Week 1

As you can see...and as my mom likes to remind me...I am finding it more difficult to make time to blog than I expected. I wish there was time to record everything I am seeing and learning here in Spain. I find myself walking around smiling to myself half the time because everything is so new and amazing. Of course, I am finding it much easier to capture everything on my camera, and have probably taken more than 200 photos. You need to check those out on facebook... it is much easier to upload a big amount.

Since the last time I wrote, I have completed my CIEE orientation which was absolutely PACKED, watched Flamanco, took a day trip to Cordoba, completed my first week of school, turned in my first spanish paper, played fútbol, visited the castle of Sevilla, took a weekend trip to Extremadura and saw lots of Roman ruins, made many new friends, ran along the river, and enjoyed many siestas (naps)!! Those are just a few of the highlights!

I am loving learning the differences in Spanish culture. I would say that the hardest thing to adapt to is the eating schedule. They eat a small breakfast, a huge lunch, and a small dinner. The problem is the times. They expect me to eat one piece of toast at 8 am and then wait for lunch at 2 or 3 and dinner at 10. My body still hasn't quite adapted, but I am enjoying getting tapas (sort of like appetizers with my friends). Luckily I am not a picky eater because I have to eat what my señora gives me and most of the time I have no idea what I am eating. :)

Here is a great example of the difference. Today we had a group lunch in Extremadura with CIEE. They told us to expect a typical meal of that region of western Spain. So we are trying this plate of bread crumbs, mixed with chorizo (sausage), red bell peppers, and a fried egg on top, and for the most part we all like it. We finish the plate and are pretty full and ready to go get ice cream!! (there is ice cream everywhere here ... it is amazing... but this also could be a problem) So we start to get up and our leaders say ... where are you going, we have two more plates coming... of course we start laughing and think they are kidding... but oh no... we had two more plates coming! It was a ridiculous amount of food. We were hoping that the second plate would be a little lighter since we already had meat and carbs.... but NO... the waiter brings out meat and potatoes....AND the meat is THE NECK OF A PIG!!!! The worst part is that here it is really rude not to finish your plates. We all tried to eat as much as possible... and it wasnt too bad... kind of tasted like beef stew.. but no one could finish the food. That is probably why they dont like americas because we waste so much of their food! oh well. and then we finished with flan. Overall it was an interesting and funny experience... I still cant believe I ate the neck of a pig!

There is so much more to tell, but I will save it for later. I miss you all! As my señora says, BESOS!! (kisses) :) adios.

Viajando

Well my body is officially going crazy on me from so much traveling! In the last week, I have:

• driven (well I navigated while James drove :) ) to Brooklyn, NY and back to visit the bffs (about 9 hours in the car)
  
• bused to Indiana for big tens and back (about 20 hours)
• drove to the Phily airport with Ben (about 4 hours)
• flew across the world to Seville (about 12 hours)
  

My body cant figure out when it is time to eat or sleep or anything...but it is TOTALLY worth it!!

But the good news is... I AM HERE safe and sound!! My orientation starts tomorrow so I have enjoyed a day of taking my first 'siesta', swimming in the beautiful hotel pool, exploring a little near the hotel, skyping with my mom and James, and getting ready for this adventure to really begin! So much to learn and experience....I can not wait.

Currently the whole town is going crazy out my window... screaming, yelling, fog horns, etc. because Seville just beat Madrid in futbol! I found it on the TV! So much passion...I HAVE to go to a game!

Here are a few quick pictures of my hotel, the pool, and surrounding areas!




and yes... that is a wash station thing in my bathroom....i dont think i am brave enough to try it! :) adios amigos!