Is this real life?

Yes, David after the dentist, it is my real life. And I couldn't be happier.

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: Samarcanda

Thursday 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.

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.

Wisconson Fist Pump in Portugal

This weekend we ventured out from the Plaza de Armas bus station once again.
Destination: Lagos, Portugal.

The trip started out with a bit of a problem when Grace realized, right before we were about to pull out of the station, that she didn't have her passport. With no time to get it before leaving she ended up getting off the bus and promised to call if she decided to still come on the later bus.

Molly and I endured the 5 and a half hour bus ride, only to get lost in Lagos for an hour once we got there because GoogleMaps screwed up the location of the hostel on my map. But when we found the hostel we were greeted with the nicest owner ever who sat us down with a map and explained pretty much everything to do, eat, and see in Lagos. Very enthusiastic too... "And wouldn't you believe they will cook your eggs anyway you want them!" "You might not want to put your towel don't right away because you'd be surprised there are FIVE more beaches, quite beautiful yes, the kind you see on postcards..."

After our long journey Molly and I didn't feel like running off to the beaches so we went and had a typical Portuguese dinner, walked along the cliffs, and did some shopping. So far, so normal.

The water is definitely the bluest I've ever seen in my life.

Pirate caves. Not really but that's what Molly is telling her brother.

Molly and I at the top of one of the cliffs

Right as we are discussing plans for the night, I get a phone call from Grace saying she's on the bus and will be in the city in an hour and a half. But when we go pick her up at the bus station, there's a twist. Of course. She has two 24 year old backpackers from England with her who say they want to come to our hostel to stay there too. BANDERAS ROJAS. RED FLAGS. Grace is super friendly (sometimes too friendly). But Molly and I are thinking, "Why would want to show these guys we don't know our hostel?" But after some consideration (in Spanish which they didn't understand) we decided it was still early enough that it wasn't a big deal to show them where our hostel was.

Once we got there and were deciding where to go to eat, Grace suddenly started talking about how she had to go talk to the guys to see if they had her book. She seemed distressed so Molly and I just lounged around waiting for her to get her "book" and get ready to go. As we were walking out though I asked her if she got it back and she said no. Long story short: Grace left her passport on the bus and didn't want to tell us so she had these guys go back and convince (who knows how because they know no Portuguese or Spanish) the janitors into letting them back on the bus to search for her passport. With this feat in their record, we decided the boys could eat dinner with us. They passed test number two when, after dinner, Matt suggested going out for a cup of tea. I laughed outloud at his suggestion, which he though was because I didn't like tea or though it was a dumb suggestion. No way José. I just have never had a guy ask me if I wanted to go for a cup of tea. Good guys.

The next day, Molly, Grace and I went out for pancakes! YESSS. Honestly the only food I missed from home. Not quite sure why but I was super excited to be able to eat some good old pancakes for breakfast. Dearest Hope friends, I refrained from destroying them on the plate - you'd be proud. Then we went over the beach and lounged until it was time for Molly and I to go meet our kayak group for the afternoon.

Right before we were about to leave, Grace and the guys and the guys showed up and decided to come too. So we all paired up and embarked on our kayaking adventure in the ocean and along the beaches. The trip was about 3 hours, including a half hour pit stop to go snorkeling in the Ocean. I had never snorkeled before so of course I had to take part... but by the time I got out my hands were blue. Although it is possible to go swimming in the Atlantic Ocean in October, its probably not the best idea.

In the 3 hours, we kayaked through some of the tiny openings in the rocks and into some sweet grottos . Molly and I had some mad skills. We didn't get stuck a foot out of water on some rocks like some people we know (cough cough Luke and Grace cough). Overall it was a great afternoon and Molly and I (the only all-girl kayak) held our own along side all the athletic couples and guys. I don't have any pictures of us kayaking on my camera because I was not about to bring out my SLR in the middle of the waves and rocks. Sooo you'll just have to imagine some good looking girls in a bright yellow kayak with super cheesey smiles. Queso!

Saturday night was super fun, we went out with Matt, Luke, and two other girls from Australia who Matt had gone to high school with and happened to be staying in the same hostel. El mundo es como un pañuelo. (The world is like a handkerchief. Aka: Its a small world). We went out for drinks and went dancing and were very thankful to have the guapos there to protect us from other leering Portuguese men or American boys. Our group was a good mix of serious and silly; we had a lot of fun but were able to hold legitimate conversations as well. Molly taught Matt the Wisconson fist pump, which by the end of the night had become the dance move of choice since it could be adapted to fit basically any song. The two-person shower adaptation will possibly be returning to the states with us. I attempted to explain the Pull and Nykerk to everyone and realized mid-description how strange Hope's traditions truly are. Good thing I love them anyway :) Matt and Luke were true gentleman the entire time, something I have not encountered in Spain or the States in a long time. Honestly, when is the last time a guy offered to make you tea when everyone is lounging around on the sofas? Let me check... never.

Which brings me to one of my first discoveries of homesickness. Although Molly and I were appropriately wary of the boys, we were able to catch their social cues, understand their humor, and have an in-depth conversation with them. We were able to build relationships over a short period of time that made us feel comfortable spending with them. In Spain, we are forced to be even more wary. We can't always catch their side comments to friends, we don't understand their concept of women, and we don't understand their social norms to trust they are what they seem. Its sad, isn't it? The fact that we live in a world where we can't take someone's word, we can't enjoy the prospect of meeting new people in strange situations. We took a chance on Luke and Matt, one that paid off and ended up being a great weekend. But I miss the opportunity to take those chances in Spain because of the fall of mankind we read about on a daily basis. I guess I just have to continue enjoying the opportunities CIEE provides for us and hope that we will meet gentleman of the same caliber in Spain.

But Portugal... major success :)