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.