A Very Spanish Weekend

Friday was Sevilla's kickoff to Spring with its Fiesta de Primavera.  There were three botellones; a botellon is basically a tailgate without the end event.  My American friends Vicky and I met Vicky's intercambio Macarena and her Spanish friends at one of these botellones.  One friend of Macarena's particularly stood out to me.  Her name is Clara and she goes to the University of Sevilla and is studying Public Relations.  Clara and Macarena are childhood friends.  However, last year, Clara moved into an apartment in La Macarena with her fraternal twin brother.  This is good news for me because I now have a Spanish friend who lives in La Macarena!  The botellon was filled with cars blasting music and young people eating and drinking.  However, as we all know, many young men tend to get aggressive when they have had too much to drink.  Fast forward to around 7:30 P.M. when fights start to break out.  We left as soon as the fights started.  That whole scene however wasn't really my idea of fun, and after just a few hours there, I was very ready to leave.

Following leaving the scene of drunken idiots, we began to walk towards what we thought was the city center.  Instead however, we wound up in the outskirts of Triana by the construction of some sort of park.  There was this crazy guy standing on a large pile of rocks yelling things in incoherent Spanish.  As we continued walking, we noticed that he had jumped over the guardrail where we were walking and was chasing after us.  We ran!  I had no idea I was capable of running, but I guess when the adrenaline kicks in, you can do anything.  After running for a good five minutes, he stopped following us.  We quickly asked for directions to the nearest metro stop.

We went to Vicky and Kara's apartment so they could change.  We met their Senora;  coincidentally, her name is Victoria as well.  Victoria also has a daughter named Victoria.  They often do that here -- name their children after themselves (e.g. Mercedes has relatives named Macarena and Luca.  Their children are named Macarena and Luca).  Victoria was such an outgoing elderly woman.  She told us that we were young and needed to enjoy our lives now because we are in the prime of our lives.  I agree.

After leaving their apartment, we went to dinner.  After dinner, was when the fun really started.  We went to a club in Los Remedios called Goa.  We had to go through the casetas, the tent-like structures/fairgrounds for Feria (a huge Sevillano holiday that lasts one week in April).  The club itself seemed to be in the middle of nowhere.  We had to go through a set of gates and walk five minutes down this road before arriving at this lone-standing club.  The inside of it was amazing and the music was great.  Vicky and I were the only Americans there.  We were also severely under-dressed, but we didn't care.  It was one of the best nights I've had in Spain.  We spent the night speaking solely in Spanish.  Macarena and Clara taught us "frases hechas" or colloquialisms.  Vicky and I taught them colloquialisms in English.  Friday was such an amazing night!

On Saturday, I went to el Museo de Bellas Artes during the day.  I saw several amazing pieces of art by several famous Spanish artists.  That night, I met with my intercambio Carlos, as well as Kara and Vicky and her intercambio Macarena.  We went to Alameda, the alternative scene of Sevilla.  Then, we went to the International Cerveceria where we each tried a new beer.  Vicky had a strawberry-flavored Belgian beer and Kara and I tried the same strawberry-flavored German beer.  Macarena had a cherry-flavored German beer. Carlos had a Guinness, which is fitting since he will be studying abroad in northern Ireland next year.  It's always nice to get together with our intercambios and practice our Spanish.  We're able to teach each other words we don't know in each other's respective languages and to gain a better understanding of each other's cultures.  Vicky and I are lucky to have such wonderful intercambios.

Sunday morning, one of my roommates, Jackie, and I went to a large outdoor market in Parque Alcosa, almost an hour away from our house.  The most commonly sold good there -- underwear.  There was literally underwear being sold at every other stand.  It was insane.  There were so many people there.  Anything you could think to buy was sold there-- bags, shoes, electronics, clothes, fresh produce, jewelry, and even flamenco dresses.  The one thing they did not have however was linen pants or pants, which Jackie and were desperately trying to find for Morocco.

Tomorrow, I'm meeting my other intercambio Alba for the first time by the river.  I also register for my Fall classes tomorrow.  Back to reality in the Fall with my last year in college (eek!) and the LSAT (double eek!).

I am so excited for this long weekend in Morocco!  I'm sure it will be an exhilarating experience with all the new sights and smells.  I am 99% sure that I will return looking like burnt toast as I am already currently pretty bronzed from all the sun here.  It's supposed to be in the upper 80's and low 90's while we're there.  Bring it on, Africa!

Forget Me Not -- Sevilla's Most Memorable People

Sevilla never ceases to amaze me.  Each day, I'm welcomed by the scent of the flowers blooming on the orange trees that line the city streets.  The weather has been amazing this week -- sunny and in the low 70's.  More and more people my age are spending their days by the Guadalquivir reading, eating, drinking, smoking, and since it's Spain, kissing.

With Sevilla as the backdrop to my semester, I have met several amazing and often unique people.  The following are the most memorable.

My host mom (Senora) Mercedes is always amusing.  We teach her English words, some appropriate, others not so much.  She is always making jokes and is a far better Senora than I ever could have asked for.  When I was sick with the flu and strep in February, she would come into my room to check on me.  She made me freshly squeezed orange juice and even checked my temperature.  She is so sweet!  Needless to say, after having had exchange students for the past 22 years, she is a pro.  Mercedes has two daughters, Susana and Ana Laura.  Susana is married and has two children.  She lives in a pueblo outside of Sevilla.  Ana Laura on the other hand is 22 years old, which yes, if you do the math, means that she has grown up living with study abroad students.  I feel like this would be an extremely interesting and unique way in which to be raised.

International Marketing is by far my favorite class.  My professor, nicknamed Nano, is hilarious.  His family owns olive farms, which he manages.  He grew up going to boarding schools, and completed his undergrad and graduate studies at Michigan State University, so he is fully aware of the American lifestyle.  His commentary on American society and politics is always interesting to me.  (On a side note, I am really enjoying hearing what Spaniards have to say about our American way of life and our politics.  It's a fresh take on something to which I think we often become numb.)  Nano tells hilarious stories.  He also has wonderful connections, one of which is with someone who works for Cruzcampo.  I am one of forty lucky people who will be going on the Cruzcampo Factory Tour in April.  The verdict on this profe -- a big boy in a little boy's body.  He's probably in his mid 40's and has a live-in girlfriend.  I know that people aren't as quick to jump into marriage in Spain as in the U.S., since their society is a bit more secular, but assuming she's around the same age as Nano, don't you think this woman is wondering when she's getting a ring on that finger?

Another interesting professor of mine is Jesus.  He is currently working on his Ph.D.  How do I describe Jesus?  If you can imagine the stereotypical Spaniard with somewhat long, wavy hair, then that's Jesus.  He said he should be finished completing his doctoral program in about a month.  This is exciting news for his American students because he told us he's taking us out for beers to celebrate.  I have a classmate who can't wait to shock his mom when his status is, "Getting beers with Jesus!"  Jesus is a bit of a smart alec.  I can't think of anything he said specifically to back up this statement, but it keeps things interesting.  The biggest problem with his class is that 50% of the time I cannot understand his thick accent and I can't read his handwriting.  He probably has the worst handwriting out of any teacher I have ever had.  This can make learning International Finance very difficult because 1. It is Finance. and 2. It is Finance.  As I am reminded by my Spanish professors all the time, Spaniards like to go out and have a good time, so don't be surprised if you see a professor out on the weekend.  This statement was certainly made true when I ran into Jesus in Barcelona by La Sagrada Familia.  Of all people to see in a huge, metropolitan city, I run into my Finance professor!  We both did a double take before I said, "Jesus?"  He too was in Barcelona for the day enjoying the sights.  I will make sure to update everyone upon Jesus's successful completion of his Ph.D.  :)

I also have a British professor who I don't know quite as much about.  He failed to give the first day spiel introducing himself (i.e. talk about his schooling, why he's living in Spain, etc.).  So, can you blame me that I'm intrigued?  He is my Global Economy professor, and is extremely passionate about what he teaches.  On Tuesdays and Thursdays, he teaches from 9 to 9.  How he does it, I have no idea.  That's a lot of talking.  He randomly breaks out in song sometimes.  So far, we've heard a few lines of "Highway to Hell" and "Thriller."  My mother will appreciate this one.  One day, I wore this necklace made with ribbon and beads.  He told me it looked like British folk dancers in the North who wear these necklaces and dance with handkerchiefs in their hands.  He said everyone thought they were silly, which I took to mean my necklace looked silly.  Regardless, I guess Jonathan (or as Vicky and I have nicknamed him, J. Pass) and my mom would both agree that this particular necklace looks odd.  My mom says it makes me look like a reindeer.  I am going to have to disagree with both of them.

Marco is a five year old boy who lives in the apartment above us.  He is adorable.  He came over before dinner yesterday and showed me his book of stickers.  We watched Bob Esponja.  His favorite character is Bob Esponja (Sponge Bob) himself.  Marco's parents are divorced, so he splits his time between his mom and dad's apartments in La Macarena.  I told Marco that I have a really cute four year old sister back in the States.  He gave me a blank stare, haha.  I guess he's not into girls yet, which is good, but no worries, Marco.  I will be looking you up in sixteen years.

I am so fortunate to have an amazing program.  There are 83 other Americans in API Pablo de Olavide.  It's so funny how at the end of the night, we all end up at the same place.  I have met people from all over the country -- California, Idaho, Maine, New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Virginia, Tennessee, South Carolina, Rhode Island, and a slew of other states that I'm sure I missed.  I am certain that I've made lifelong friends.  It's going to be hard to leave many of them in two months...

I am already having anxiety about leaving this beautiful country and its equally beautiful people.  Not to get too sidetracked, but people say Andalusians are the prettiest people in Spain.  This statement has my stamp of approval.  Walking on the street, riding the bus or the metro, or just sitting at a cafe are all made more enjoyable by the sheer number of attractive men that I see on a daily basis.  This is shallow; I know, but it's true!  The next logical step would be to get these men to talk to me versus the creepy ones who usually approach me.  I think this is a lost cause however, so instead, I will continue to simply admire their attractiveness from afar.  Going back to not wanting to leave, I don't want to leave all the amazing friends I've made here.  It will be a sad day when we all have to part ways, but I'm trying to think about it as little as possible.

On a lighter note, tomorrow is the kickoff to the Spring Festival.  I'm not exactly sure what this entails, but I guess I will find out.  I am also going with my friend Vicky to get my hair cut tomorrow.  It will be yet another test of my ability to communicate effectively with Spaniards.  I hope it turns out well! 

Welcome Spring!  We have all missed you greatly.  Enjoy the beautiful weather and all the blooming flowers. Un besito!

From Kentucky Bluegrass to Urban Streets Lined with Orange Trees

I'm about half-way through my semester abroad in Seville, Spain, and I'm just now starting a blog...typical.  I'm jumping on the bandwagon, and really have no idea what I'm doing, so bear with me.  This first entry will probably be long because I feel like I have to made up for my lack of blogging thus far.

Spain is absolutely beautiful.  Thus far, I've visited Barcelona and seen much of Andalucia.  However, anytime I leave Seville, I have a strong urge to go "home" to Seville.

It's odd to think that "home" is currently an apartment in the La Macarena part of Seville.  It's a neighborhood of windy streets, where middle-class families live.  When the weather is nice, people congregate outside  Plaza de San Marcos at the bars, while the children play soccer.  Although there are many tourists and American students studying abroad in Seville, you won't hear English spoken in La Macarena.  It's probably the most "Spanish" part of Seville.  Seville itself is the largest city in the Andalusian region of Spain.  It's more laid-back than Madrid and Barcelona, and the people are generally friendlier too.  However, the Andalusian accent is a thick one.  Amongst other things that often makes their speech difficult to understand, they often drop their s's.  I ask people to repeat things frequently because understanding what they say through their thick accents can often be difficult.  I think I'm getting better at understanding their Spanish through the rapid-fire speech and thick accents.  Hopefully, my competency with the language continues to improve.

My morning routine consists of waking up at 8 A.M. in order to make it to my 10:30 classes Monday through Friday.  From La Macarena, we have to take a bus to the metro, then take the metro to la Universidad Pablo de Olavide.  Despite the hour-long commute to and from school, I wouldn't trade living in La Macarena for anything.  I have an amazing host family that consists of my host mom, Mercedes and her 22-year old daughter Ana Laura.  Mercedes works as a cook, and has made us some of the most delicious food I've had in Spain.  Ana Laura is preparing for her exams this Summer to be a teacher.  She is one of the most studious people I have met.  I have three American roommates.  We're all in the same program (API), and we're lucky to have each other.

La Universidad Pablo de Olavide is one of three universities here.  La Universidad de Sevilla is the biggest university here.  The main campus where international students have their classes used to be an old tobacco factory, and was the inspiration for the opera Carmen.  It's a beautiful, historic school.  Pablo de Olavide on the other hand is a newer school whose architecture is less-than-stellar.  The third university, Menendez Pelayo, is basically a university just for international students.  Even though Pablo's architectural beauty may be lacking, I'm enjoying my classes for the most part and learning quite a bit too.

Some things I have found different/unique about Spain:
1.  They wear boots, winter coats, and scarves even when it's 73 degrees outside.  Fact: While waiting at the bus stop yesterday to go to Plaza de Espana, I was given weird stares for wearing a one-shoulder dress with leggings and flats because they were still all wearing their full-on Winter attire.
2. You can buy beer and wine at school.  Cruzcampo (owned by Heineken) is on tap.  Glasses of wine and tinto de verano (part red wine, part Kas) are also for sale before, after, or in between classes.
3. Everyone is dressed up all the time.  The only time you see people in sweats is when they are exercising.
4. It is not common to "eat/drink on the go."  I, however, cannot give this up.  When I am running late to school and eating a muffin on my way to the bus stop, I get odd stares.  Likewise, when I eat half of my bocadillo (sandwich on French bread) after International Finance, while walking to International Marketing, I also get weird stares from Spaniards.  Buying coffee "para llevar" (to go) is also an oddity.  Starbucks and some cafeterias will sell "to-go cups," but it's hard to come across for the most part.  Also, coffee here consists of espresso and milk, so just two small cups will make you jittery.
5. Tipping is neither expected nor required.
6. If you're a girl, get used to catcalls on a daily basis.  Sometimes they can be degrading, which no one appreciates, but I've learned to just ignore it.
7. Siestas are a nice excuse to take a nap when needed.  I don't generally take siestas here, which is probably surprising to many of you.  Instead, I would rather walk around the city and enjoy the sights.  There is so much to see and people watching here is especially good.
8.  There is A LOT of PDA.  By a lot, I mean people will be full-on making out against a wall.  This is the norm here, but it hasn't ceased to make me uncomfortable as I am walking down a street minding my own business.  The best was when we were sitting at el Torre del Oro and a couple was on top of each other making out.  A police car came down the road, stopped, and asked them to stop.  This was in broad daylight in a prime tourist spot.
9. Since they hang-dry their clothes, if it is raining for a week on end, your laundry will not get done.  Also, because of the hang-drying situation, get used to having saggy butt jeans.  I never realized the greatness of a dryer until my jeans didn't fit properly.
10. Milk and eggs are not refrigerated until opened.

Sorry for the long, first post.  I'm going to make a concerted effort to write shorter, more consistent blogs.  Hasta pronto!  Un beso.