Martes

I'm starting to settle into a routine here in Sevilla, but it's been a great day anyway. We woke up at 8 to have pan y cafe (I can't do these small breakfasts, I stocked up on granola bars) and get to school. I'm perfecting our route to school and I think the walk is about 15 minutes. The Sevillanos walk so slowly everywhere they go! I've heard some say that Americans are obvious because they walk so quickly. When I don't have to be anywhere on time I try to slow my pace, but I still seem to be cutting in front of people all the time!

I came home for lunch with my senora around 2, got a little work done, and then met up with my intercambio (speaking partner) at 4! His name is Alejandro. We met at the Triana Bridge and walked to a cafe to talk for a bit. He complimented my Spanish and said that his first speaking partner had refused to speak Spanish at all because she felt that she couldn't, and they would speak in English the entire time. I spoke only Spanish and he spoke both Spanish and English and we worked on correcting each other. He said he had learned most of his English from watching American TV and movies, which was impressive because he spoke fairly well. He graduated from the University of Sevilla with a degree in Human Resources, but is currently unemployed because the economy in the south of Spain is so bad. He plans to leave the country and find a job elsewhere, probably in London, in a few months. I really liked talking to him and I'm so glad I got such a friendly, interesting intercambio. Que suerte!

I had class at 6, an hour long class called Cultural Realities of Spain. It last the whole semester and only meets once a week. We talk about what's going on currently in Spain, adjusting to Spanish life, and other random interesting things. I guess I didn't eat enough for lunch because I was starving when I left class. I stopped in a bakery and got the most amazing chocolate croissant, warm and gooey and delicious.

As I was walking home to cenar with my senora, I had to stop to look at the view from the Triana Bridge, which I get to cross every day. I've posted the picture I took, but it didn't do justice to how beautiful the light looked reflected in the water from the Los Remedios bridge. I'm keeping a mental picture too. I also took a blurry picture of La Giralda lit up right next to the almost full moon. I can't believe I'm living here!

Vamos al Calle Alfalfa esta noche! It's a bar area I have yet to explore, free sangria anyone? It's probably a bad idea since I have to wake up at 8, but I'll take a serious siesta tomorrow.

Churros!

I  ordered 3 churros con chocolate with Bree and Kate, and this is what we got. AMAZING, but impossible to finish.

El Centro

This is el centro Americano where I will have my classes. It used to be a private home. I’m so excited that I get to study in such a beautiful place!

La Plaza De España

This is La Plaza de España, which really needs to be seen in person because it’s nothing short of majestic. It was very windy today, so we all look totally goofy, but it was amazing to stroll through these beautiful buildings. It still functions as a military center today. In front, there are small row boats and motor boats that can be rented to paddle around in the water. There are also horse and buggies everywhere.

La Puente De Triana

This is the view from the bridge to Triana, La Puente de Isabel II. I get to walk across this bridge every day on my way to class. In the middle of that view is el Torre de Oro. To the left a bit, which may be difficult to see is the Plaza de Toros, where Sevilla’s famous bullfights take place. The matadors are on tour in Latin America for the winter, but the bullfights begin this spring. I’m not sure if I’ll be able to stomach one.

The picture of the dome is a beautiful building on the bridge. It is El Castillo De San Jorge, a place that played a large role in the Spanish Inquisition. I have yet to tour it, but I walk past it everyday, so it's in the plans. 

Backtracking

I have a few posts I wrote before I had internet, in no particular order. I'll post them now!

Our first botella de vino in Sevilla! It was delicious. The bartender was nice enough to make us some tapas on the house. Later that night we went out on Calle Betis, a street along the river in Triana with popular bars and clubs. The mojitos were delicious, but I stuck to cerveza for the rest of the night. Liz and I made friends with students on another program (ISA) who were from Kentucky and Alabama. We left the first bar to wander a bit with them, because they sounded like they knew what they were doing…they didn’t. We ended up back on Calle Betis in another bar where we made Spanish friends. They spoke no English so I got a lot of speaking practice! They took us to a club down the street and we danced until 4 am. The club was still crowded and crazy when we left, so we’ll have to learn to keep up with the Sevillanos! All in all it was a fabulous night. 

¡Finalmente!

Finally I´ve got the chance to get on a computer and update! There`s so much I have to write about, it might be a little jumbled. It`s also difficult to switch my brain from Spanish to English, I get a litttle confused sometimes!

I live in a barrio (neighborhood) called Triana. I´ve hear it described as the Brooklyn of Sevilla. It´s very beautiful. The apartment we live in is about a cute little cafe called Charlotte and there are a bunch of bars, cafes and small tiendas (stores) lining the street. We´re very close to a popular bar area, Calle Betis, which is along the rio (river). Many of the Sevillanos are very friendly and for the most part are patient with me as I practice my Spanish.

My señora is very nice, but very hard to understand. She has a thick Andalucian accent where she doesn´t pronounce any s`s and drops off at the end of words. I´m getting better!

Today was our first day of classes at CCCS. We start with an intesive period for the first three week. Classes are monday through friday from 9 to 1:30. Right now I`m in Current Day Spanish Usage and Oral Communication. It`s a lot of speaking practice, which is great. I`ve even gotten some compliments on my Spanish from the people I meet when I go out, but I have a lot of room for improvement. We had to sign a pledge that we would not speak any English for our time in Sevilla, we still do sometimes, but we try not to!

Later today I have a Regional Folk Dance class, which I don`t remember signing up for, but I´m really excited to try it!

Today we just returned from tapas at a restaurant near La Giralda called Pimiento. I had bacalao con cebolla (fried cod with caramelized onions) and a dish of grilled goat cheese (I don`t rememeber the name). People here eat lunch around 2 or later and dinner after 9. It`s taking some getting used to, but I kind of like the schedule.

Yesterday (sunday) I woke up at noon after staying out til 4 on Calle Betis. The bars were still crowded when I went home! I went on a churro hunt with a couple girls from Lehigh, and we ended up with the largest piece of fried dough I`ve ever seen. It comes with cups of thick, delicious hot chocolate. Then I went on a 2 hour kayaking trip down El Rio Guadalquivir with a group from CCCS. It was beautiful, and even though it´s cold out, it was strangely warm on the river. Then I went to tomar copas (get drinks) with my roommate and some other girls on the program. Around 9 we returned home to cenar (have dinner) with our señora. All in all a very busy day!

I finally got wifi (here it`s prnounced weefee) at home, so once I get there I`ll post pictures!