Antonio Machado

Last night I had my first Thinking in Andalusian: Essays, Folklore, Politics and Poetry, the Case of the Family of Antonio Machado of Sevilla. That's a mouthful. I'm taking this class because I have to for my major, and it was the class on my schedule that I was least excited for. I know nothing of Antonio Machado, and I don't have very much interest in Spanish poetry. However, it's looking like this class is going to be awesome. The professor is charismatic, emphatic and interesting. He kept us constantly involved and on our toes and promises to give a panoramic view of the Machado family and their influence/ how they were influenced by Sevilla. A major point that he emphasized throughout our entire first class is that for a good part of the class we will "leer con los pies" (read with our feet), meaning we'll be going on a bunch of walking tours throughout Sevilla and getting to know the city even better. The class is obviously very focused on the works of the Machado's, which I'm hoping will interest me, but we get to learn about them via getting to know Sevilla. I think it's going to be pretty cool.

Communication

It's a pretty cool thought that I can communicate in another language. I'm constantly making mistakes, but I can explain my way around them in a way that gets my point across. The fact that I can communicate is a form of fluency, which is pretty cool.

My classes for the continuation period, so...my real classes, started this week. I think I'll be interested in my Jews and Muslims class, but the professor isn't riveting, and 2 hours in a hot classroom makes me very sleepy. The quantity of information he throws at us is a little overwhelming, but hopefully I'll be able to keep up on the work. I just had my first Women Writers of Spain class today, which wouldn't be my first choice to take, but I think I'm going to like it. The professor is very good and encourages our participation and I think she'll make the class interesting. Tonight I have Thinking in Andalusian: Studies of Antonio Machado from 7:30 to 9:30. It's a pretty crappy time slot, but I have to take the class for my major. Hopefully it'll be more interesting than it sounds.

I'm told that the biggest botellon of the year is going on today around the University of Sevilla! I don't think I'll be able to make it because I have to tutor today and I have classes. O well, hopefully that translates into a fun night out tonight!

Hola!

Mom says I'm falling down on my blogging, so I guess it's time for an update! Let's see what's been going on. Monday I started my first classes of the continuation period at CC-CS. I have a class called Mosaic: Jews and Muslims in Spanish History, it seems like it's going to be very interesting, but my brain is simply not in heavy thinking mode, so I'm going to have to work on that. I also had dance class at night as usual and I told my professor that I danced the Sevillana over the weekend, she was very proud of me. Today, Tuesday, was the Dia de Andalucia, a regional holiday, so I didn't have class. Last night we went to the Juan Magan concert, a DJ who I didn't know much about, but it seemed that he was kind of just playing mixes of American Top 40, not too remarkable but fun. There was a CRAZY botellon going on outside the concert with cars blasting music and broken glass everywhere. We were in a huge group of people so it was fine, but it definitely didn't feel like the safest part of town.

Today was also a casual day, I went for a run this morning. I feel a bit awkward running because it's not very common here, but...no pasa nada. Then I met up with some friends and we went to coffee and then to Plaza Alameda de Hercules, which is a pretty cool plaza a little farther north in El Centro. It has a few fountains that people are allowed to go in, making a mental note of that for when it gets super hot here. It was also surrounded by a ton of cafe's that looked great, I'll definitely have to come back and try some.Then I went to the residencia where my friends live and hung out on the roof as the sun went down, very nice and relaxed. I sevici'd back to meet up with Chelsea, Hilary's best friend from home who is also studying in Sevilla. We got drinks and shared Carne Mechada (?) (which is basically sliced pork in a creamy pepper sauce over fries) and chatted at El Faro de Triana, a restaurant right by the bridge. Now I'm hanging out for a bit and then I'll be going out for hopefully a chill night on Calle Betis!

Language Fatigue + Dancing Sevillana

My brain hurts! Last night we went to a fiesta at Alberto's house. I had a great time, but speaking and trying to understand Spanish for such a long time (we were there til 5AM) makes my head hurt! My speaking has definitely gotten better, but depending on who I'm talking to, listening can be very difficult. A lot of that is due to the Andalucian accent, but since everyone here has one, I really need to get used to it.

I got to practice my folk dancing skills last night! The Espanoles that we met decided they wanted to dance the Sevillana (regional folk dance kind of like flamenco) and had a whole lesson for all of us Americanas. I could keep up only a little from my previous lessons in my dance class, but it was really fun to try! I'm not sure if any pictures were taken...hopefully none of me being tan torpe (so clumsy/awkward)

A Lil' Site Seeing

Liz and I try to make the best of our weekends in Seville, so we got out this morning and knocked out a few sites we've been meaning to visit. We've already been to El Mercado de Triana, but I got to snap some pictures today of the colorful food stands.

Live snails!

After the Mercado, we visited El Castillo de San Jorge, which we pass everyday but haven't explored. The market is built on top of the castle, which was originally a fortress but part of it was destroyed. It played leading role in the beginning of the Spanish Inquisition (which nobody expects) and today serves as a reminder on human rights. I didn't take any photos, it was mostly just ruins, but worth a walk around. 

Then we walked down to Torre de Oro, and icon in Seville. It once served as a look out point on the river. There were model's of Columbus' and Magellan's ships and you can climb to the top for a good view. 

 

View of La Giralda from Torre de Oro

Calle Betis and Triana from the top of Torre de Oro

Alcazar

Last day of touring Sevilla with CCCS, we went to Alcazar of Sevilla today. It's an enormous palace with different sections built in different era's and expansive and beautiful gardens. 

Liz and me being Goofballs!

Peacocks hanging out casually in the gardens

Fresas!

It's strawberry season in the South of Spain, and they're AMAZING. I think I've eaten a kilo of strawberries in the last 24 hours...I might have to take a day off from them. You can buy them at any of the little fruteria's on the street and they wrap them up in a paper cone, and I just eat all of them at once.