lifted up and down by the smooth waves of the sea.

In the early evening time, my roommates and I decided to go on a tour of the city. It was a rather short, pleasant walk with not too many sites to see, but I still enjoyed it.

The streets of Portimão.

My roommates and me in front of an important building in Portimão

After our leisurely visit in the town of Portimão, we met up with several others for dinner.

Left to right: Sean, Jill, Jackie, Dan, Kathleen, Melissa, Tiffany, Hannah, Lyndsey, Joy (Me), Addie, and Carli.

The next day we were scheduled to go on a boat tour, but unfortunately we were informed that the waters were too rough. Many of us were a little disappointed, because we were looking forward to seeing Lagos, Portugal and exploring some of the caves up close. However, one of our escorts, Aranoa, was still able to take most of us to Lagos to see the view and take some pictures.

Lagos, Portugal.

Beautiful view in Lagos: Me - Joy (left) and Jill (right).

In Lagos with my roommates: Addie (left), Me - Joy (middle), Carli (right).

Panoramic view of Lagos, Portugal.

After spending much too little time taking in this wonderful view, we headed back to Portimão for a few last precious moments on the beach.

Saying goodbye to Portimão and the warm waters of the Atlantic Ocean.

My experience in Portugal is definitely one I will remember for the rest of my life. I loved spending time on the beach, getting to know others in my program, and taking numerous photos to capture our short time in Portimão. Even though I loved this excursion, upon returning to Seville, it made me realize that Seville has definitely become my “home” for the next three months. I look forward to many more experiences to come. ¡Hasta luego!

Una Semana (One Week)!

One week. Seven days. One hundred and sixty-eight hours.

I remember when I was counting down the number of months, weeks, days, and hours until I would leave for Spain - and now, here I am! I have been in Sevilla for approximately one week now. It simultaneously feels like I have been here forever, and yet, also only for a brief moment. 

These past few days, I've had a lot of free time before my classes start, so I've been doing a lot of exploring. I now know my way to and from the CEA Global Campus (where I will be taking my classes) pretty well. It takes me about 20-30 minutes to walk there, depending on how tired I am, how hot it is outside, and how quickly or slowly I am walking. 

CEA Global Campus in Seville (where I am taking all of my classes).

I've also been adjusting to living in mi casa with seven other girls who are also studying here in Sevilla. I was fortunate enough to get my own little cozy room! It's very cute and it's nice, since I go to bed early - hence the reason my host mother/Señora called me la abuela (or, the Grandmother).

Mi habitación - my bedroom!

On Sunday, I explored the city and ended up walking around several neighborhoods, including Barrio Santa Cruz, which is a famous Jewish neighborhood near my school. 

Apparently this balcony inspired some scene in the Barber of Seville.

According to La Leyenda de la Cabeza de la Judia, a Jewish woman named Susona betrayed her father, a rich banker named Diego Suson, by revealing his plans to her Christian lover. As punishment, her head was exposed for everyone to see. (Ew...)

And, I was finally able to try Churros con Chocolate! It was very rich, but also delicious. It definitely lived up to my expectations! Don't think I will eat it too often while I am here, though...

Qué rico!

I even managed to catch a Flamenco show on the street on the way back home!

The highlight of my day yesterday, el lunes (Monday), was visiting the top of Las Setas (the giant mushroom-shaped structure that overlooks the city of Sevilla). 

Las Setas!

The pathway to the top.

I felt like I was on top of the world!

Cool view from underneath the top of Las Setas.

And the weird/cool elevator that took me up to the top of Las Setas.

I was able to experience the culture more this week, too. Here are some closing thoughts, observations, and occurrences: 

• Sevillanos/Spaniards don't really have any qualms about personal space. In restaurants or at las tiendas (the stores), in order to get service, you kind of just shove your way to the front and stand right in front of the person whose attention you want. 
• For some reason, someone thought that I am French. Do I act "French"?
• When I was going to Plaza de España on Saturday, I got a little lost and confused, so I asked a security guard where it was, and it turns out if I had just kept walking and gone around the corner, I would have found it. So much for being a local. Maybe someday!
• People in Spain stare a lot. At first, I was a little confused, because I kept wondering, if I looked funny or outright American, but I guess it turns out that Spaniards just stare at everyone and it's not considered rude. 
• I thought I drank a lot of water back home, but now, I feel as if I need to drink a gallon of water every time I step outside into the humidity of the day. Good thing the tap water is safe to drink in Spain. Now I understand why siesta time is so important in Spain - it's to rest and cool off! 

Well, classes start tomorrow! Wish me luck! Buenas noches desde España.

Esponjas (Sponges)

Do you ever just feel like you're a giant sponge, absorbing in so much information all at once, that you simultaneously feel like you know everything and nothing? 

I think that pretty well describes what it is like to live in a different country and attempt to learn the culture in a short couple of months. 

During our orientation session today, we talked about how difficult it is to pick up on another country's culture - we really are only able to observe the tip of the iceberg. I mean, if we think about it, there are almost an infinite number of factors that constitute a culture - and there are even cultures within the general culture as well (also known as subcultures). 

At a base level, there are the obvious senses: sight, smell, taste, touch, and sounds. But there is so much more, too. 

Do you tip in a Spanish restaurant? 
Which side of the street should you walk on? 
What type of clothing is considered provocative?
What is the grading scale like in Spanish universities? 

The list goes on and on. I definitely don't know the answers to all of these questions, since I've only been here two and a half days. I figure that I will discover some of the answers on my own, some I will need to ask locals or my study abroad program about, and there will be many more that I will not have answered by the time I leave Spain. 

But, here are a few things that I have picked up on in my short time here, thus far: 

• Eating schedule - Maybe this one is more well-known than other aspects of Spanish culture, but it's still a little shocking to experience in person (especially when mixed with jet lag). We eat desayuno (breakfast) around 8 or 9 am, but it is supposed to be very light. A typical Spanish breakfast might consist of a piece of toast with aceite de oliva (olive oil) and cafe (coffee). Almuerzo (lunch) is served around 2 or 3 pm and is generally considered the larger meal of the day. A hearty meat and vegetable stew along with an ensalada (salad) is common for lunch. And cena (dinner) is not until 8, 9, or 10 pm at night. 
• Spaniards tend to dress better than most Americans - Okay, this one I learned both from CEA (my study abroad program) and from observation. Even if it's 90-some degrees Fahrenheit outside, shorts are actually not that common in Seville. In fact, it essentially marks the sign of a tourist, especially if they are "short" shorts. Same goes for tank tops, for the most part. Spaniards tend to wear a nice shirt or blouse and nice pants or capris (jeans are acceptable) - women also wear nice sundresses or skirts. 
• Personal "bubble" - This was actually interesting, because initially it was not something that I realized I observed. Yesterday, at lunch, I was talking to one of the CEA academic advisers who came to Spain to study as a student some number of years ago, fell in love with the country, and never went back. As I was talking to him, I felt sort of uncomfortable, because he kept standing quite close to me when we were talking, and I wasn't sure why. Then, today, I found out that he actually did this intentionally to anyone he talked to. He is "American," but he's lived in Spain for about 15+ years now and he wanted us to realize that there are many different types of cultural differences - those that are spoken and acknowledged, but also those that are more subtle and not always talked about. 

Well, I am definitely interested in finding out about more cultural differences and I'll be sure to share them. 

Anyways, I managed to take some pictures of Sevilla yesterday, so I thought I would share some fun ones: 

La Giralda - I pass this on my way to and from my school!

I also pass this on the way to and from school, but I'm not actually sure what it is... Perhaps part of the city hall?

I just love the color!

This shades me every day on the way to and from school.

One of the things that I just love about Spain is the hidden treasures that you encounter on a daily basis - it just adds to the charm of this beautiful city. Believe it or not, this is actually on a side street just off a main shopping corridor. 

Look, Ma! I actually AM in Spain!

The building across from my Casa de Sevilla, where I am living.

The has-been Tobacco Factory - now part of the University.

Plaza de Espana - this picture does not do it justice, because it is absolutely gorgeous in person. And here's a fun fact: Star Wars Episode I was filmed (in part) here - does the city of Naboo ring a bell? [Also: the picture at the top of my blog is the same plaza, just from a different angle - cool, huh?!]

Torre del Oro - Famous tower where practically all of Spain's gold was stored back in Christopher Columbus' time. 

Primeras Impresiones (First Impressions)

After years of daydreaming, months of planning, and moments of stress and excitement, I am finally in Sevilla. 

Honestly, the emotions I feel ahora? I'm not even sure...

Usually when I go on trips that I have been thinking of for months on end, I tend to feel as though the first half of the time feels like a daydream in it of itself and by the time I actually believe I am there, I have to leave and it's as if I never left home. 

Sevilla es diferente. I don't know if it's because I have been thinking of this trip possibly longer than any other, or if it's because I am going without my family, or if it is the fact that I am actually living in another country rather than a brief visit. I'm sure that once my time is over, I will look back and think that three and a half months in Spain was not that long, but at the moment, all I can think is that Sevilla will be yet another place that I may have to call mi casa. Whatever this feeling may be, I am excited for this difference and the adventure that awaits me just around the river bend (Christina, that one's for you!) 

Anyways, aside from the fact that I have been awake for more than thirty hours (give or take a few snoozes on one of the three plane rides I took to get here), what are mis primeras impresiones de Sevilla?

1). From the small window of my third plane, I originally thought, "Wow, Sevilla is very brown." After a few more minutes, it seemed to turn from brown into a more redish hue, then a glimpse of green here and there, and finally back to the brown that I originally observed. 

2). The moment I stepped off the plane, I realized that I was not in Seattle anymore as it was 30-something degrees... Celsius... Which translates to a nice toasty 90-something in Fahrenheit. 

3). After finally finding my group of fellow CEA Study Abroad students and boarding a nice, cool, air-conditioned autobus, we progressively dropped people off at their homestays, or apartments; or in my case, finalmente, our casa de Sevilla. But as we were meandering the narrow streets of Sevilla, I couldn't help but notice a few things: there are many more palm trees here than I expected (I mean, don't most people think of Hawaii or some other tropical place when palm trees are mentioned?); it looks quite a lot like Mexico (Go figure, right?); and though the apartments and buildings are older than most American ones, they are beautiful and its antiqueness (To make up a word... That's for you, Dad!) adds to their charm. 

4). Okay, so this fourth impression is not actually about Sevilla, but it is about my Señora - otherwise known as our "Spanish mother" while here in Sevilla. She is the sweetest woman ever and I loved her almost the moment that she caught me by surprise as I disembarked from the bus and gave me dos besos (two kisses, as is custom in most of Europe). I think she is the heart and soul of this famous Sevillano hospitality that I have often heard of. For almuerzo, we ate sopa de pollo y papas (Chicken and soup - very hearty and filling). And for la cena, we ate sopa de coliflor (Cauliflower soup) and fajitas. Even though my stomach, mind, and sleep cycle are all on completely different schedules at this moment, I definitely enjoyed my first two home-cooked Spanish meals! 

5). This final "first impression" is a bit of a random observation, but when I ventured out into the streets of Seville with some of the girls from mi casa, I noticed that the narrow streets here cause two things to happen - one, people almost get run over by autobuses on a frequent basis; and two, walking is the name of the game here! Good thing I brought my walking shoes!

Well, those are all of the thoughts that I have for now... I'm sure I will have plenty more to come muy pronto! Stay tuned for some fotografías (pictures), too! 

Adiós!