Tapas, Gelato and Churros... Oh my! (A weekend in Spain)

Sevilla

It has officially been one week since I left the United States for this Spanish adventure. I can hardly believe I have been here for such a short amount of time, as I am already getting to know the city and the other students in my program so well. This week has been long and very full, but I have learned and experienced so much.

Classes began last Friday with many syllabi and introductions (all in Spanish of course). I am taking four classes here, each of which are everyday. Beginning at 9:00 a.m. I have Advanced Spanish Grammar, followed by Spanish Literature, History of Spanish Art, a 50 minute break, then a class called "Tres Culturas" which refers to the three primary influences on the city and culture of Sevilla (Islam, Judaism and Christianity). I am also in a class called "Acción Solidaria" (service learning in Spain) for which we will be assigned a site to serve at weekly for the whole semester. All of the professors seem awesome and I'm looking forward to each of my classes.

This weekend was our first in Sevilla and it was fabulous. We spent Saturday on a "ginkana" (scavenger hunt) where we had to navigate ourselves in groups throughout the city to find famous spots, with only pictures of the different locations as guides. Walking all over Sevilla and seeing so much of the city was a blast. After returning home for lunch and siesta in the afternoon, a bunch of us went shopping and then out for tapas in el centro (basically the downtown of Sevilla). We then walked around the terraces watching street performers (everything from a lady making giant bubbles to the best roller blading tricks I've ever seen) and of course had to end the night with gelato!
The next morning we went to a church one neighborhood over from mine. Many of the songs were familiar melodies, but in Spanish instead of English. Sundays in Spain are very calm, as all the stores are closed and people take the day to relax. My roommate and I were definitely a fan of this and chilled in our room, struggling through some homework all the way. We met up with a few other girls who live in our neighborhood at a Chocolatería just down the street for "meriendas" in the evening. After returning home we had dinner with our host señores Walter and Chari and had fun laughing with them... See picture at the very bottom :)

The Barqueta Bridge during our ginkana

Outside the Chocolatería on our street

Some of the best hot chocolate ever

Becca and Jana with churros and chocolate!

Making churros 

Walter and Chari, our host señores

La Vida Está Hecha de Pequeños Momentos

Although this sign was outside a bar, I found its meaning ("Life is made of little moments") rather profound. It was a perfect reminder to make the most of every moment in Spain and not to take advantage of the marvelous blessing it is to be here. We saw this last night on our beautiful walking tour of Sevilla with our Spanish tour guides, Fernando and Raquel. There have been many little moments already that are filling life with joy and excitement.

Yesterday and today were orientation days as we received information overload about classes, culture, and activities throughout the semester. Classes begin tomorrow morning and go from 9:00 am to 1:30 pm. Having a regular routine established will be nice, but we have been enjoying the free time and opportunity to explore the city quite a bit already. We return to our apartments by 2 each afternoon for lunch and have the siesta time to relax and hang out until around 5. Then we prepare to go out again for the evening. Tonight some of us went to see professional flamenco dancing with traditional Spanish music, which was incredible.

A phrase Becca's and my señora loves to use is "poco a poco." She says this whenever she reminds us of something to do, gives us a new food to try, or explains to us something about life in Spain. With this saying, she is reminding us that "little by little" or "bit by bit" we ease into the culture and the lifestyle in her home. This is "la vida en Sevilla" now, as we learn so much each day about the language, culture and city. It is very exciting and I am so thankful for every little moment. Psalm 16:11 is a reminder of my constant in this crazy time of change, and from whom each of these blessed moments come, "You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at our right hand are pleasures forevermore."

My roommate and me outside a castle in the city where we live... How cool is that

Our tour group and wonderful guides last night!

Flamenco dancer! A bit blurry... But the idea comes across

We made it!

¡Hola de Sevilla! We are on day 2 in Spain and are currently enjoying the perks of "siesta" in the afternoon. We arrived safely yesterday after flying from Chicago to Madrid, and taking a high speed train from Madrid to Seville. Although jet lag had set in once we finally got to our home, our Señora "Chari" took me and my roommate Becca on a little walking tour of the streets around where we live, which is absolutely stunning, and we got to meet three of her grandchildren. We then were able to get all settled into our cozy little room which has now become home for the next four months!

Becca and my room in the apartment (our new home!!)

Becca and our señora (Chari) at breakfast