Just finished my last final exam. Things have been crazy busy the past few weeks...
Cine: 8 page paper
Anthro: 11 page paper, photo presentation
Lit of the Margins: 10 page paper, presentation of a poem
Women Writers: 11 page paper
That's 40 pages. Plus exams in all four classes.
And now it's DONE!!
In about two hours we have la despedida which is basically a goodbye party. Then I head back to my house, eat some dinner, say goodbye to my Sra. and off I go to the bus station.
7 hour bus ride from Sevilla to Madrid
Metro from bus station to airport
2.5 hour flight from Madrid to London
3 hour lay over in London
11 hour flight home
Over 24 hours of traveling.... but it will be so worth it.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Sunday, December 7, 2008
It's really December?
I'm in shock that it's actually December - where did the semester go?! I'll be heading home in a week and a half, on December 19th. I'm looking forward to it; I've had enough of Spain for now.
The weekend of November 21-23 I went with my interest group to Barcelona. We had a really great time. We visited Park Guell, la Sagrada Familia, some of Gaudi's houses, the wharf, las Ramblas, and much more! What a fun city. It was very interesting to me to hear and read Catalan everywhere we went. When speaking with the people from Sevilla, they argue that Catalan is just a dialect, but I would take the side of the Catalonians, that it is indeed a separate language. I'd love to study it some day...
For Thanksgiving weekend I fly up to London (with eight other CIEE students) to visit Trisha. Despite the rain we all enjoyed the trip. We saw Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, Parliament, St. Paul's, Platform 9 3/4, the Globe Theatre, Millennium Bridge, Piccadilly Circus, Oxford Circus, Tower Bridge, the British Museum, and more. Quite an all-inclusive trip! I had a chance to see two of my cousins as well, Heidi and Carly. We decided to celebrate Thanksgiving on Saturday night, and we made a feast! I'm actually pretty proud of all of us - who knew thirty people under the age of twenty-two could throw together such a meal?! Everyone made a dish, and there was even a turkey!
December 4-8 is called Puente here in Spain, which is basically a long weekend. I've been taking advantage of it and started my final papers. So far I've finished a 10-pager, a 2-page reaction paper, and I am half way through another 10-pager. We've got loads of work in the next week and a half, so I am trying to get as much done each day as possible.
Back to my final papers. Can't wait to see all of you Californians soon! :)
The weekend of November 21-23 I went with my interest group to Barcelona. We had a really great time. We visited Park Guell, la Sagrada Familia, some of Gaudi's houses, the wharf, las Ramblas, and much more! What a fun city. It was very interesting to me to hear and read Catalan everywhere we went. When speaking with the people from Sevilla, they argue that Catalan is just a dialect, but I would take the side of the Catalonians, that it is indeed a separate language. I'd love to study it some day...
For Thanksgiving weekend I fly up to London (with eight other CIEE students) to visit Trisha. Despite the rain we all enjoyed the trip. We saw Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, Parliament, St. Paul's, Platform 9 3/4, the Globe Theatre, Millennium Bridge, Piccadilly Circus, Oxford Circus, Tower Bridge, the British Museum, and more. Quite an all-inclusive trip! I had a chance to see two of my cousins as well, Heidi and Carly. We decided to celebrate Thanksgiving on Saturday night, and we made a feast! I'm actually pretty proud of all of us - who knew thirty people under the age of twenty-two could throw together such a meal?! Everyone made a dish, and there was even a turkey!
December 4-8 is called Puente here in Spain, which is basically a long weekend. I've been taking advantage of it and started my final papers. So far I've finished a 10-pager, a 2-page reaction paper, and I am half way through another 10-pager. We've got loads of work in the next week and a half, so I am trying to get as much done each day as possible.
Back to my final papers. Can't wait to see all of you Californians soon! :)
Friday, November 14, 2008
Halloween, Obama, Cordoba, etc.
I suppose I owe you all an update... I'm getting behind on this blog thing!! Not too much has happened here in the past few weeks, but here are a few things of interest.
Halloween was great! I'd say about a third of Spaniards were dressed up, and of course, almost all the Americans. Being my creative costume self, I threw together a costume for less than 10 euro and called it: Super España!! I was pretty popular with the Spaniards when we went out; everyone saying, "Viva España!!" and things like that. Quite a fun night. There were a ton of little kids running around my building in costumes. Interesting cultural note: while in America we dress up in all sorts of costumes, in Spain they only dress up as scary things.
Elections: YAY OBAMA!!!!! I am so happy about the election news. I'd say the majority of students here voted absentee, which was good to hear. It's always uplifting to hear that youth are using their voices. While it was interesting to see how Spain reacted, I kind of wish I had been in the US to experience such a wonderfully historical moment. My favorite headline was, "Ya no es un sueño" (It is no longer a dream). Seeing the image of Jesse Jackson crying really touched my heart. I am trying to find a way to go to the Inauguration, but we will see.
This past weekend we went to Cordoba. It was amazing. We went to La Mezquita, and I am still in awe that I finally had a chance to see it. (There are pictures posted if you have no idea what I am talking about.) After hearing about it for so long and seeing photos in textbooks, it seemed unreal to be there. Grace and I spent the night in a hostel and went to the Alcázar the next day. It was beautiful, with gardens and fantasic architecture. If you're ever in Andalucía, Cordoba is definitely worth a visit.
I am writing an article (a "fiction" piece) for the student magazine that is published every semester called, "más+menos". I've never really had to write fiction, so it has been an interesting process. I met yesterday with my intercambio to have him translate the text. It will be out in December, so I'll try to bring a copy home with me.
One thing that I really miss from home is diverse foods. We attempted to find a good Mexican food place, and that semi-failed. The "best" restaurant in Sevilla for Mexican food is nothing like good ol' Mexican food from San Francisco. However, we did find a Chinese restaurant that is pretty good, so that will have to hold me over until December.
Halloween was great! I'd say about a third of Spaniards were dressed up, and of course, almost all the Americans. Being my creative costume self, I threw together a costume for less than 10 euro and called it: Super España!! I was pretty popular with the Spaniards when we went out; everyone saying, "Viva España!!" and things like that. Quite a fun night. There were a ton of little kids running around my building in costumes. Interesting cultural note: while in America we dress up in all sorts of costumes, in Spain they only dress up as scary things.Elections: YAY OBAMA!!!!! I am so happy about the election news. I'd say the majority of students here voted absentee, which was good to hear. It's always uplifting to hear that youth are using their voices. While it was interesting to see how Spain reacted, I kind of wish I had been in the US to experience such a wonderfully historical moment. My favorite headline was, "Ya no es un sueño" (It is no longer a dream). Seeing the image of Jesse Jackson crying really touched my heart. I am trying to find a way to go to the Inauguration, but we will see.
This past weekend we went to Cordoba. It was amazing. We went to La Mezquita, and I am still in awe that I finally had a chance to see it. (There are pictures posted if you have no idea what I am talking about.) After hearing about it for so long and seeing photos in textbooks, it seemed unreal to be there. Grace and I spent the night in a hostel and went to the Alcázar the next day. It was beautiful, with gardens and fantasic architecture. If you're ever in Andalucía, Cordoba is definitely worth a visit.
I am writing an article (a "fiction" piece) for the student magazine that is published every semester called, "más+menos". I've never really had to write fiction, so it has been an interesting process. I met yesterday with my intercambio to have him translate the text. It will be out in December, so I'll try to bring a copy home with me.
One thing that I really miss from home is diverse foods. We attempted to find a good Mexican food place, and that semi-failed. The "best" restaurant in Sevilla for Mexican food is nothing like good ol' Mexican food from San Francisco. However, we did find a Chinese restaurant that is pretty good, so that will have to hold me over until December.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
¡Olé!
Yesterday we had a meeting for my interest group (Spain and her Regions). The topic for our meeting was dance and music. We watched videos of traditional dances from a number of regions in Spain. Afterwards two girls demonstrated the sevillanas for us. Our group leader suggested that the full-year students learn the sevillanas because that way the Feria will be more fun for us. Before I knew it we were all on our feet trying it out!! With about twenty people squeezed into a classroom the dance seemed a bit hard to follow. I’m sure that it will not be as hard in an actual lesson. The two dancers explained the basics: the dance includes four pasos, or parts. It is counted in five-counts. The steps are easy, but putting that together with the correct arm movements proved to be a challenge. I think I am going to take a class as my group leader suggested.
I just added pictures from Granada and Ronda. Hope you enjoy them!!
I just added pictures from Granada and Ronda. Hope you enjoy them!!
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Don't Forget to Look Up!
Friday I went with three of my friends to Ronda, one of Andalucia’s many White Hill towns. It is absolutely beautiful; we visited the palace, Arab Baths, and saw the old bridges that span the gorge. This weekend we went to Granada. It was completely different than any other big city I have ever seen. While walking in the streets of downtown, you can look up and see huge mountains nearby. The Alhambra was amazing. It always is so striking to see something that you have heard about or studied about for so long. Although we had a great time, I feel that the two day trip did not do the city any justice; I need to go back to see it again!
In my Women Writers of the 20th Century class we are reading "Nada" by Carmen Laforet. It's great to be reading Spanish literature again after the summer.
A thought:
I often have to remind myself to look up; I am usually concerned with tripping over the cobblestone roads that I forget to look at the buildings. I usually walk the same way to and from the Palacio every day, and yet there is always something new to notice.
In my Women Writers of the 20th Century class we are reading "Nada" by Carmen Laforet. It's great to be reading Spanish literature again after the summer.
A thought:
I often have to remind myself to look up; I am usually concerned with tripping over the cobblestone roads that I forget to look at the buildings. I usually walk the same way to and from the Palacio every day, and yet there is always something new to notice.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Madrid, classes, upcoming trips
This weekend I went to Madrid with Erik, Diana, Vanessa, Mitch, and Morgan. We had a great time! Since the majority of the group had never been to Madrid, I played tour guide. We walked to the Palace, Gran Via, Puerta del Sol, Parque de Retiro, the Archeology Musuem, and more! On Sunday the boys went to a bullfight, and the girls decided to go to the Prado. Unfortunately we never made it; on our way there we ran into the parade for Dia de la Hispanidad. What a sight! I felt right at home amongst people from all over the world, celebrating la hispanidad. There must have been tens of thousands (if not more) people there. While in Madrid we even had a chance to get Mexican food, one of the things I miss most from home. It was pretty good, but nothing can compare to the good ol' food from the Bay Area.
Classes are going well. I just talked with a professor today about my final project for my Intercultural Communication class. I think I am going to look at publicity in regards to violence against women. In my Women Writers of the 20th Century class I think I will look more at violence through a literary standpoint.
This weekend we are going on a CIEE trip to Granada. I'm excited for it! It's also Erik's birthday this weekend, so it will be nice to celebrate together while on a trip. We might see if we can make it to Ronda on Friday. I'm trying to see as much of Spain as I can while here.
I have just uploaded more pictures, for your viewing pleasure, of course. :)
Classes are going well. I just talked with a professor today about my final project for my Intercultural Communication class. I think I am going to look at publicity in regards to violence against women. In my Women Writers of the 20th Century class I think I will look more at violence through a literary standpoint.
This weekend we are going on a CIEE trip to Granada. I'm excited for it! It's also Erik's birthday this weekend, so it will be nice to celebrate together while on a trip. We might see if we can make it to Ronda on Friday. I'm trying to see as much of Spain as I can while here.
I have just uploaded more pictures, for your viewing pleasure, of course. :)
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Weekend trips, classes, and more...
Last week my friend Marta moved to Sevilla. She was a TA at Mount Holyoke last year, and by chance we found out that we would both be in Sevilla this year. She contacted me and said she was moving to Los Remedios, which is where I live. Turns out she lives about a three minute walk from my house! This past weekend I went with Marta to visit her hometown, Rute, which is south of Cordoba. We had tons of fun! I met her friends and was able to practice my Spanish a bit.
Classes have really picked up now, which I always like. My favorite class is Women Writers of the 20th Century. There are two parts to the class: sociology and literature. Right now we are still in the midst of the sociology part. I am learning so much about the current situation of women in the world. It's heartbreaking to hear about all the legal atrocities going on in today's world, but it is important that we know what is going on. We have been talking about the Law of the Sharia, which permits the lapidation of women. Unfortunately the Law of the Sharia still exists in Nigeria, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, and Iran. In this class we also discuss la violencia contra la mujer, violence against women. On the website of El País there is a whole section on violence against women. I read an article the other day that reported that in Catalonia alone there are more than 100 calls every day reporting incidents of domestic violence. Last semester at Mount Holyoke my Spanish class was on Gendered Violence: Rape, Assault, and Murder in Medieval to Contemporary Spain. It seems that I will be continuing to study this while I am here.
Thursday night a group of us are headed to Madrid for the long weekend. Be on the lookput for photo updates and more!
Classes have really picked up now, which I always like. My favorite class is Women Writers of the 20th Century. There are two parts to the class: sociology and literature. Right now we are still in the midst of the sociology part. I am learning so much about the current situation of women in the world. It's heartbreaking to hear about all the legal atrocities going on in today's world, but it is important that we know what is going on. We have been talking about the Law of the Sharia, which permits the lapidation of women. Unfortunately the Law of the Sharia still exists in Nigeria, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, and Iran. In this class we also discuss la violencia contra la mujer, violence against women. On the website of El País there is a whole section on violence against women. I read an article the other day that reported that in Catalonia alone there are more than 100 calls every day reporting incidents of domestic violence. Last semester at Mount Holyoke my Spanish class was on Gendered Violence: Rape, Assault, and Murder in Medieval to Contemporary Spain. It seems that I will be continuing to study this while I am here.
Thursday night a group of us are headed to Madrid for the long weekend. Be on the lookput for photo updates and more!
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Week 3: Completed!!
Thursday we went to the Museo del Baile Flamenco for my class. It was great! I learned a lot about the origins of flamenco and how it relates to Spanish history. Since we were visiting as a class trip, the director came to talk to us.
On Tuesday we went to the Fundación Tres Culturas, which is housed in the Pabellón de Marruecos, built for 1992 Expo by Morocco and then gifted to Spain by the king. While there we had a chance to see an exhibition, 8 Mujeres, 8 Países. It really made an impression on me. The women were from Peru, Italy, Cameroon, Egypt, Indonesia, South Korea, Spain and the United States. Each woman’s work displayed her portrayal of women in her country. They dealt with identity, liberation, oppression, religion, and more. I am hoping to return to the Fundación to visit the exhibit again and for other future events.
I am very excited for classes to start on Monday. My classes are as follows:
Anthropology: Intercultural Communication
Sociology: Social Justice and Community Service Practicum
Literature: Women Writers of the 20th Century
Literature: The Novel and Cinema – Two Ways of Telling a Story
**UPDATED:
I have decided to make a few changes to my schedule. Instead of the Novela y Cine class, I will be taking Contemporary Cinema. I have also decided to switch my Social Justice class for Spanish and Latin American Literature of the Margins. I will be taking the Social Justice class during the Spring semester instead.
Also, I just booked my flight for London for Thanksgiving. We're staying with my friend Trisha, and by 'we' I mean me and about six friends. :)
On Tuesday we went to the Fundación Tres Culturas, which is housed in the Pabellón de Marruecos, built for 1992 Expo by Morocco and then gifted to Spain by the king. While there we had a chance to see an exhibition, 8 Mujeres, 8 Países. It really made an impression on me. The women were from Peru, Italy, Cameroon, Egypt, Indonesia, South Korea, Spain and the United States. Each woman’s work displayed her portrayal of women in her country. They dealt with identity, liberation, oppression, religion, and more. I am hoping to return to the Fundación to visit the exhibit again and for other future events.
I am very excited for classes to start on Monday. My classes are as follows:
Anthropology: Intercultural Communication
Sociology: Social Justice and Community Service Practicum
Literature: Women Writers of the 20th Century
Literature: The Novel and Cinema – Two Ways of Telling a Story
**UPDATED:
I have decided to make a few changes to my schedule. Instead of the Novela y Cine class, I will be taking Contemporary Cinema. I have also decided to switch my Social Justice class for Spanish and Latin American Literature of the Margins. I will be taking the Social Justice class during the Spring semester instead.
Also, I just booked my flight for London for Thanksgiving. We're staying with my friend Trisha, and by 'we' I mean me and about six friends. :)
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Updates from Andalucía
Around 4pm today I decided to out walking and explore Parque de Maria Luisa a bit more. Being there makes you forget that you're in Sevilla; it's so peaceful and tranquil. Your hear the sounds of the birds chirping, water flowing, and the laughter of children. Every now and then a horse drawn carriage wheels by. It is there that you forget anything bothering you, errands you have to run, or that you have no way of communicating with any of your friends since you ran out of saldo on your phone... A slight breeze lifts the fallen leafs off the ground and drops them gently down again. The ceramic work is astounding. Tile adorns everything: benches, pillars, handrails, paths...
Yesterday we went to Cádiz in the south of Spain. It was great! We spent about two hours on a tour of the city and then went to the beach for the afternoon. Of course, I got super sunburned, but hey, what's new?!
Thursday nights at Club Buddha are intercambio nights. CIEE was sponsoring the night, and it was a blast! There are many Americans hoping to meet Spaniards in order to practice speaking Spanish, and Spaniards hoping to meet Americans to practice their English. We ended up doing just that. My friends and I met a group of Spanish friends. One of them, who is my intercambio is really great; he corrects my Spanish when I make mistakes so that I can learn. We ended up spending the whole night with them, so I got a lot of practice. We exchanged phone numbers and will try to meet on a regular basis for bilingual conversations. This is going to be such a great opportunity for me! My señora told me this morning that she could tell that I am now speaking with more ease. Hurray!!
Other news:
I booked a trip to Morocco (or as they say in Spanish, Marruecos) for five days in December. I'm quite excited for it! The trip includes climbing sand dunes, a camel ride, a visit to the oldest leather tannery in the world, monkey seeing, and sleeping in an oasis in the middle of the desert!
I have finished week one of the intensive session, so now we have five more days of that and then the regular session begins. The professor is growing on me; at first I really did not like her. It's a bit odd for me to be studying grammar again, especially after not having done so since senior year of high school. It is frustrating sometimes as well, because I know how to use to concepts when I speak or write, but I do not always know the technical terms for what I am doing. (I still get confused between which is a direct object pronoun and which is an indirect orbject pronoun, but I do know how to use them!!)
This past week for class we went to El Museo de Bellas Artes. It was beautiful. I had been there before, so it was very familiar. After having lived here for two weeks already, I had a bit of a different appreciation for some of the works.
***
Also, there is now a link on the right-hand side to my Flickr account, so you can see more photos than the couple that are on here. Hopefully I will be able to update that on a regular basis.
Yesterday we went to Cádiz in the south of Spain. It was great! We spent about two hours on a tour of the city and then went to the beach for the afternoon. Of course, I got super sunburned, but hey, what's new?!
Thursday nights at Club Buddha are intercambio nights. CIEE was sponsoring the night, and it was a blast! There are many Americans hoping to meet Spaniards in order to practice speaking Spanish, and Spaniards hoping to meet Americans to practice their English. We ended up doing just that. My friends and I met a group of Spanish friends. One of them, who is my intercambio is really great; he corrects my Spanish when I make mistakes so that I can learn. We ended up spending the whole night with them, so I got a lot of practice. We exchanged phone numbers and will try to meet on a regular basis for bilingual conversations. This is going to be such a great opportunity for me! My señora told me this morning that she could tell that I am now speaking with more ease. Hurray!!
Other news:
I booked a trip to Morocco (or as they say in Spanish, Marruecos) for five days in December. I'm quite excited for it! The trip includes climbing sand dunes, a camel ride, a visit to the oldest leather tannery in the world, monkey seeing, and sleeping in an oasis in the middle of the desert!
I have finished week one of the intensive session, so now we have five more days of that and then the regular session begins. The professor is growing on me; at first I really did not like her. It's a bit odd for me to be studying grammar again, especially after not having done so since senior year of high school. It is frustrating sometimes as well, because I know how to use to concepts when I speak or write, but I do not always know the technical terms for what I am doing. (I still get confused between which is a direct object pronoun and which is an indirect orbject pronoun, but I do know how to use them!!)
This past week for class we went to El Museo de Bellas Artes. It was beautiful. I had been there before, so it was very familiar. After having lived here for two weeks already, I had a bit of a different appreciation for some of the works.
***
Also, there is now a link on the right-hand side to my Flickr account, so you can see more photos than the couple that are on here. Hopefully I will be able to update that on a regular basis.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Getting to know you....
(Sunday September 14, 2008)
Today we went to Itálica, which is the first city in Spain that the Romans settled. They built palaces and an extensive city that included a huge amphitheater, all around 206 BC. It was quite impressive. Our tour guide reminded us that we needed to use a bit of imagination in order to fully appreciate what we were seeing. She was right; with the help of photos and bits of the city still intact, we were able to imagine what life might have been like over 2,000 years ago. One of the most intact parts of a building is the bread shop. There are remains of the oven where they would have baked bread, and part of the window they would have sold it from. Itálica also has a number of mosaic floors still in good shape. Experts have named some of the rooms in what were houses after the designs on the floor, for example the parrot room because the mosaic floors have colored parrots in them. I am glad we were able to visit such a historic sight.
Yesterday we walked to the Parque de Maria Luisa and to the Plaza de España. Both were absolutely amazing. The park was so tranquil and a contrast to the rest of Sevilla, It was hard to believe that just a few minutes’ walk away there were people roaming the streets, buses, and cars. I am hoping to spend some time there in the future to escape from the bustling city noise. The plaza was quite a sight. I had been to it before, and each time it was just as amazing. Ceramic tile adorns the handrails, steps, benches, and walls. From the upper level we were able to get a beautiful view of the entire plaza, perfect for taking photos.
Today we went to Itálica, which is the first city in Spain that the Romans settled. They built palaces and an extensive city that included a huge amphitheater, all around 206 BC. It was quite impressive. Our tour guide reminded us that we needed to use a bit of imagination in order to fully appreciate what we were seeing. She was right; with the help of photos and bits of the city still intact, we were able to imagine what life might have been like over 2,000 years ago. One of the most intact parts of a building is the bread shop. There are remains of the oven where they would have baked bread, and part of the window they would have sold it from. Itálica also has a number of mosaic floors still in good shape. Experts have named some of the rooms in what were houses after the designs on the floor, for example the parrot room because the mosaic floors have colored parrots in them. I am glad we were able to visit such a historic sight.
Yesterday we walked to the Parque de Maria Luisa and to the Plaza de España. Both were absolutely amazing. The park was so tranquil and a contrast to the rest of Sevilla, It was hard to believe that just a few minutes’ walk away there were people roaming the streets, buses, and cars. I am hoping to spend some time there in the future to escape from the bustling city noise. The plaza was quite a sight. I had been to it before, and each time it was just as amazing. Ceramic tile adorns the handrails, steps, benches, and walls. From the upper level we were able to get a beautiful view of the entire plaza, perfect for taking photos.
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Sevilla!
Hola a todos!
I do not yet have internet access from my laptop, so it is a bit difficult for me to stay in touch with many of you. Hopefully this week I will be able to get online more often so that I can keep you all updated.
So far everything has been great; I love my señora, barrio, the friends I have made, the food... everything!
Hope to talk to you all soon!!
:)
My cell number:
+034 600-36-98-10
***
UPDATED:
September 11, 2008
After a delayed arrival, Grace and I made it to Sevilla around 11pm on Monday night. After a short walk around Sevilla, we turned in for the night, exhausted from the six hour bus ride. The next morning orientation began. We were divided into groups of about ten students, and then we walked to the Universidad de Sevilla. (The enrollment is 67,000!!) There we received our home stay information and heard from some of the program coordinators. I ended up with a señora in a neighborhood called los remedios, which is one of the nicest neighborhoods in Sevilla. We were all so excited to meet our families the next day. We then headed out for lunch – tapas. It confirmed my thoughts on Spanish food: absolutely amazing. There was jamón ibérica, octopus, eggplant with honey, potatoes, and much, much more. We ordered ten tapas between five of us. Usually when the Spaniards go out for tapas they all order a bunch of different things that they share equally, and then split the bill. Coffee soon followed and we were off again. At 6pm we had our interviews at the CIEE building, el Palacio. El Palacio is a beautiful old building, with a courtyard in the middle. There are a few classrooms and computer lab on the bottom floor, classrooms on the middle floor, and offices on the top floor, which is actually a rooftop. I feel so privileged to be attending classes in such a great place. After dinner we went to a flamenco show. Surprisingly it was at the exact same place I had been four years ago. It was stupendous! One difference was that this time I could understand some of the songs. Flamenco amazes me because it is such a sexual dance of passion and love (or heartache) and yet the two dancers never actually touch. We were all captivated by the performance. The night was still young at midnight and so a group of us headed across the river to Calle Betis to check out the scene. It seems like a great place to hang out; I’m sure we will be back sometime soon.
The next morning (Wednesday), we split back into our groups and went on a tour of Sevilla. It was semi-self guided; we were instructed to go to a certain location and find one of the CIEE guías, who then directed us to the next location. It was a great activity and a fun way to learn the city. We headed back to the hotel for the moment we had all been waiting for: meeting our families. As we stood anxiously in the sitting area, a huge crowd of excited hosts waited for us in the lobby. Finally they began to call the members of my group. The rest of us watched as one by one we greeted our señoras with a traditional two kisses on the cheeks. (To the left, then the right – a great warning so as to not find ourselves in an awkward situation.) My name was finally called and I went up to meet my host. Isabel, or Beli as she told me to call her, is absolutely fantastic. She is a seasoned host, which is nice. She is also a great cook, which is also good because I really like Spanish cuisine. We took a taxi to her flat in los remedios. As we were driving she pointed out where her daughter lives and told me about the rest of her family. She has three children and grandchildren as well. We arrived at the house; it is directly across the street from where the Ferie de abril takes place. I think I might see if I can live here the entire year, as it would be a prime location for viewing the Ferie, which is one of Sevilla’s most famous events. For lunch we ate gazpacho y paella, both homemade. I am going to be well fed this year. We went out again with our groups for tapas for dinner, and then we went to one of the biggest (and most expensive) discotecas in Sevilla.
Today was a pretty relaxed day. I walked to el Palacio from my house for the first time today; it took about 45 minutes. I wish it was a shorter distance, but at the same time I am so grateful to be living in los remedios. After lunch I was able to take advantage of la siesta. Siesta lasts about three hours and is a time to sit down and relax, or even take a nap, which is exactly what I ended up doing. It was great, and I can tell that my body needed it. I think I will use this time for my own benefit so as to not get too run down. Around 11pm a group of us met up to go to Calle Betis again. We found a little whole in the wall bar and ended up staying there until about 3am. It’s cheap and they play good music, so I think it will be our new spot. During orientation one of the presenters told us to take our time in Sevilla and make it our own – find a bar, meet los sevillanos, try something new…
I am so glad that I am participating in a CIEE program because everything is already paid for: meals, day trips, overnights, orientation events (such as the discoteca o flamenco) and more. It’s really great, and I can see how this will be a great year. Saturday is the day in which we will complete all our course information, and Sunday we are taking a day trip to Itálica to see the Roman Ruins. Before our actual classes begin we have a two week intensive language session. I am looking forward to starting my classes. They all seem like they will be very interesting and in my area of academic pursuit.
I do not yet have internet access from my laptop, so it is a bit difficult for me to stay in touch with many of you. Hopefully this week I will be able to get online more often so that I can keep you all updated.
So far everything has been great; I love my señora, barrio, the friends I have made, the food... everything!
Hope to talk to you all soon!!
:)
My cell number:
+034 600-36-98-10
***
UPDATED:
September 11, 2008
After a delayed arrival, Grace and I made it to Sevilla around 11pm on Monday night. After a short walk around Sevilla, we turned in for the night, exhausted from the six hour bus ride. The next morning orientation began. We were divided into groups of about ten students, and then we walked to the Universidad de Sevilla. (The enrollment is 67,000!!) There we received our home stay information and heard from some of the program coordinators. I ended up with a señora in a neighborhood called los remedios, which is one of the nicest neighborhoods in Sevilla. We were all so excited to meet our families the next day. We then headed out for lunch – tapas. It confirmed my thoughts on Spanish food: absolutely amazing. There was jamón ibérica, octopus, eggplant with honey, potatoes, and much, much more. We ordered ten tapas between five of us. Usually when the Spaniards go out for tapas they all order a bunch of different things that they share equally, and then split the bill. Coffee soon followed and we were off again. At 6pm we had our interviews at the CIEE building, el Palacio. El Palacio is a beautiful old building, with a courtyard in the middle. There are a few classrooms and computer lab on the bottom floor, classrooms on the middle floor, and offices on the top floor, which is actually a rooftop. I feel so privileged to be attending classes in such a great place. After dinner we went to a flamenco show. Surprisingly it was at the exact same place I had been four years ago. It was stupendous! One difference was that this time I could understand some of the songs. Flamenco amazes me because it is such a sexual dance of passion and love (or heartache) and yet the two dancers never actually touch. We were all captivated by the performance. The night was still young at midnight and so a group of us headed across the river to Calle Betis to check out the scene. It seems like a great place to hang out; I’m sure we will be back sometime soon.
The next morning (Wednesday), we split back into our groups and went on a tour of Sevilla. It was semi-self guided; we were instructed to go to a certain location and find one of the CIEE guías, who then directed us to the next location. It was a great activity and a fun way to learn the city. We headed back to the hotel for the moment we had all been waiting for: meeting our families. As we stood anxiously in the sitting area, a huge crowd of excited hosts waited for us in the lobby. Finally they began to call the members of my group. The rest of us watched as one by one we greeted our señoras with a traditional two kisses on the cheeks. (To the left, then the right – a great warning so as to not find ourselves in an awkward situation.) My name was finally called and I went up to meet my host. Isabel, or Beli as she told me to call her, is absolutely fantastic. She is a seasoned host, which is nice. She is also a great cook, which is also good because I really like Spanish cuisine. We took a taxi to her flat in los remedios. As we were driving she pointed out where her daughter lives and told me about the rest of her family. She has three children and grandchildren as well. We arrived at the house; it is directly across the street from where the Ferie de abril takes place. I think I might see if I can live here the entire year, as it would be a prime location for viewing the Ferie, which is one of Sevilla’s most famous events. For lunch we ate gazpacho y paella, both homemade. I am going to be well fed this year. We went out again with our groups for tapas for dinner, and then we went to one of the biggest (and most expensive) discotecas in Sevilla.
Today was a pretty relaxed day. I walked to el Palacio from my house for the first time today; it took about 45 minutes. I wish it was a shorter distance, but at the same time I am so grateful to be living in los remedios. After lunch I was able to take advantage of la siesta. Siesta lasts about three hours and is a time to sit down and relax, or even take a nap, which is exactly what I ended up doing. It was great, and I can tell that my body needed it. I think I will use this time for my own benefit so as to not get too run down. Around 11pm a group of us met up to go to Calle Betis again. We found a little whole in the wall bar and ended up staying there until about 3am. It’s cheap and they play good music, so I think it will be our new spot. During orientation one of the presenters told us to take our time in Sevilla and make it our own – find a bar, meet los sevillanos, try something new…
I am so glad that I am participating in a CIEE program because everything is already paid for: meals, day trips, overnights, orientation events (such as the discoteca o flamenco) and more. It’s really great, and I can see how this will be a great year. Saturday is the day in which we will complete all our course information, and Sunday we are taking a day trip to Itálica to see the Roman Ruins. Before our actual classes begin we have a two week intensive language session. I am looking forward to starting my classes. They all seem like they will be very interesting and in my area of academic pursuit.
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Madrid
We made it to Madrid yesterday around 6pm. After arriving at the airport, we took a taxi to our hostel, which is more like a hotel if you ask me... Good size, nice, clean, private bathroom, TV, window with a blacony and view of Madrid, breakfast (delivered to our room every morning!), free internet, etc. It´s great! Right on the Gran Via, too. The best 60 euros ever spent.
After checking in we headed out to explore the city. I was glad I had been to Madrid before; I remembered a lot of the city and where we were situated. Grace and I wandered the streets, making our way through tourists and Spaniards alike. We decided to get tapas at La Taurina, a great little restaurant right off the Puerta del Sol. Heads of the many bulls killed in the bullfights adorn the walls. There are also paintings on the tile of scenes from some of the most famous bullfights. Afterwards we headed towards Plaza Mayor, one of the city´s most famous spots. It was built in the early 17th Century. It was a great location for people watching. One thing Grace and I really appreciated was that the Spaniards take time to slow down; for example, if there is a street performance you are sure to find a crowd gathered to watch. In the US most people would find no need to stop, and would rather continue on with their tight schedule. We continued our exploration of the city and eventually returned to the hostel on the early side - almost midnight! (The Spaniards sure do stay out late...)
I woke up this morning to a knock on the door - our breakfast was being delivered! We hit the city again at about 9am and headed to El Prado, one of Spain´s most famous museums. It boasts a fine collection of art from across Europe. There we saw Goya, Valasquez, El Greco, Caravaggio, Reubens, Breugal, and many more. The museum was also having an exhibition on the Renaissance, which was quite a treat. After a couple of hours in the museum we were in need of some shopping. We were lucky that it was Sunday and found ourselves gravitating towards El Rastro, the biggest flea market in Europe! It was amazing and super crowded. We grabbed a bite to eat from a restaurant on a small plaza. Next we went to the Royal Palace. What an amazing sight! We couldn´t go inside because there were no more tours for the day, but the exterior shed some light on what must lie inside. We turned in for a bit of a siesta and then headed out again around 9pm. We got a bite to eat and then walked the streets ofMadrid, making sure to enjoy our last night here. We managed to find the Plaza de España, where there is a statue of Don Quixote and Sancho Panza. Around midnight we started to head back to our hostel once more.
Off to Sevilla by bus in the morning. It should be a six hour ride, putting us into Sevilla around 5pm. There we will stay in a hotel with our study abroad group for three days, and then we move into our homestays. I still haven´t a clue as to what to expect from all this, but I am confident this will be one of the best years of my life.
After checking in we headed out to explore the city. I was glad I had been to Madrid before; I remembered a lot of the city and where we were situated. Grace and I wandered the streets, making our way through tourists and Spaniards alike. We decided to get tapas at La Taurina, a great little restaurant right off the Puerta del Sol. Heads of the many bulls killed in the bullfights adorn the walls. There are also paintings on the tile of scenes from some of the most famous bullfights. Afterwards we headed towards Plaza Mayor, one of the city´s most famous spots. It was built in the early 17th Century. It was a great location for people watching. One thing Grace and I really appreciated was that the Spaniards take time to slow down; for example, if there is a street performance you are sure to find a crowd gathered to watch. In the US most people would find no need to stop, and would rather continue on with their tight schedule. We continued our exploration of the city and eventually returned to the hostel on the early side - almost midnight! (The Spaniards sure do stay out late...)
I woke up this morning to a knock on the door - our breakfast was being delivered! We hit the city again at about 9am and headed to El Prado, one of Spain´s most famous museums. It boasts a fine collection of art from across Europe. There we saw Goya, Valasquez, El Greco, Caravaggio, Reubens, Breugal, and many more. The museum was also having an exhibition on the Renaissance, which was quite a treat. After a couple of hours in the museum we were in need of some shopping. We were lucky that it was Sunday and found ourselves gravitating towards El Rastro, the biggest flea market in Europe! It was amazing and super crowded. We grabbed a bite to eat from a restaurant on a small plaza. Next we went to the Royal Palace. What an amazing sight! We couldn´t go inside because there were no more tours for the day, but the exterior shed some light on what must lie inside. We turned in for a bit of a siesta and then headed out again around 9pm. We got a bite to eat and then walked the streets ofMadrid, making sure to enjoy our last night here. We managed to find the Plaza de España, where there is a statue of Don Quixote and Sancho Panza. Around midnight we started to head back to our hostel once more.
Off to Sevilla by bus in the morning. It should be a six hour ride, putting us into Sevilla around 5pm. There we will stay in a hotel with our study abroad group for three days, and then we move into our homestays. I still haven´t a clue as to what to expect from all this, but I am confident this will be one of the best years of my life.
Saturday, September 6, 2008
In Transit...
I have made it to London and I am now waiting for Grace to arrive so that we can catch our flight to Madrid. The ten hour flight was fine; it actually went by quite quickly. The flight to Madrid is about 2.5 hours, I believe, which I'm sure will fly by.
My suitcase ended up weighing only 58lbs. Not bad, eh?
Updates to come soon from Espana!!
My suitcase ended up weighing only 58lbs. Not bad, eh?
Updates to come soon from Espana!!
Monday, September 1, 2008
PACKED!
Today my mom and I were supposed to do a trial pack, but it turned into the real thing. And.... we got all my stuff to fit in one suitcase!! It weighs only 51lbs. which is perfect. I am shocked. Meanwhile Grace is in Seattle trying to figure out how she can fit all her stuff into two suitcases....
I am almost ready for Friday. Just a few more little things and then I am off!
In case you wanted to know, I can receive cards/letters, but no packages. Please send all mail to:
Emmalie Moseley
CIEE Study Center in Seville
Calle Muñoz y Pabón, 9
41004 – Sevilla, SPAIN
:)
I am almost ready for Friday. Just a few more little things and then I am off!
In case you wanted to know, I can receive cards/letters, but no packages. Please send all mail to:
Emmalie Moseley
CIEE Study Center in Seville
Calle Muñoz y Pabón, 9
41004 – Sevilla, SPAIN
:)
Thursday, August 28, 2008
It's Official!
Grace had been waiting on her visa to arrive and now it's here!! :) We are going for sure! YIPEE!!!
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Nine days...
Only nine days until I leave!
The last two weeks before taking off (either to Mt. Holyoke, Italy, home) are always the worst. Part of me wants to stay, and part of me wishes I were already there. It's no different this time around!
I still have to pack and I am trying to see as many people as possible before leaving. Every minute that I am not doing something productive in anticipation for my trip feels like a minute wasted. And yet here I am, updating my blog. Go figure.
Things to do before September 5th:
-Make copies of all documents
-Update my new computer (transfer from old computer)
-Print out confirmation of hostel in Madrid
-Clean my room (it's a disaster...)
-Visit with family and friends
-Social Justice Mass at church (talk to musicians, write speech, set up)
-Oh yeah, and PACK.
The last two weeks before taking off (either to Mt. Holyoke, Italy, home) are always the worst. Part of me wants to stay, and part of me wishes I were already there. It's no different this time around!
I still have to pack and I am trying to see as many people as possible before leaving. Every minute that I am not doing something productive in anticipation for my trip feels like a minute wasted. And yet here I am, updating my blog. Go figure.
Things to do before September 5th:
-Make copies of all documents
-Update my new computer (transfer from old computer)
-Print out confirmation of hostel in Madrid
-Clean my room (it's a disaster...)
-Visit with family and friends
-Social Justice Mass at church (talk to musicians, write speech, set up)
-Oh yeah, and PACK.
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Countdown to Spain!
The countdown has officially begun!
I leave September 5th, arriving in London the next morning where I will meet up with Grace. Then we are off to Madrid for two days, and then on to Sevilla!
I still can't really believe that I am going to Spain for a year... It will definitely make for some memorable experiences. Hopefully my Spanish will drastically improve, but only time will tell.
***
After seeing that a few of my friends created blogs for the upcoming year abroad, I thought I'd do so as well. Check back for updates throughout the year!
I leave September 5th, arriving in London the next morning where I will meet up with Grace. Then we are off to Madrid for two days, and then on to Sevilla!
I still can't really believe that I am going to Spain for a year... It will definitely make for some memorable experiences. Hopefully my Spanish will drastically improve, but only time will tell.
***
After seeing that a few of my friends created blogs for the upcoming year abroad, I thought I'd do so as well. Check back for updates throughout the year!
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