One Week in Sevilla

I have officially been in Sevilla one week! I can hardly believe that statement is true, so much has happened. This weekend included much needed rest, learning, and fun. Friday my room mates and I decided to go for a walk and do some shopping. Being the eager Americans we are we left right after siesta at 5:00 p.m. on the dot. Of course none of the shops had opened yet so which gave us plenty of time to find our way and we ended up stopping in a little bar/cafe called "Java Cafe." It wasn't very busy as we entered though it quickly became so. It is funny how something as simple as ordering a coke can be intimidating in a new country. We weren't sure if we should just sit down and someone would come to our table for our orders or if we should go order then sit. We sat. Someone came to take our order but we found out (through the wonderful teacher observation) that one person normally places the order at the bar while the others choose the table.

Afterwards we went went shopping and found some cute stores. It is wonderful living in a city where you can walk everywhere! I am not usually a person who enjoys shopping, but here in Spain it has been a lot of fun. My room mates and I have passed quite a few afternoons browsing through the stores on San Jaciento. We found one store we really liked which is ran by a chino. She was so sweet to us recognizing we were students, telling us about apartments in the area, and helping us figure out our European shoe size. We also found a cute jewelry/purse shop where everything was only 2 euros. I made my first purchase there- a cute yellow hand bag!

Saturday morning I went shopping with Isabel. First we went to the supermarcado. On the way we ran into a friend she knew so we of course stopped to talk for 20 minutes. Isabel introduces me as one of her niñas. I feel like a little girl with her grandmother as I waited while she talked to her friend from elementary school, then her cousin. In Sevilla almost everyone has lived here all their lives like there parents and grandparents before them. They have the same friends since pre-school and have probably married someone they grew up with. I love this community where people come first and time is a secondary factor.
Isabel and I ended up going to the supermarcado, the fish store, the butcher, the perfumería, and the bread store. She pointed out everything one the way and described why she went to each store. Everyone, I am told, knows her butcher is the best butcher in town because every day he sells out of meat and gets fresh for the next day. She told me you have to go before noon (2:00 p.m.) or there will be none left. Needless to say I learned a lot, not only about the neighborhood but about her.

I went with my room-mates, Margo and Amber, yesterday to buy train tickets. We decided to take the bus since is was about a 30 min. walk. So glad we did. Not only did we learn how to buy bus tickets, but we saw more of the city! We made it to the train station and bought our tickets for Cadiz quite successfully. It is exciting to be learning all these new things and managing them all in Spanish!

Spain!

So I am finally here in Spain. I have been long anticipating my semester abroad and am so excited it is finally upon me! I will update as frequently as I can but I'm not promising anything- too much to see and do!
These are some notes I have taken so far. *Disclaimer- I am an ignorant American trying to learn about a new culture- please forgive me for any comments which you know to be wrong. Let me know and I will change what I can!
Tuesday Aug 31
I am here safe. I have spent my first night in Sevilla. It is 5:00 here (still early afternoon here.) My travels all went well smooth connections, etc. I got a bit lost on my way to the actual apartment but found it in the end. My señora is great- very very kind. I am still very tired with the time change etc. but I am adjusting. The food is really good "y muy sano," very healthy, as my señora  says. The other two girls from my school have arrived to the house so that is fun. Orientation starts tomorrow morning and is the next morning as well. I am excited to get started. The accent is hard to catch on to- I have been practicing "graTHias" instead of "graCias" all day! Its very hot here, but I'm sure I'll get used to it. I hope I get used to the lay out of the city soon, I don't like feeling lost- but it's all part of the adventure right!?

Other observations:
Though the language here is Spanish it is such a different world from Guatemala and central America (duh!). I can see is a lot of Arabic influence in Spain, I can hear traces of Arabic in the Spanish accent, taste it in the food, and see it in the architecture. Of course the European influence can be seen too, hair, dress, physical appearance. I am excited to get to wander around on the streets some and observe things, once I get over jet-lag that is!
 I am extremely pleased with my señora. In the past I have heard that students have had problems getting used to their señora, but not so with mine! She is a widow and though a small woman in stature is very full of life and energetic. I walked with her to get bread, watched as she prepared dinner, and she showed me the photos of her children's weddings. She loves to talk and tell me things, about culture, her political views, anything really. She walked Amber, Margo, and I to the school to make sure we din't get lost, and showed me very carefully (including practice time) how to lock and unlock the doors.
I was a little worried about the food, but so far it has been great! Yummy salads, chicken, etc. She does eat a lot of seafood, white fish and shrimp, so I am going to do my best to adjust to that. She said I can tell her if I don't like something, but I want to give everything a try. Yesterday for lunch she gave me a tasty red drink, I late found out was wine mixed with club soda! Since then I have suck with "agua por favor." haha!
Since I was so tired yesterday we just mostly watched tv. It was good  listening to Spanish, getting more familiar with the accent.
Okay, I think that's all for now.

Wednesday Sept 1

Well yesterday Margo, Amber, and I walked around a little bit- but we hope to do so more today. We sat by the river and the plaza de oro (which apparently Columbus stored his gold from the "new world.") It is really pleasant outside when there is a breeze. I didn't sleep well at all last night but I think my body is still just getting used to everything. We had orientation this morning, talking about safety, living with our senora etc. It was okay but just a lot of information (a lot of which anyone who had traveled knew, but a good reminder I guess) Tomorrow we sign up for classes!
Dinner was wonderful tonight. Isabel, my señora, told us about her family history and about life as a Sevillian.

I'm sure most these notes are incoherent. I hope I will return to normal soon and my posts will be more interesting!

Books!

I feel guilty that my sister has started blogging and I haven't updated mine in forever! So here it is:

Yesterday Jen and Matt took me to experience the most dangerous store ever. A free book store!

No it's not a gimmick.
Yes it's exactly as it sounds.
Yes it's every bit as wonderful.


So yesterday morning we went. Its a pretty rustic building, nothing to fancy just lots of shelves made from plain wood and stuffed with books. It was exciting and overwhelming. The moment you walk in the door the race is on, everyone is competition, because, of course, everyone is looking for the same book you are. The air is hot from climbing sun and the smell of books (maybe the best smell in the world) is thick. Which section to start at? Spanish/Latin/Italian(!), Classics(!!), Cooking(!!!), Mystery(!.....)  I quickly picked a section and started scanning, sweeping in and out of the other shoppers. My first find was delightful- a 1950 hardback copy of Jane Eyre, turquoise colored with beautiful lettering- I knew it would be a good day. I continued moving through adding to my stack rapidly, Huck Finn for Lydia or Katie, The Bell Jar for Nibs, Dostoevsky, Balzac. I reached a more quiet corner of the store and looked at the stack of books that was, by now, killing my arm. Something must be done. Too many books. (ah! did I just say that?) College student + tons of heavy books to cart all over creation = not a good deal.
So I did a second review over the stack, Balzac goes Dostoevsky stays, etc. etc. I walked out with 6 books (but 2 not for me!).  My satisfaction was full when I realized I was one book under Jen's number of gathered books.
Free Books- excellent!

Moral of the story: Free book store are the best. When in Baltimore, go there.

Dahlias

Here is a quick snap-shot of the Dahlias I am knitting from some wonderful yarn Jen gave to me. I hope to knit more and possibly put them on a quilt. It could be a bit tricky though since the "caution" color of the yarn could very easily turn into a nasty 60's yellow if its not paired with the right colors...
I feel so extravagant with all my knitting and yet so simplistic at the same time. Having written a research paper on knitting not to long ago the topic has been on my mind. Knitting was once the most basic of house chores, present in every woman's life. But with the industrial revolution and the modern world it has become a luxury and a hobby. The joy that comes from brightly died yarns being looped into exciting objects is just marvelous. Quite a luxury.
"Oh its the posh posh knitting life, the knitting life for me....p.o.s.h. posh!"

I feel like I can finally say I have learned to knit. I have finished my first beautiful project that I am really proud of-- an Amber's Lace Scarf for my sister Crissie. This scarf has my favorite elements of knitting thus far: white yarn, silk yarn blend, and lace! What more could you ask for? Really? The yarn was introduce to me by my first knitting inspiration Mrs. Black who gave me the most wonderful Christmas present of circular needles and Louisa Harding yarn. Mrs. Black I don't ever want to knit with anything other than Grace Yarn again!

Anyways while visitng Jen we did lots of knitting and I complete the scarf. So she took pictures for me. Here it is in all its glory. Sorry you can't really see the lace detail- I didn't know about blocking yet- now I do! The scarf is circular and sooo incredibly soft. Seriously plushy.