Culture Shock

We started our "Intensive Spanish Class" and intense is definitely an understatement.  It's 3 hours a day, 5 days a week, 2 weeks.  The in-class time isn't bad but the out of class homework has taken over my life this week.  We had our first exam yesterday (Friday) and after waking up at 6am to study for it (after getting distracted the entire night before), I realized that as long as I pass this class, I'm golden.  I don't really need to worry about my GPA anymore (add that to the list of benefits of already having a job lined up), so I'm going to tone it down a bit for the 2nd week.  Not sure if toning it down is in the cards for me just yet though since we have 2 papers, a presentation and an exam this week.  The walk to the school is about 20 minutes and it's really easy (I didn't even get lost on the first day haha) so that's definietly a plus. 

Culture shock is creeping it's way into my life and now getting the best of me.  My culture shock state of mind has allowed me to notice the following: 

1. There are HUGE piles of dog poop everywhere (I think the dogs here have some sort of digestive problem).  There is so much in the street that I was in disbelief when my guia told me that there actually WAS a law that gives fines for not cleaning up after your dog.  Needless to say, I stepped in a pile one day and now am paranoid so I can't even enjoy the scenery of this city while I'm walking since I'm more concerned about stepping in kaka.
2. My senora wasn't lying when she said she liked having girls better as host students because girls like to talk and so does she....It's become a ritual after lunch & dinner for her to talk to me (lecturing is probably a better word) for an hour or more.  It wouldn't be bad if I could understand her a little more.  But, understanding is getting better day by day.
3. My host family doesn't drink milk...except for when you put it in coffee or make Cola-Cao (hot chocolate).  They should run a Got Milk campaign here...
4. Spaniards many times have responded to me in English when I talk to them in Spanish.  Once they hear your American accent, they just respond in English.  I'm trying to practice here people...
5. Taking cabs back every time we go out is not something I'm accustomed to and will probably be spending a good amount of euros on it.
6. Missing all the good things in America - number one being my family, friends and dogs!  2nd being sweets, 3rd being ability to be lazy - cable tv, wearing sweats, etc.

Things that Culture Shock is NOT taking over:

1. Went shopping and took advantage of Rebajas (big sales in Jan-Feb).  Got a sweater dress and a dress for only 18 euro!
2. SUPER BOWL.  When I start thinking about the Packers in class, I can hardly concentrate because I get so excited.  
3. Delicious Spanish meals.  I could really get used to having my meals made for me 3x a day!  There isn't one thing that I haven't liked so far and it's kinda fun anticipating what she'll cook me next.
4. New friends.  New sights to see.  New pictures (lots)
5. Traveling.  Some friends and I are beginning to plan a trip to Portugal for the last weekend in February.  Thinking about doing Amsterdam, Munich and Prague in the 10 days of our first spring break.
6. Missing the gross Wisconsin winter weather.  Adios to the cold, melting slushy snow and winter boots.  The weather is starting to get really nice during the day. When the sun is shining, I don't even need a jacket :)  Sorry about it, Wisconsonites.
7. [Mom, don't read this one] I have 3.5 more months of this beautiful city!! Complete with 2 weeks of spring break, no class Fridays and only around 3 hours of class a day.

Friday after our exam, we had a cultural visit to La Catedral (the cathedral) in El Centro.  It was amazing, per usual.  The best part was going up La Giralda (bell tower) and looking out at the city - such a great sight!  We were also up there when the 3pm bell went off...which scared us half to death and I think I permanently lost some of my hearing due to it.

(the queens crown)

(on the way up - we walked up a 34 story ramp)

(you can see the bull fighting stadium)

Brazos y besos (hugs and kisses)

Que Guay!

(How cool)

Que tal?  So we've been pretty much taking Sevilla by storm the last few days.  Numerous tours, eating at numerous restaurants and of course more boring orientation stuff.  We took a three hour tour on Saturday (Gulligan's Island haha) where we saw La Catedral and La Plaza Espana.  Both are soooo pretty and amazing!  At the restaurants, we ordered tapas which are like appetizers in America, but they buy a couple of them and eat them as a meal.  So we've been ordering a few tapas to share among our group.  We also went to a Flamenco show, which was really cool. 

Today, we went to Alcazar, which is a castle by La Catedral where the King and his people lived.  It had numerous different rooms, gardens and courtyards.  The architecture and design was so crazy!

                                   

I've pretty much been waiting for tonight since we got here.  We found an American Sports Bar "Texas Lonestar Saloon" where we'll be watching the Packer game.  Gotta rep our boys, no matter where we are!  Our first day of our Intensive Spanish class is tomorrow at 9am...so considering the game isn't until 10pm here, that would be cause for concern.  Especially since I placed in the highest level (of 6 classes) of Spanish...What the H?  

Well anyway, today and yesterday have been the "coldest days of the year" in Sevilla....and it's 40 degrees here - except 40 degrees does feel exceptionally cold despite the fact it's 0 or less in the US.  We also met our host families yesterday.  My senora's name is Esperanza and she has 2 children - Gemma (33 years) and Manuel (30 years).  Esperanza talks VERY fast and I can only understand little of what she says.  Luckily, Gemma and Manny repeat what she says much slower so I can understand.  Gemma has Twilight pictures in her room and we've  been watching movies I've seen in the US except in Spanish.  Haha, feels good to see things that are familiar (more or less).  Esperanza makes very good food and is either cleaning or cooking whenever I see her.  I'm not sure how to say "left-overs" in Spanish, because I feel bad that she cooks a new meal every lunch/dinner.  Left-overs, por favor!!!  I thought I would be starving to death here since they eat little for breakfast, and very late lunch (3pm) and late dinner (9pm).  But, I haven't felt hungry this entire time...usually when she tells me lunch/dinner is ready, I'm not hungry at all.  Also, Esperanza likes to give me much more food than I want.

We went to a discoteca on Friday night...some are open until 6am!  The shots are 2E but mix drinks are 5E...odd.  We also took a taxi back to the hotel and we're pretty sure the taxi driver drove us around in circles because he knew we were American and most likely didn't know our way around.  The streets are very confusing and I had no clue he did that but others aren't as poor with directions as I am and noticed.  

Well for the next 2 weeks, the only commitment we have is the Spanish course which is 9am-12pm.  I've gotten lost every time I've been trying to get somewhere on my own.  Today was the first time I got back to my apartment without getting lost or having to look at directions - it felt awesome!  I'm feeling pretty caught up with sleep (thanks to a 5 hour "nap" yesterday) Haha so for the next 2 weeks, I plan to get more acquainted with the neighborhood I'm living in so I don't get lost as much and I suppose get more acquainted with Sevilla :)

xoxo

Hola Espana!

So we made it here safe!  The drive to Chicago was fast, despite the fact that Mom and Dad are THE WORST drivers in the world and I nearly had 18 heart attacks.  I was more worried about them making it back to DePere safe than me making it to Sevilla.  On the bright side, there was a Chipotle right by the airport...which was probably the best way to spend my last meal before leaving America for 4 months.  I actually only ate half and went through customs and security with the other half and ate it right before I boarded haha.  Didn't have to pay any extra fees for my checked bag being 53 pounds, my carry-on being too big and much too heavy and my personal item being big enough to pass as a carry-on.  Then, the 8 hour flight may or may not have been one of the more torturous things I've experienced in my life.  Didn't sleep even 5 minutes the entire time, they played a boring movie, forgot to charge my iPod before I left and it was too dark to read.  Then, we had a <1 hour layover in Madrid, and literally had to run to the boarding gate (which may have been funny if I weren't carrying my 30 pound "carry on" and 10 pound "purse").  But enough of me being a Debbie Downer....yayyyyy finally here.  Still doesn't feel real!

Spain is kinda crazy.  You could see the 6 lane round-a-bouts from the plane.  The first song I heard was Kesha, 'We are who we R' in English.  The people here treat water like it's super fancy and almost like an expensive dessert.  It's served in fancy bottles and I really just want to order a Tosh-tini.   I have tried something new with each meal (look at me getting out of my comfort zone/trying not to starve to death)...some soup-ish thing which was sherbert orange and kinda like tomato soup but textured like apple sauce and cold, eggplant and shrimp.  Hopefully not breathing while eating is a habit I can acquire very quickly haha.  Oh, and facebook automatically updated the time for me...how did it know I changed time zones?  And know Google (pronounced googlay here) and all the websites are in Spanish...is there some sort of tracking device on my computer?  Oh, and was not prepared to see the badet (spelling?) in the bathroom...awkward.

There are 90 people in the CIEE Business & Society program from the US.  Probably about 20 from Madison and quite a few from Indiana University.  Not really anything too exciting yet but figured you were all SO worried about me making it here safe, so I thought I'd let you know :)  

Adios.

PS.  If you have a gmail account, follllow me so I don't feel like I'm just writing this to myself lol.  If you don't have a gmail account - leave comments :)

FIRST!

Hello friends!  


As most of you know, I will be leaving for Spain on Tuesday, January 18 (leaving for Chicago on the 17th)...CRAZY!  I am more than excited, and want to remember every little thing about the next four months...and what better way to do that then to blog?  I'm no expert at writing to entertain, but I figured family/friends might want to know what I'm up to while I'm oversees (but maybe I'm wrong).  Who knows how often I'll write about what's going on when I'm there, but I hope y'all will find it interesting and post comments! 


Right now, the biggest issue is packing 4 months of essentials into one suitcase and having it weigh less than 50 pounds.  This is an art...let's see if I can master it.  So for now, just mastering the art that is packing, working to make a few extra euro before the trip and spending time with family and friends. 


Well, that's all for now.  I know there's not much to look at now, but hopefully I'll have a reliable internet connection when I get to the hotel for orientation and can put some fun pictures/posts up soon!


xoxo, Gossip Girl
ha, just kidding...


Michelle