Well for a hand full of reasons it has taken me forever to post again! Sorry for that. It doesn't feel like I've been here that long but already my program is 1/4 over and time is literally flying by! I was sick for a week or two and then became REALLY sick and finally three weeks after starting to feel ill I can say with a sigh of relief that my throat doesn't hurt, my ribs don't feel like they're collapsing, and I can breath through my nose again! I noticed yesterday as I was walking I could smell the sweetness of the air as I crossed the river; I was so excited which makes and I feel like I can finally appreciate all the little details now. 

In addition to physically being under the weather, I had a laptop scare the other night when I sat down to write this post... that is, the laptop didn't work! I can't really say what the problem was but I can say that I was freaking out! But it literally just turned on the next day randomly and I'm not going to jinx it by asking questions! But excuses aside, I'm still having an amazing time here! Everyday is a new adventure and I feel like I'm getting into the true rhythm of Sevilla.

As promised in my last post I want to tell you about my classes. I'm taking a total of five courses, two in Spanish and three in English. I signed up for all Spanish taught classes but didn't get into many courses I wanted. Of the English courses one is a photography class which I'm really enjoying and the teacher doesn't speak the best English so it often feels like a Spanish course! But in all seriousness, I'm lucky to be in that class because it was full when I arrived. I went and talked to the Academic Dean the first day of classes and he put me into the course simply because I took the initiative to go and talk to him! I was so happy and now I have an excuse to be taking photos so hopefully I'll do so enthusiastically for the whole time I'm here!

This is a pic I took for the photo class. As per usual, I'm leaning towards black and white photos that have interesting lines, abstract features, and a surrealist view. Although being here feels a little surreal at times I also am trying to explore new techniques and having a class with actual assignments is keeping my photographs varied and I'm constantly keeping my eye out for interesting perspectives and subject matter.  

My other two English courses are taught by Mary Alice Soriero who I find facinating. She has a very interesting past and her insight into course materials and everyday life for that matter is unique and refreshing. She is pictured here on the right. I'm taking a cultural stereotypes course with her that comparatively analyzies the differences between the United States and Spain and in this picture she is translating for the group what the woman on the left was saying. This day we took a field trip to La Fundacion Tres Cultures which is located in a beautiful building built during the World Fair as the Turkish Expo. The foundation now works to promote understanding between all the Mediterranean countries.

This is another photo taken on the same field trip. This is Robyn Johnson, one of the friend's I've made here! We were on the roof at this point and in the background you can see a mosaic and some lamps. The inside of the building was really incredible and it was a great experience! The other course I'm taking with Mary Alice is one of my favorites! It's called Teaching Tongues and we are learning how to teach English as a second language. Half the course will be done in the class room and the second half is a field study in which we are assigned a school to teach two or three times a week at! I signed up to teach young kids, like 6-9, or adult learners. Either way it would be an interesting experience and I'm eager to get my assignment!

As for my Spanish courses, one is a grammar class which is fairly strait forward. The professor is young and I like him a lot! The other is taught at Universidad Pablo de Olavide which requires me to take the Metro for 30 mins to the suburbs of Seville! The course is interesting and deals with Medieval Spain, with specific emphasis on the Jews, Muslims, and Christians. I'm finding it easy to take notes in Spanish and we are reading texts that are difficult but my professor is great and takes the time to make sure all material is clear!

One of the greatest spots in Seville in my opinion is Plaza de España, pictured above. Its hard to describe how beautiful it is but hopefully these photos give you an idea! Its located in the middle of El Parque Maria Luisa which reminds me of New York's Central Park. You can rent bikes and ride through the park or rent a boat and paddle around the plaza if you like! If your a Star Wars fan you may recognize this building because they use it in one of the movies. 

 Just because I'm in Spain doesn't mean I didn't watch the Super Bowl! Phoenix, a bar just down the street from my apartment housed me and a bunch of other kids in my program as we watched the Pats defeat :( But that's okay... I was more disappointed when the Niners were eliminated! Either way it was a good excuse to drink beer, get loud, and not be ashamed of being AMURICAN!

As much fun as the night life is, I have to say it's my favorite just to sit next to the river and soak up some rays! It's not as warm as you may expect here though! We average at about 60 everyday but by the end of the month we should be getting closer to the 80's and I can't wait! Because I didn't bring a winter jacket, every morning I bundle up in two or three of my lighter jackets and I'm still cold!

WE HAD OUR FIRST EXCURSION THIS WEEKEND TO CORDOBA AND GRANDA

yay!

CORDOBA

We didn't have much time in Cordoba, only a few hours, but from what we saw it was really beautiful!

The main tourist attraction in Cordoba is the Cathedral located there (and pictured below). From my Medieval Spain course I know that originally the Muslims built it as a Mosque and when the Christians conquered the city, they built a Cathedral inside the Mosque itself! It's hard to describe the inside because you can at times look to your right and see hundreds of arches painted with dark colors using reds and blues as highlights. Then if you look to your left you see a high vaulted cieling with bright white decorations. Its a heavy contrast and the details between each side is very different, for example, Muslims never depict the human form in their buildings and instead use fountains and gardens to ellude to paradise. The Christians on the other hand have numbers of human statues and many figures of Christ thoughout their part of the Cathedral! 

in this shot you can see the white of the Cathedral behind the arches of the Mosque

This is where the sermons were held and still are. The brown area is actually the seats for the Choir and the details are incredibly intricate. It's hard to believe this was done by hand!

The streets in Cordoba are tiny and you really feel like you walking through the past. 

This man was all kinds of sexy and he enjoyed having an audience to play for!

Better late then never

Well, here I am in Sevilla! I've been here two weeks now and it's about time I start documenting my experience. I'm creating this blog for family and friends who if interested can hear some of the details of my trip. I don't know how good I will be about posting but hopefully I will do a post every week!

This is the view from my apartment! We live on the second floor of a building on Calle Virgen de Guaditoca which is in Los Remedios, a very residential area in Seville. We are over the main river and it takes about thirty minutes to walk to the center of Seville. But my residential area has its own appeal!  In Los Remedios there are a three or four busy streets that have shops, food, banks, etc. The shopping in this area is much cheeper than if you were to shop in the center and this side of the river is known for all the bars ;)

 

When walking around in this area you really feel like you are in a city. The buildings are not as beautiful as other parts of the city but the people are a little more down to earth here and its a little dirtier, which I am enjoying actually! I have three roommates but I have my own bedroom and our apartment is reallllly nice. Its not even two years old and the details are beautiful. Here is a few shots de nuestra casa:

My Bedroom

The Kitchen

Living Room

These aren't the best pictures of our place but just enough so you can picture it!

Meet Arielle and Keliana! Basically my home girls and my connection to the social world! They live in an apartment with 12 girls and everyone is great! Such a good group dynamic and they have all basically taken me in as an adopted roommate because I'm almost always hanging out there! I was so relieved when I met so many cool people here and everyday I make more connections and friends. I've recently met people from my own area and its been cool getting to know my city with all these new people. Just the other day on the Metro I met a girl who live four streets away from me and she gave me the scoop on some of her favorite places in the area and I'm eager to check them out!

 Seville moves at a slower pace than I'm used to but that's fine! With all this time you can really explore and take in the city. Looking down small streets you often see glimpses of building tops and towers and its really breathtaking! If you don't take your time you might miss it. Time here is completely the opposite of home. In the states we say "time is money" but here they say "rush kills!" Everyone has a job and works hard, but their job is just a job. People here really know how to relax and enjoy life on a day to day basis. I've been late a few times getting to class and was forced to run and people quite literally stop and stare! You don't run here unless you are doing so for exercise and I believe everyone must have been thinking I had a relative on the deathbed or something! haha

 One of my favorite things here are the Spanish guitars! Its so beautiful and even small timers just playing on the corner sound fabulous! I've been trying to learn guitar back home and I enjoy watching the difference in technique and style. Last night I attended my first Flamenco Show and I wish I had pictures for you but I didn't bring my camera. The strength and intensity displayed by the performers was amazing and the girl dancing the Flamenco looked just like Sarabii from the Lion King! But everything from the costumes to the music was powerful!

This is a view from El Catedral which was breathtaking inside and out! This is one of the first touristy places I visited and I spent hours walking around. This picture was taken from a high point in one of the towers. You can climb up to a bell tower and get a great view of the city as well as the outside features of the Catedral. Here you see an interior garden which is filled with orange trees. The orange trees here are beautiful and abundant but they don't produce a sweet fruit. The trees are stripped every year and the oranges are exported to make marmalade.

The inside was huge and absolutely stunning. There were too many individual features to take in the whole thing but what I did see took my breath away. The high vaulted ceilings gave it a airy feeling and from the moment you enter your head is titled back to look up and the spender. The stain glass windows were also beautiful and the organ piece was very complex and intricate.

To my surprise, Christopher Columbus' tomb was here! He is being held here by four statues and at first I was drawn to the site not even knowing its significance. Most of my pictures from inside the Catedral are blurry because it was dark inside but you get the idea!

These shots are from the structure at La Plaza Mayor which the Spaniards affectionately call The Mushroom. Its a funky structure in the heart of the shopping district which when you climb to the top you can see all of Sevilla! When construction began for this, the diggers discovered old ruins just below the dirt and they then had to stop the production. But they were able to create this structure around the ruins and now you can go below and see all the ruins which have been protected. Its basically an unofficial museum! 

What else can I tell you?? People here eat lunch at two, dinner at nine, and they go out to the bars and clubs at three! Yes... three in the morning! Its been hard adjusting but I'm finding myself enjoying it now! Although, I'm really sick after having gone out and partying a little too much! But I can't say I would have done it any differently!

Also, random note, dogs here are too cool. The leash laws that exist in the States are not relevant here in the least! People walk around and their dogs just follow them around! People often let their dogs out in the morning, the dogs go out exploring by themselves for a couple hours, and then they go home! It's kinda funny seeing all these dogs out and about on their own agenda!

I want to tell you about my classes but I'm going to save it for the next post! 

Hasta la proxima vez!

Marielle