My First Full Week

This post has been way overdue. My apologies. This post may seem all over the place but oh well!

Things are crazy, exciting, and hectic over here already! I've only been here for 12 days, and I feel like it's been 3 weeks! Since my last post, I have started my Intensive Language class, and already taken an exam! I've been placed in group 6 for the intensive session, which is the group with the worst Spanish skills. I'm taking it as an opportunity to get much better. During orientation I was afraid to speak Spanish, but with time, and the right surroundings, I'm getting more comfortable speaking. Or, as I told my Dad earlier this week, "I'm getting more comfortable sounding like an idiot." I'm becoming a human thesaurus, so if I don't know the word I want to say my mind runs through a list of similar words until I know one.

My class is good, but it isn't what I expected. I expected something more like conversational Spanish, but instead we are just learning about business terms, and various aspects of the Spanish economy. My professor is very laid back and relaxed, and it's a really fun and comfortable atmosphere. We had to write a 600 word paper comparing Macy's to El Corte Inglés (the Spanish hybrid of Macy's and Walmart more or less), and we have another 600 word paper due on Monday! This time we have to ask 10 people off the street (Spanish practice) how they see the future of the Spanish economy after "El crisis." So that's what I'll do while shopping in El Centro this weekend.

On Wednesday, Real Madrid came to town to play Sevilla F.C. (Fútbol Club for the not-so soccer savvy) to play in la Copa del Rey. I was eating a late lunch with my friend Erin only about a block away from the stadium, and when we left the atmosphere and number of people around was incredible! I will make it to at least one game before I leave, but the cheap seats for this particular game were 70 euros!

My homestay is getting to be more comfortable. I still really enjoy my family, although I have a lot to learn about them still! The only thing that isn't great about my homestay is that I'm really not close to the majority of the other students in the program. I am 2 miles away from the business school, whereas others are less than a mile (in the opposite direction for the most part). Great exercise though! Also, I am more or less caddy-corner from the night spots, which are mostly across the river. So I'm trying to work on the best way to get back. Taxi's are expensive, and the couple of night buses only go on selective routes. So we'll see if I can find someone close to always split a cab with.

The weather here has been pretty cloudy, and it has rained most days this week. I'd complain, but I'm used to it back in Ohio (come Aprilish). Also, In reference to my earlier post where I said I'm getting the hang of the layout and directions of this city, I want to somewhat take that back. Maybe I am in comparison to some of my peers here, but this week I have gotten lost in El Centro at least 3 times. It's not that I'm lost lost, it's that I'm lost in the maze of twisty, windy, coblestone roads, where everything starts to look the same after 10 minutes. (John, if you read this, it really is in the hips to move through the people, on the curvy streets.) I know I'll get the hang of El Centro soon, but it sure can be frustrating! On the bright side of getting lost, I've found a number of really cool areas, that I probably wouldn't have encountered for another few weeks. So depending on if I'm in a rush to get somewhere or not, maybe me getting lost is a good thing!

Here are a few various pictures that I took this week. I hope everyone else's weeks were good too!

A look at Giralda from from walk home.

 Dog park right near my apartment.

After finding my way out of El Centro, I found this! I didn't have time to read it, but I saw a big 1492 written on it. Could have to do with Mr. Columbus?

The Sevilla F.C. bus heading toward the stadium. People everywhere were running after it.

The mass of people heading to the game. I was pretty jealous.

More people masses.

The entrance to my homestay apartment is through this patio/garden, on the left.

El fin de semana

This weekend was much more laid-back than the last few days were. I'm still getting settled in my homestay, so a lot of the weekend has been me getting comfortable in and around the apartment. As for the program, they had scheduled optional tours that students could go on if they desired. I decided to go on both because they both seemed beneficial and interesting.

The first tour was just a tour of the city with our guías (guides) from orientation. We met up and walked around el centro, seeing the major landmarks. We walked through the center of the main university building known as Antigua Fábrica de Tobacos, or el Rectorado (it's a rectangular building). This is the building that the regular university classes are help, mostly of liberal arts, so I will not have any classes here. It's still an interesting and beautiful building though! We proceeded to walk down the street (San Fernando if you're wondering) where we encountered a protest while enjoying café con leche. There were hundreds, if not thousands of people partaking in this procession. Our guides were sure to tell us to stay close to them and to not wander. Once the protest passed us, we walked down Avenida De La Constitución, which is the street that the cathedral is off of. When Marta was telling us what the street was called I thought she was calling it Avenida De La Prostitución.... glad we got that one cleared up. The tour was short and sweet, and at the end of it Marta and Antonio took a group of us to get cell phones since we didn't know where to go in el centro. It was really nice of them. That was the last activity we had with our guides so it was a bittersweet goodbye. It's nice to be on my own, but the guides were actually really great to hang out with at lunch, and were cool enough to take us to bars and discotecas! I spent the afternoon at the apartment, and enjoyed a nice siesta. Around 10pm I met up with Maria, Michelle (neighborhood friends), and Alisa, and we went out to eat in el centro very close to the cathedral. (Nice view!) After we ate and had a few tinto de veranos, we took a walk along the river and walked over to Triana, which is the neighborhood across the river, where many of the popular local bars are. It was definitely busy with many people, and we ran into a few of our fellow CIEE friends over there. Michelle, Maria, Alisa, and I took the hike back and just enjoyed figuring out where we were-- still trying to get a hang of it. I do have to say that I've been getting multiple compliments on my sense of direction, because I seem to getting a hang where things are, and where we are at any point faster than others. I suppose I have my father to thank for that. (Thanks Dad!)

Today, we met outside el Rectorado to go on a tour of the Alcazar. The group that met up with larger than other groups, but smaller than the normal size of 90, so I'm thinking a bunch of people had pretty late nights. (I'm finding it's not uncommon to come home at 6am.) Even though I had already visited the Alcazar with my family, I still found it very interesting. The only problem was that it was cold! I know everyone will say that compared to home it wasn't cold, but no one was prepared with warm enough clothes. It started drizzling, and it was windy, and was about 8 degrees celsius. When you're not dressed for the weather it can make the experience less than optimal. So, the best part about the Alcazar in my mind, the gardens, were skipped by the group because we all wanted to come back when it was sunny and warmer. Plus, students have free admission, so we have no problem walking back in. Again, my afternoon included a siesta (really liking the social acceptance of afternoon naps here!). I got to catch up with family and friends, which is always nice, and then got to eat a late lunch/early dinner cooked by mi madre. Around 8:30 I met up with a different Michelle that lives in the same general area, and we walked into el centro to meet up with other friends to watch the Bears/Packers game at both an American bar and an Irish bar. It was pretty packed, and it was fun to be right next to the cathedral in Sevilla, Spain while watching some good old American football. A fun atmosphere.

Tomorrow I start my intensive language session with CIEE. This will last the next two weeks, and on February 7 we will start our actual semester classes. I'm really excited to start, and to really start improving my Spanish skills. The only place to go is up when it comes to learning more Spanish. As it stands now, I'm planning on taking these classes this semester: Spanish Business Writing (I'm required to take it), International Marketing, Managing Cultural Diversity, International Trade and Finance, and Flamenco in Andalusia. I have to turn my schedule in tomorrow and these are on there at the moment. I might drop one class after trying them out after the first week, but that decision is still a few weeks off.

Wish me luck for tomorrow!

Outside El Rectorado.

El Rectorado

Alisa and me enjoying café con leche outside El Rectorado.

Protest (Manifestación)

On Avenida De La Constitución

Alisa and me in front of the cathedral.

Sevilla at night.

Alcazar

Alcazar

Some friends outside the Alcazar and the cathedral

P.S. Let's see if I can finally find a Spanish/English dictionary. It will make life a little easier. Let's also hope I can find a nice sweater. It will make life a little more comfortable.

Day 6

Today! (I finally caught up with myself!)

I woke up today very nervous. I have known who mi familia was going to be for a couple days now, but I didn't start to worry about it until today because I knew I was going to finally meet them. Although getting picked up from the hotel was the biggest part of the agenda today, it wasn't the only thing on there.

After another good breakfast, and after checking out, everyone walked once more to the business school to have informational sessions. Today they were about diversity in Sevilla, safety (always important), and activities that we can take part in with CIEE which range from fútbol y baloncesto, to dance classes, to volunteering as a translator in a hospital, to day trips. There are many activities and too little time to do them all!

We ended early and headed back to the hotel to wait. Wait, and hope for a good familia. How nervous we all felt! Sooner rather than later, Marta called my name and told me mi madre "está aqui," while a huge smile on her face. She asked me if I was nervous and she told me it would be fine, and to be calm. We grabbed my bags and brought them to the front of the lobby where I met Isabel, mi madre. She had a smile on her face and we exchanged two kisses-- one on each cheek (the spanish kiss). Isabel helped me take my bags out to the car where Miguel, mi padre, was waiting. We put the bags in the car and began our car ride. My heart was racing the whole time while the three of us attempted to have a basic conversation. They asked me where I'm from, and when I got to Spain. The conversation wasn't very consistent because it's still so difficult for me to carry on a worth while conversation, but they were patient with me.

After what seemed like a long car ride, we arrived at the apartment complex, which is on the northwest corner of the historic center of Sevilla. Unfortunately, it isn't very close to where my classes will be, but who doesn't need a nice long walk each day?! Isabel helped me with my bags upstairs (thankfully by elevator) and opened the door to my new home. The apartment is gorgeous! She showed me the kitchen, and told me I could put anything in the fridge, and keep cereal, etc. in la cocina. Next to the kitchen is the living room, where I was told I could watch TV, and study. From the living room, there is a mini sun room, which has an incredible view of the historic center! Then she showed me my bathroom, which I have to myself, and asked me to pick which room I want, which I wasn't expecting. This is where I began to realize this wasn't a typical Sevillano apartment-- at least not what I was expecting. I chose my room, which has a closet, bunk beds, a desk, and enough floor space (probably more than some of my friends at Purdue!), and we left my bags in the room. Then we continued through my room, to an adjacent bedroom, more or less identical to mine, and into what felt like another apartment. Isabel then led me into another kitchen, which is the one la familia uses most often, and they showed me the second living room, where Miguel was watching TV. I was totally thrown off by how huge the apartment is!  All in all, I think (not completely positive because we finished the tour there) there are 6 bedrooms, and at least 3 bathrooms! So basically, I have half of the apartment all to myself. Wow. I still want to spend plenty of time with the family though.

While I started to unpack, I attempted to set up my computer to the wifi, which I was having a dificult time with. So, I asked mi padre to help, who then got his son Miguel to help me. Miguel tried for a good half hour to connect my computer to the internet, but couldn't. And let me tell you, when no one speaks English, and your Spanish speaking is weak, it's difficult to translate computer and internet terms. For example, I was having a hell of a time trying to say "reboot." I still need to look it up now that I think about it. Anyways, while mi hermano Miguel worked on my computer, Isabel fed me lunch which consisted of a bean-like soup, potatoes and onions, and some kind of beef patty. She also gave me a salad and fruit (so I got some greens too, Mom!). I finished, and attempted to help with the computer issue, thinking that if I changed everything to Spanish on my computer it would be easier for Miguel. It wasn't. Then, mi padre, Miguel, called the internet company asking for help. At this point I felt horrible for having people go through this. At the same time it reassured me that my family is very nice, if they're willing to go through all this just to help me and my internet problems! After at least an hour of all of this, my web page magically decided to work. So frustrating, but hey, it works!

At this point in the day it was about 4pm, and I went to finish unpacking. Mi madre walked in the room and asked if I like coffee, and we sat for a little watching a Jeopardy-like show. I tried again to talk with her, but it was so difficult and apparent that I just wasn't making a whole lot of sense. UGH! I know talking will get easier with practice and time, but man do I wish it was easier NOW! I suppose this immense frustration is part of the experience, right?

My next activity with CIEE was at 6:30pm. So, at about 6pm, mi hermano walked me to my neighborhood's appointed meeting point (so glad he did because I would've been lost for about 30 minutes!). Miguel and I attempted to have a conversation, and I asked him if he goes to the university and he said no. Then I asked him if he works and he said no. Or maybe he didn't understand me (entirely possible). I'm sure I'll learn in time what exactly he does. But regardless, he was very nice and was also patient with my Spanish.

I met up with the fellow CIEE neighbors, even though they really don't live that close, and we walked, with a guide to the CIEE Study Center in the center of Sevilla. Here all the students from all CIEE programs met to gather more information about activities that CIEE offers. After this, we got back into our groups from orientation, and went our separate ways to eat más tapas y tinto de verano. Everyone talked about their familias y señoras and how the first few hours went. I have yet to hear of someone who dislikes their homestay! I still think that I got lucky with my homestay, even compared to other students.

Finally to end the night, our guides took us to a discoteca, where we all hung out and had drinks. Marta bought our whole group chupitas (shots) of ronmiel, which is basically just sweet rum. Very tasty too! It was fun to be with everyone in a very informal place where we could all lay back. I also thought it was great that the guides treated us as equals, trying to show us the nightlife in Sevilla. A lot of fun was had by all!

Best of all (because I was somewhat worried), I found my apartment just fine afterwards! :-)


The view from the apartment. So beautiful!

Orientation

Let's see if I can finally catch up...

Yesterday was an entire day of orientation. I met up with my friend Erin, who is also from Purdue, and headed down to breakfast early in the day. Breakfast was buffet, but it included plenty of meats (something similar to prosciutto was involved, so what's not to like) as well as cereal, cheese, and bread. We met again in our groups afterwards and took a walk to FCEYE (Facultad de Ciencias Económicas y Empresariales), which is the business school for the University of Sevilla, where we had a few meetings. These meeting were academic based, and at the end we got to draw out our schedules. These schedules won't be finalized until next week, but we could at least get an idea of what they would be like.

Something that will be difficult to adjust to is eating lunch around 2pm, and not snacking in between breakfast and lunch. I'm learning fast that Spaniards love their coffee, so in between meetings we headed down to the cafetería to have a café con leche. This at least helped most everyone stay awake through the meetings!

After another academic meeting, our guides took us around on a tour of the business school, showing us where in general our classes would be. An interesting fact about the business school building (one of the them), it used to be a women's prison. So it's not the most beautiful building on the outside, but it has an interesting background!

After our tour, Marta took us to have tapas for lunch, to show us "how it's done in Spain." We went to La plaza Nervión for lunch and had tinto de verano (a drink similar to sangría), and little sandwiches which were delicious.

The afternoon consisted of Spanish interviews, done by professors, to gauge our level of Spanish speaking. The interviews lasted over four hours (although each student only went for 10 minutes), and they asked us questions that ranged from "Where are you from," "what are you studying," "why did you choose this program," etc. I heard that other people got harder questions like, "what should we do about the economy?" I'm glad my questions weren't like that!

Once we were finished with our interview we could do whatever we wanted until 8:30pm, at which point we met with our groups yet again and headed for more tapas for dinner. The entire program walked into the historic part of the city, and then split up to different restaurants. Sevilla at night is beautiful! Seeing the lighting on the cathedral, and other old buildings was amazing! At 10:30 we went to see Flamenco, which was unbelievable! The skill that these dancers (and guitarist and singer) had were truly remarkable. I was thoroughly impressed!

The group split up again afterwards into the group that wanted to go back to the hotel, and the group that wanted to go out. I was in the latter. :-) Antonio (one of the guides) took us to this really cool bar (that I'm positive I stepped into with my family 6 years ago) where we got some sangría and got to watch some more Flamenco. It was a fun experience to be out drinking delicious drinks, with fun people, in a really cool place.

I headed home around 12:15 with a friend because I knew I still had to do things the next day and didn't want to be hungover and exhausted when meeting my familia!

Álvero, who works for CIEE, posing for the camera inside the University's business building.

Outside the business school.

My group enjoying tapas for lunch.

Erin, a fellow study abroad student, and me.

Melissa, Megan, and Marta.

 The group enjoying tapas again at night.

Flamenco!

Más Flamenco.

Trains, Planes, and Automobiles

Ayer...

Yesterday I got to complete the trifecta of ways to travel by myself! The morning was uneventful, and I showered at Susana's just getting ready to head to Sevilla. She helped me drag my bags to the Iglesia metro station and repeated to me (multiple times thankfully) which station to get off on. Getting off the metro was fine, it was getting to the platform for my train. It involved me asking one shop keeper and a Renfe worker (who answered me in English) but I found it alright.

The weather was not bright and sunny, but still better than the weather at home I'm sure, so I didn't complain and enjoyed seeing the countryside by train. It did seem to slowly get more sunny the closer I got to Sevilla, so that was heartening. Getting off the train, and feeling the pain in my body already from lugging my bags around Madrid, I realized I was going to need some euros for a taxi, instead of walk to the hotel. This involved me butchering spanish some more (but still using it!) to find someone to break a $100, which could have gone worse. I then called a taxi and told him to go to the Hotel Hesperia Sevilla, and thankfully there wasn't any confusion! So there you go, my travel trifecta complete, and only three days in!

Sadly but surely, when I arrived to the hotel and CIEE leaders began speaking spanish to me, I was taken aback. They worked with me and repeated the sentences a couple times "have you checked in?" "go here, do this, see you later, you'll get it back, etc." I figured I wasn't the only one needed things repeated, so I just went with it.

I immediately went up to me room and soon after my roommate, Maria, walked in and without too much of an introduction, asked me if I wanted to go out and see Sevilla with some of her friends, which I thought was really nice. We left and just walked up the street we were on, in the Nervión neighborhood. Even though I have been to Sevilla before with my family, we only really saw the historic center more than anything else, so I thought that the rest of the city was like that and it isn't. In Nervión, most everything is very modern, and it is considered the chic neighborhood.

Our first meeting was later that night, and we were welcomed to the city and to the program, and we were given basic information. Basically, we were given information about all of the information we will be receiving later on. We also received our housing assignments. I found out that I will be living with a familia, and I have a madre, padre, 2 hermanos that are 19 and 22, and a hermana that is 29. I don't know if all of them actually live in the house, but I will find out on Friday!

After the meeting we were placed into groups to try and split students from the same universities up, and each group had their own Spanish business student as a guide. We will be in our groups until we are placed in our homestays, and our guide will show us around Sevilla, and be our go-to person for questions and information. My group ate dinner together, and we got to know our leader, Marta, who tried desperately to have spanish conversations with a group that was falling asleep in their food. She understood though, so the conversation was pretty basic.

Everyone seemed pretty excited to go to bed, although I know there was a group of guys who proceeded to go out to the bars until 4am. They were feeling it today. I figured I have the whole semester ahead of me to go out and have fun, but for now, I'm still adjusting to the time, and finally getting over this cold! My night adventures will be more fun in the next few days, let alone the next few months!

 My AVE train in Madrid, ready to leave for Sevilla.

 The endless view of Spain's olive trees.

Sevilla's train station

Day 3

Hoy en día...

I finally used some Spanish today! A personal victory! The workers came back over to finish the windows and I attempted to speak some Spanish to them. It worked out alright (I think). Susana and I also went in the morning to pick up the student who is staying with her for the semester. After taking a taxi ride to the hotel where the IES students were staying, I was introduced to a few different señoras and the IES program director. Everyone was very patient with my spanish skills, which was much appreciated. As soon as I started having too much trouble though, people were willing to switched to English.

Susana was finally matched with her student not too long after. His name is Eric Bean, and he's an American student from Claremont McKenna College. After meeting him I told him I was American as well, which seemed to ease any nervousness. (And surprisingly, we have a common friend in Jordan Nottke, who I went to high school with and he went to Claremont with. Fun fact.)As soon as we left the hotel, he turned to me and said "she seems awesome!" with which I replied, "you seriously hit the jackpot." We returned back to the apartment where Eric unpacked his things, and then we went to the apartment upstairs where IES rented out an apartment for a group of 6 girls to live in. We met them and their live-in RA, which allowed Eric to meet some more students and me to attempt to use some more spanish. A win-win. 

Later in the afternoon, Eric left to go take a spanish language assessment test, at which point I had the pleasure of enjoying my first spanish siesta. Why the U.S. hasn't adopted the idea of a siesta is beyond me. This siesta might have gone a little longer than they usually do, but hey, my body was (is) still recovering from travel and being sick! Once everyone was awake and home, Susana, Sufiyan, Eric, and I all took a trip to the supermarket to get some food for the apartment and for dinner. In case anyone was wondering, shopping in Madrid and shopping in West Lafayette are NOT the same experiences. I feel like an aisle is packed in West Lafayette when there are three people in the aisle with carts. That aisle might as well be considered empty in Madrid! So there's another check for a new experience on the trip. 

When we got back to the apartment, Sufiyan started cooking dinner (chicken and rice, with a side of olives, and wine of course). Susana had been bragging about how good of a cook he was, and I'd have to agree with her. He showed me his tips on how to cook the rice just right, and the four of us enjoyed olives to start with in the kitchen. Dinner itself was wonderful and lots of fun! We talked for some time about school, travel, fun facts about each other, and even got into the history of Spain and how the Spaniards obtained their values from this history. I still have a lot to learn but it was still very interesting! We ended dinner with chocolates, ginger, and buckeyes that I had brought from Ohio as a thank-you to Susana. 

It was a late night, but a fun end to a fun day. Tomorrow I am headed to Sevilla. No one is picking me up from the train station, or giving me directions of how to get to the hotel, etc. So tomorrow is my first day on my own more than I have been so far. Let's see how it goes!

Sufiyan, basting the chicken.



Susana's student, Eric and myself.



Eric, myself, and Susana, all enjoying Ohio's own buckeyes! O-H!

Day 2

I made it! All of my flights went very smoothly, and I was able to meet up with Susana at the airport just fine. It's been an interesting and tiring first day in Spain--but what first day of travel isn't. Susana was having all of her windows replaced today which was fantastic except that it was only about 4 degrees (celsius). So Susana, Sufiyan, and I got to spend some quality time in the kitchen where the warmth was.

Susana was so helpful today! She helped me get my train ticket from Madrid to Seville for Wednesday, and we walked around catching up and talking about family.

Susana's beautiful apartment with my room to the right behind the screens. I look forward to spending some more time here tomorrow before I head to Seville!

At this point I've been awake for about 30 of the last 36 hours, so I'm going to catch up on that sleep! (Something I think everyone knows I'm good at doing.) Miss you all at home!

Only Minutes Left

So, I'm done counting down the days. I'm just heading to the Cleveland airport with my parents. My 145 day journey starts NOW! Warmer climate here I come...

Mom and me outside Cleveland Hopkins right before leaving. I'm looking pretty worn out from staying up packing and waking up early to get everything finished with. 

Dad and me getting our last hugs in. Got to make them last another three months, then they'll be out to visit! Can't wait!

3 Days till Liftoff

So only 3 days left until I head to Spain for five months. The holidays were wonderful! I was able to see my family and friends that I hadn't seen for a little bit. It always feels so great to catch up with everyone. Santa did in fact give me some luggage to take to Spain, so that's one item that's checked off my still very long list.
How does a girl go about packing for five months? I'm well aware that Spain has clothes, and I plan to do some serious shopping to help boost their economy (kidding Mom and Dad-- kind of). But I'm finding it difficult to sort out the clothes that are necessary to take and those that aren't. Let's hope I figure it all out in the next 3 days!
I've been notified that my housing situation is all under control, however I won't know who they are until I get over to Spain. I also won't find out what classes exactly I'm going to take until I get over there. In the program I am required to take at least two business classes, which I will try and take care of most of my concentration in International Business with those. I'm hoping to sign up for a total of four classes. So the other two will likely be a Spanish Business Writing class to help improve my Spanish grammar skills, and then I will have to decide between taking either a Spanish Literature class on Don Quijote (which would take care of a requirement for my Spanish minor), or a class on the History of Flamenco. Obviously I would hope some dancing would occur in the latter. I suppose I only have to wait about a week longer to find out what they will be!
Also, I'm beginning to feel somewhat bittersweet about leaving. Of course I'm not regretting my decision at all, but it will be a long time without family and friends. But I know this program will make me a stronger person and I will certainly form new relationships with new friends. My family will make the journey over to visit me. My parents and my brother and his wife are planning on making it over during Holy Week, and my other brother and his wife will meet me on the last leg of my backpacking excursion.
All in all, I really can't wait for Sunday to get here. Now back to packing...