There are fewer and fewer firsts and I'm about to spend my entire weekend hanging out in Sevilla, just living a normal life. Well as "normal" as it can get being in a foreign country with new friends, a different language, and uncertainty of what tomorrow will bring.
Tuesday I attended a concert of Mediterranean music with my CIEE interest group. The drummer was entrancing, his whole body was jamming with the music. Seriously, he was working it out. All the members of the band explained their instruments, which was neat since I didn't know much about all of their funny looking guitars and tambourines. Afterward Molly and I went to our favorite bar for some Coca-Colas (we may be developing an addiction) and some BOMB croquetas. I can't even begin to explain the freedom to go out on a Tuesday night for dinner and just sit and chat. I had been bummed about missing the Critical Issues Symposium (nerd alert: I actually like to attend some of the seminars without being required by my professors) at Hope but I think these croquetas and some good company can cure pretty much any form homesickness.
Grupo de música del Mediterráneo: SamarcandaThursday I went on a walk through the city with my Islamic art class, where we learned all about the city structure of Sevilla in the Middle Ages. Our professor is super cool, apparently he was the top rated professor for the University Cursos para Extranjeros but only one person in our class knew that... the rest of us chose the class because we were genuinely interested in it. Winning combination.
Columns from 2,000 years ago
These columns show some of the Roman remains in Sevilla, which are located 11 meters under the current city. Its difficult to see in this picture but this is actually looking down into a pit where they've preserved the remains of an old Forum. Like in Cádiz, there is a lot to be discovered that will never be found because it would require tearing down the entire city as we know it. I like Sevilla, let's keep it :) Anyway, there are two sets of these columns, one in the medieval section of the city and one in the La Alameda de Hércules.
Columns in La Alemada de Hércules
These columns were moved by the Spaniards in the 16th century to be presented in a more public place. On top of each column is a figure: one representing Julius Caesar and one representing Hercules. Sevilla is thought to be founded by these two Roman figures and was considered to be created by Hercules, who showed his strength by physically separating southern Spain from Africa. This theme is carried on throughout the city, where their are many ties to these Roman figures.
Hércules
For example: This portrait is part of the main political building in Sevilla and is an image of Hercules. The phrase S.P.O.HIS. alludes to Sevilla as the new Rome.
Feel like you are getting a history lesson? I'm almost done, let me just share a few other tidbits of information with you :)
Bells from back in the day
Each bell in the towers and cathedrals has a unique sound and is marked with the date and location of its creation.
Large vases
These are the containers they used to store wine and olive oil in. I'm pretty sure my señora could go through this in a month.
Calentitos
In Spain they eat calentitos, which are like churros but smaller. This literal whole in the wall has the best calentitos in Sevilla. The King of Spain even eats the calentitos from this shop. Our profesor made sure to let us know that he didn't stand in line though :)
The recipe of flour, water, and salt has been passed down through the generations of the same family for years but may be discontinued since the current children are pursing academic degrees at the University instead of taking over the family business.
Okay, educational portion of this program finished.
Columns from 2,000 years agoThese columns show some of the Roman remains in Sevilla, which are located 11 meters under the current city. Its difficult to see in this picture but this is actually looking down into a pit where they've preserved the remains of an old Forum. Like in Cádiz, there is a lot to be discovered that will never be found because it would require tearing down the entire city as we know it. I like Sevilla, let's keep it :) Anyway, there are two sets of these columns, one in the medieval section of the city and one in the La Alameda de Hércules.
Columns in La Alemada de Hércules
HérculesFeel like you are getting a history lesson? I'm almost done, let me just share a few other tidbits of information with you :)
Bells from back in the dayEach bell in the towers and cathedrals has a unique sound and is marked with the date and location of its creation.
Large vases
CalentitosThe recipe of flour, water, and salt has been passed down through the generations of the same family for years but may be discontinued since the current children are pursing academic degrees at the University instead of taking over the family business.
Okay, educational portion of this program finished.
Last night I went to my second jazz class, which was a mix of therapy and wishing I were in the United States for an hour and a half.
The good: I got to dance. I am also pretty sure I am the only American there too. Which is awesome because I get to be part of real life with the Spainards. I was able to understand all of my teacher's comments to me and even the jokes she made. Score! Also, one of the girls I met the first class gave me her cell phone number and invited me to go out with her and her friends tonight. Fan-freaking-tastic.
I was really struggling with the decision to take this jazz class or learn flamenco and I decided on jazz for a number of reasons:
- I thought it would bring me closer to normal life in Spain rather than participating in a beginner flamenco class with possibly other Americans
- It would be more likely to have kids my age in the class
- It would keep me in shape for IDT when I go back to Hope
- It wouldn't be as big of a deal to miss classes when I had to attend various events for CIEE
Honestly, meeting this one girl makes the class totally worth it to me. Hopefully as the weeks continue I will get more accustomed to making conversation with the other students waiting for class. I'm really starting to feel part of the normal routine of the city!
The bad: The studio is microscopic. Seriously, if I were rehearsing a solo by myself I wouldn't even have enough room to dance. And we were expected to do choreography full-out with 7 other people. Hmm. It was a little frustrating because the teacher singled me out at the beginning for not putting energy into the transition steps when the fact of the matter is if I had put any more energy into it I probably would've taken out the 3 people on each side of me. Of course I couldn't say that because I don't want to be disrespectful of their studio space but I have no idea how they learn to dance like this. Luckily when we did across the floor we went by ourselves and I was able to show her that I knew what I was doing. It will be an adjustment but I guess this is a no mercy situation. Go big or go home :) Overall, the class (even though its advanced jazz) is not very difficult and is very repetitive. I got bored of doing the same thing, with no space to do it in, so many times. But again, this is their turf and I'm just thankful to be moving twice a week. With real, live Spaniards!
This morning has felt like a lazy Saturday so far. Even though its Friday, mwah ja jaa... I woke up around 10:30, got dressed, and went to a cafe for some coffee and a pastry (another addiction) while the cleaning lady was here. Yes Jackie, I went out and had coffee for you. And I feel like I have ingested so much caffeine from that tiny cup that I will be up all night. But really, I won't be taking a siesta today because I'm pretty sure I'd just end up staring at the ceiling wide awake for an hour. It was fun to finally go spend a morning at a café though... I've been wanting to since I got here but haven't had anything to do once I got there. But today I took my book, Nada, and my Spanish-English dictionary (which I considered trying to hide but then realized my shorts in the 75 degree weather gave me away as an American), and sat and read for an hour and a half. I could definitely get used to this. Or maybe I already have.
My plans for the rest of the day include:
6 PM - meet up with my Intercambio
10 PM - run in the annual Carrera Nocturna (Night Run) of Sevilla with 15,000 other people
12 PM - meet up with Nadia (girl from my dance class) and her friends to go out for the night
I'm thinking its a good thing I slept in today.
The good: I got to dance. I am also pretty sure I am the only American there too. Which is awesome because I get to be part of real life with the Spainards. I was able to understand all of my teacher's comments to me and even the jokes she made. Score! Also, one of the girls I met the first class gave me her cell phone number and invited me to go out with her and her friends tonight. Fan-freaking-tastic.
I was really struggling with the decision to take this jazz class or learn flamenco and I decided on jazz for a number of reasons:
- I thought it would bring me closer to normal life in Spain rather than participating in a beginner flamenco class with possibly other Americans
- It would be more likely to have kids my age in the class
- It would keep me in shape for IDT when I go back to Hope
- It wouldn't be as big of a deal to miss classes when I had to attend various events for CIEE
Honestly, meeting this one girl makes the class totally worth it to me. Hopefully as the weeks continue I will get more accustomed to making conversation with the other students waiting for class. I'm really starting to feel part of the normal routine of the city!
The bad: The studio is microscopic. Seriously, if I were rehearsing a solo by myself I wouldn't even have enough room to dance. And we were expected to do choreography full-out with 7 other people. Hmm. It was a little frustrating because the teacher singled me out at the beginning for not putting energy into the transition steps when the fact of the matter is if I had put any more energy into it I probably would've taken out the 3 people on each side of me. Of course I couldn't say that because I don't want to be disrespectful of their studio space but I have no idea how they learn to dance like this. Luckily when we did across the floor we went by ourselves and I was able to show her that I knew what I was doing. It will be an adjustment but I guess this is a no mercy situation. Go big or go home :) Overall, the class (even though its advanced jazz) is not very difficult and is very repetitive. I got bored of doing the same thing, with no space to do it in, so many times. But again, this is their turf and I'm just thankful to be moving twice a week. With real, live Spaniards!
This morning has felt like a lazy Saturday so far. Even though its Friday, mwah ja jaa... I woke up around 10:30, got dressed, and went to a cafe for some coffee and a pastry (another addiction) while the cleaning lady was here. Yes Jackie, I went out and had coffee for you. And I feel like I have ingested so much caffeine from that tiny cup that I will be up all night. But really, I won't be taking a siesta today because I'm pretty sure I'd just end up staring at the ceiling wide awake for an hour. It was fun to finally go spend a morning at a café though... I've been wanting to since I got here but haven't had anything to do once I got there. But today I took my book, Nada, and my Spanish-English dictionary (which I considered trying to hide but then realized my shorts in the 75 degree weather gave me away as an American), and sat and read for an hour and a half. I could definitely get used to this. Or maybe I already have.
My plans for the rest of the day include:
6 PM - meet up with my Intercambio
10 PM - run in the annual Carrera Nocturna (Night Run) of Sevilla with 15,000 other people
12 PM - meet up with Nadia (girl from my dance class) and her friends to go out for the night
I'm thinking its a good thing I slept in today.
1 comment:
Amber Rogers is going out at midnight. I love my life. mostly I like living vicariously through yours. :)
are you going to wear that shirt? because I definitely think you should...
I will be checking for updates, little heart breaker.
love you!
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