Sevilla

Last weekend I went to Sevilla. Below is a video I took of flamenco - my first time seeing it. (Akel, I went to the place you told me about :) ) It was great! I hope the video isn't messed up. My experience lately is that the audio doesn't match up with the visual. We talked to a woman from Sevilla and she told us about another part of town with good flamenco and salsa and dancing, but we didn't make it. I may make another trip at some point and try to hit it up. There was an amusement park called Isla Magica that I want to spend a day at since Sevilla is only two hours away from Cadiz :)

This is just some random waffle looking structure in one of the plazas.

Fans are super popular in Spain, and I saw several stores in Sevilla. They were expensive - 15+ euro, but very beautiful. On the street some were being sold for 3-5 e. I think the quality is cheaper as well, but you know...

This is the Ayuntamiento building, its like City or Town Hall, a public services building. I think the Alcalde (mayor) works here. Spain is divided into regions. I live in Andalucia, with is the biggest region, and in the south. Sevilla is the 'capitol' of Andalucia, and so the governor is here. This may be the building, but I'm not sure if its separate.

This is a church. There was a wedding going on.

In Spain, all the women wear these big flowers or hats, or feathers/veil things on their head when they go to weddings. It might be kind of like what was seen at the prince's wedding on TV (but I didn't watch, so I don't know) - with a Spanish flair of course. The flamenco dancers a lot of times wear these clips that have flowers or designs that stick out, similar to some of the wedding things.

THE Cathedral of Sevilla. Cost me two euro to get in with a student discount - which turned into un leo (a problem) because I didn't have anything other that my drivers license, and my group wasn't enough proof. I didn't want to pay 8 e, so one of our members gave me his ticket and got back in line for another :)

We went up a tower in the Cathedral, and this was the view.

The bull fight ring view from the tower.

The smallest gas station I've ever seen... I think only for motorcycles and mopeds. There are mopeds everywhere. Typical Europe. I want one. I wish Seattle didn't rain so much.

This was the front of the University of Sevilla.

The Plaza Espana!! SOOO pretty

We saw a TON of weddings. I heard on the news... or maybe my host mom... that September is the month with the most divorces, but I've seen a LOT of marriages... hmm. Regardless, they are beautiful.

This was in a park across the Plaza Espana.

Spanish water fountains... sometimes it shoots water straight up. Its hard to drink out of... it was so hot though!! I wouldn't have cared if it got all over my face.

This is where we went for dinner. (Akel, I didn't make it to your recommended restaurant :( )

As we waited.... quite a while I might add. It was pretty popular, and very good.

We ordered a tapa each and all shared: Duck something, Ox something, Steak Sirloin, Salmorejo (like a cold tomato soup), honey BBQ ribs, and Salmon. First time I ever ate Salmon!! And I liked it!! (I've now had it twice because my host mom made it yesterday. I was not excited when I saw it, but when I tried it, again, I like it! Amazing! It doesn't have that same super fishy smell or taste I think it does back home.)

This was a bachelor party I saw in the Street. It says "I'm gettting married, toss me a euro for my escape" It was amusing.

On my walk home... I think it was the Cathedral...

People playing flamenco outside a restaurant.

In the Flamenco place, called La Carboneria

This sweet tennis court ( and basket ball court in the back) right along the water....

Incredible architecture everywhere! This is one example in the Real Alcazar.

hehe had to...

The Real Alcazar is beautiful! One of my favorites! I think its where officials and the King and whatnot used to meet.

The Cathedral outside during the day. When we were walking these ladies came up to us and offered us these little branches with leaves on them.. don't know what kind. They seemed very nice and then took us by the hand and asked if we wanted our fortune... well they didn't need a response. I was told, better yet I should say, we were told, long life, positive energy, someone in love with us - pagare la fortuna!! Pay for your fortune! They were some kind of Italian/gypsy. Pretty sure they were gypsies, but they had an Italian accent. Anyway we split, not paying for something I didn't ask for. I kept the little branch though :) and made it a bracelet.

I went salsa dancing for the first time out here tonight. It was good. People scared me saying that it was a different style out here. whatever. I did fine. And the best part, is that it doesn't even matter what shoes you wear! While I was out, I ran into my host mom's son-in-law's brother... you follow? jeje

Tomorrow I'm going to try and make an 11 am surf class. My last one got canceled on Wednesday because of lack of waves. We'll see...

Asignaturas = Classes

Today is a lazy day. I mean I guess it can’t count as the first, as there have been a couple occasions when I practically slept all day, waking up to eat basically. However, I’m not sleeping (at least not yet), and I don’t feel like doing anything. My host mom, Gloria, watches a lot of TV, and today is the first day I actually feel like loafing on the couch and watching it with her. Of course I’m not doing that, because I’m writing this J

I had no class today. Ok, technically I did, but I didn’t go. This week was orientation week – I know, another orientation week. Feels like real life is never going to start! The first two weeks of class took place at an international school called, K2. Don’t ask me why. That was the class picture I put up in an older posting, and there we basically reviewed Spanish grammar. I think it was a warm-up for everyone to get in Spanish mode.

This week we actually had classes at the university. These classes are especially put together for our program though - still taught by the Spanish professors, but only offered to the UW students. I think these classes have more structure than typical Spanish classes, probably for a couple reasons. One, because we’re getting UW credits, so they want the workload to be comparable. And Two, because apparently it is very American of us to freak out about our grades, and everyone wants to know exactly what they’re going to get: hw, tests, projects, grading scales and rubrics. I’m telling you, people need to lighten up and go with the flow like Hispanics J

So this week, all of us had go to all the classes, even though we’re only going to pick several of them. That was the orientation. And I was supposed to finish the week and go to a geography class today, but I already know I’m not taking Geo, so I didn’t go  0:)

I’m actually very excited about my classes. I’m taking Civilizacion, which is kind of like a current events class on Spain with a little history, politics, and geography to give us the context. I’m also taking Spain and the European Union, which is kind of self-explanatory. History of, creation of, function of, countries in it, current politics, etc.

 I’m already super interested, and a little put to shame because I’m so clueless. I need to do some research about the whole Euro deal. I understand that some countries, well Britain, didn’t want to join because the lb is worth more than the Euro, but I don’t understand HOW exactly it works for countries to just switch currency. Or HOW a country, like Greece, can be bankrupt ( or almost, idk) and still be functioning. How does a country get to that point? And why exactly that brings down the value of the Euro… I need to find out. So many questions. The concept of money is so confusing to me. I definitely couldn’t be a business major. I don’t understand who decides how much a certain currency is worth. And it’s worth what? Gold, right? So why doesn’t the whole world just operate on the same currency? Ugh.

Anyway, if anyone can even remotely enlighten me, please leave me a comment!

I’m also taking Literatura y Cine (lit. and film). Nothing too special. We’ll be reading lit. and analyzing films. Done.

When the normal classes start up at the UCA (U of Cadiz), I’ll be taking a Cervantes class and either a History of Andalucía of a Spanish dialects class. Both of those will be with the regular Spanish students, not the program. Not everyone takes 5 classes, and not everyone takes UCA classes. Only the smartest of peeps do ;)

 Most of the people in our UW program group this Fall.

 My host mom and I on the boat party.

The beach on a day when there was an air show. It was packed! When I was in the water looking back at the beach, I literally could not see sand. 

Learning Experiences

You know those phrases everyone tells you about growing up that never make any sense until you experience it? Like that college is a time when you figure out who you are, finding your identity, etc… and every time you hear it you think, “I know who I am; I’m me!” or  “how do you not know who you are?” or plane and simple, “what the heck does that mean? How the heck do you ‘find yourself’?”

Yeah, well studying abroad is one of those things. Everyone said I would learn so much about myself during this time, and here I am, two weeks in, learning about myself. They also said that I would change… haven’t gotten there yet…

This is what I’ve learned:

1.     I AM NOT A FOLLOWER. I definitely do my own thing. And I’m not afraid to do it, much less to do it alone. In fact, I sometimes prefer, and sometimes need to do it alone. Anyone that knows me knows that I am a social butterfly (or peacock to some J ) and would be miserable without the interaction; but after a while people start to annoy me. I like being an independent woman. I want to see what I want to see, without being run by a group or tied down. I like my time to reflect, to contemplate, to listen to music, to nothing, to whatever – to have the occasional experience all to myself.

2.     I AM NOT TYPE A. I don’t know if it is the latina in me, or just me, or what, but I don’t like planning too much. I find myself giving people very vague answers and not wanting to commit too much to anything. Many students are planning trips around Europe and buying tickets in groups, and I’m thinking “geeze, already? No, I’ll wait till the week of, maybe a few days before to jump in.” I’m barely on time for most things, I like having a general idea of what I’m going to do when I’m traveling (mostly for back up), but if something else comes up I’m willing to go with the flow. I don’t like being rushed. I just got to Cadiz, and I want to get situated with class and the place before running around. Hostels? Eh, I can figure it out when I get there… day before… ok maybe I should look. Buget? Eh, whatever. Two weeks later… ok maybe I should outline SOMETHING. Sites? Eh, we’ll see (no pun intended, hehe). Now… ok, maybe I should pick my tops and base my budget off that if I want to not spend ALL my financial aid here. Classes? I’m sure I’ll know what I’m taking by the time school starts.

3.     IN OTHER WORDS, I’M A PROCRASTINATOR – BUT A RESPONSIBLE ONE J I’m good at it ;)

Today was the last day of orientation and this is a picture of our class with our beloved teacher, Carlos. He was a lot of fun J

Time seems to go by so fast here. I don’t just mean that I can’t believe I’ve already been here two weeks, but the days in general. I wake up, go to school, come home for lunch, siesta, and then I only have a couple hours to go to the beach. By 9 I’m heading home for dinner, and either andar de marcha or to bed. I guess it would help if I didn’t take a 3 hour nap. But that’s what happens when you stay out until 4, 5 in the morning!

It’s crazy how easy it is to disconnect from the world when you’re away… if I’m not communicating with anyone from back home, I can almost completely forget anything that has been happening. It’s almost like being a different person. I can see where this “what happens here stays here” mentality comes from, and I think you learn a lot about what a person is really like while traveling  - just a little side note for anyone who hasn’t experienced it themselves.

So more about my life in Cadiz - Yesterday I had my first meeting with Carmen, who is the home coordinator, to check in on how the living situations are doing. We also got our class schedules. Next week I will be going to every single class offered (to the UW students) once, and by the end of the week I will have my classes picked out.

I will be taking two different types of classes: program classes, and UCA classes (University of Cadiz). They all take place in the University, and are taught by Spanish Profs, but the Program classes are only for our UW kids, and I will be with them. These are more structured and similar to UW classes. The UCA classes are with any other student here in Cadiz or foreigner that is also enrolled there. The program has little influence on the class structure. I’ll be taking two UCA, maybe 3, and 2 or 3 program classes. I’ll be taking things like Dialects, civilization, history of Europe and the EU, Span. Lit and cine (film), etc.

Tomorrow we have an end – of – orientation celebration with the program, and we will likely go out for a night on the town afterward. Saturday night there is a commencement celebration on a boat with the program and everyone’s host family. Should be fun J

I wanted to go to the movies tonight, but my mom said that Wednesday’s are half price. So maybe next week I’ll go watch a Spanish movie J

My feet are killing me from walking so much. It’s about an hr, maybe 45 min to walk to school. And I walked to and from twice yesterday to save my bus passes – in flip flops, thanks to the beach. Ugh!

I live in la parte nueva de Cadiz – the new part. The school is in el casco antiguo – the old part. There is a bridge called puerta de la tierra that divides the two parts. The new part is… well newer, obviously, but its more open and spread out, its close to the best beach around, and it feels a little more like our big cities with the layout. The old part is good for being close to all the night life and easy access to other things like the post office. It has that classic feel to it with the narrow streets and close together tall buildings with balconies everywhere.

Everyone in the program is going gang busters with traveling. They’re already having little meetings to plan trips to Portugal, Paris, London, talk of Prague, Barcelona, and who knows where else. I’m not opposed to in the slightest bit, of course, but I’m just enjoying settling in and getting comfortable with my home and figuring out classes. I have fourth months to travel, and honestly I’d rather travel mostly within Spain to really see the different regions. How often do people get to do that? And how often do people tour Europe in a matter of days? Sure, millions see the Eiffel tower – even I’ve already done that – but I want to leave Spain feeling like I really lived here and checked it off my list.

Oh!! And!! Yesterday I checked out a guitar :D so I will be starting my lessons soon. Probably once I get my surf on J… and get a class schedule, but who needs details, right?

Well, I need to do my HW :P …. Sooo hasta la proxima en the vida mia!

 This fountain is right outside the academy where orientation is, Plaza Mentidero.

 This is a little market I found on my way home from school and absolutely love when the flower shops fill the plaza with their plants. I bought a pair of shoes there for 5 e - Plaza de las Flores

 Brittnay lives on that street of building next to the beach.

<3 Chelsea

Week 1 in Cadiz, and Ronda

As I write this, I'm struggling to stay awake. It's about midnight, which is actually early for a Spanish night.  Story of my life it seems so far- but I actually did well this week! Stayed out enjoying the Spanish life quite late for about 5 nights in a row, and finally got to sleep in today and semi-recover.

I still need to do my homework, which is kind of related to my blog, I suppose. The past week of class has been review, for the student to practice and brush up on their Spanish – not too needed in my case, but I’ve learned some Spain lingo, and other things. Apart from that I really enjoy my professor. My assignment is to write a mere 150 words on cultural differences I’ve noticed. So here they are:

1.      Topless women are common on the beach.

2.     Everyone here has rhythm. If there is no guitar to play flamenco, they use their fingers and clap, and stop, and sing. It’s great.

3.     Goes without saying that a typical night goes to 7 am.

4.     Breakfast is typically light- cereal or coffee and a bread of some sort. Followed by the “descanzo” or rest/break, another mini breakfast, fruit or juice. Lunch is at 2-3, snack is around 5-6, usually something sweet, and dinner at 9-10

5.     Meals are usually in courses. Fruit is considered a dessert.

6.     People are more concerned about their health here. You rarely see an overweight person.

7.     Most houses are like apartments.

8.     Everyone is super friendly, but most smoke. 

My travel buddy is Brittany, who lives in a house a block away from me- right on the beach. We have been spending a large amount of time there. Its absolutely beautiful. There we met our first group of locals this past week. That turned into quite the adventure.

Yesterday we went to Ronda, a town a couple of hours away. It was very pretty, and there was a bullfight, but unfortunately we had to catch our bus home before. I think it was sold out anyway. I did, however, manage to get a picture of the ring and a picture with the most famous bullfighter, Francisco Rivera.