Update!

¡Hola, everyone!

I can't believe it's been so long since I've written on here. I thought I was going to be so good! I wanted to write a post about my trip to Portugal, but after a long conversation with my BFF Cara who's studying in Florence right now, I realized there are just so many things to share! Expect a Portugal post later this week, though. ;)

Some updates!:

• Time is flying by. Seriously. The fact that it's even been two weeks since I've written here is crazy. I am so thankful that I have two semesters here. There is so much I want to see!
• I can (finally) tell my speaking has improved. I was getting a little upset last week, because I thought I would notice some growth within my first three weeks. I think it was a mix of both high expectations and the inability to really notice improvement on your own day by day. Last night at dinner, though, Olivia (roomie) and I were able to talk much faster and much more. We both didn't realize until today. I have so much farther to go, but I have started keeping a separate journal with vocabulary words, phrases, and grammar concepts that I need to work on. Yes, I did this on my own... loser? I'm just obsessed with this language and can't wait for the day when it just comes naturally. 
• Tomorrow, I am going to start volunteering at an elementary school! I went to see the school yesterday. It is about a 20 minute bus ride/ 30 minute walk away in a really cool neighborhood called "La Macarena." I will be assisting in a 4th grade classroom during their language studies. The school is very nice, complete with ceramic tiled walls and a vegetable/plant garden. I can't wait to speak lots of Spanish with my new 9-year-old friends, while helping them with their English, as well!
• My bike pass finally arrived! Sevilla is a very flat city, so biking is huge here. As I mentioned in an older post, every sidewalk has a separate bike lane. They have a system called "Sevici" that has a ton of locations all around the city where you can rent bikes. I had to wait two weeks to get my Sevici card, so now that I have it I love to ride bikes everywhere! With the card, it is always free for the first 30 minutes, and then after that each hour is only 50 Euro cents (less than $1). 
• My classes are going well. Last week, I gave a 20 minute presentation and wrote a paper about the education gap in the U.S. between Latinos and non-Latinos in my "Spanish in America" class. Other than that, I have not had any homework. The classes are two hours each, twice a week, so we are able to read and go over things in that period of time.
• I had a small medical problem two weeks ago... I couldn't hear anything out of my right ear. It was so funny and pathetic all at the same time. I ended up going to the doctor, and now it's all fine.
• Ben is coming to visit in two and a half weeks! We are spending about 5 and a half days in Sevilla, and then going to Rome for a few days. I can't wait! I started a list today in class of all the things I want to do when he's here. :)
• I officially have all but one of my trips planned! My weekend trips this semester will include: Portugal (last weekend), Granada, Rome, Florence, and Paris. My parents and I are still planning a weekend trip for when they come for Thanksgiving week.
• Last, but certainly not least... After a few weeks of searching for something pumpkin-flavored in Sevilla with my friend Alex (and I mean ANYTHING- we even looked at Dunkin Donuts...), I am happy to announce that today we found the most amazing pumpkin bread at Sevilla's big market, El Mercado de Triana. I miss Fall... 

Since I have officially lived in Sevilla for a month, I think I can make some conclusions about the Spanish culture and how it differs from the U.S.

Some cultural differences I've noticed so far:

• Spaniards like to dress up. It seems like women past their 20's wear wedges all day, every day.
• Electricity and water are very expensive here, so it's impolite to leave the light on if you're stepping out of the room even for just a bit, and long showers are a no-no. 
• Spaniards are never in a rush. Ever. This has sometimes been a challenge for my American, always-in-a-hurry self, but I have learned to appreciate it. Waiters never rush you. In fact, you have to call them over and ask them for the check, because it is rude for them to bring it to you. Also, everyone walks pretty slow- especially older people. Almost every day I am greeted by a chain of elderly Spanish women taking up the entire sidewalk. I kid you not, four of them will link arms and walk slower than I could have ever imagined...
• The Spanish culture, in general, is much less worrisome than the American culture. One thing that has surprised me is that more than half of the dogs I see are not kept on leashes- in the city center!
• They smoke a lot more than in the U.S. I knew this one coming in, but I've been surprised by all of the young people smoking, as well.
• Socializing is done outside the home. My host mom, Eva, is constantly meeting up with friends for beer and a tapa (small portions of food that are very common here). 
• Speaking of socializing outside the home, everyone drinks in the streets at night. Literally, groups of hundreds of people will stand outside in the street drinking Cruzcampo, the beer of choice here in Sevilla. It's so fun.
• Beer is the most popular drink. When I came here, I was expecting wine to be a lot bigger. One of my professors said it's because it's so hot here in the south of Spain, and in the North wine is much bigger. 
• Ice cream is EVERYWHERE. I'm not sure if this is a Spanish thing, European thing, or just a way for the people here in the south of Spain to keep cool during the 90 degree October days (and the 110+ degree summer days....) It's literally on every corner and is so tempting.
• They seriously do not know the concept of a line. If you ever want to get anything done, you have to either cut or be aggressive. Bathroom lines, the coffee bar at the university, at the Foreigner's Office where I went to take care of something for my visa... everywhere. 

I could go on and on... I'll have to add more at the end of the semester.

For now, I leave you with some pictures of Barrio Santa Cruz, a neighborhood in Sevilla that was the old Jewish ghetto before the 1492 Inquisition that expelled all Jews from Spain. It is without a doubt the most beautiful and charming area in Sevilla, with extremely narrow streets known as "kissing lanes," exclusive private residencies with gardens, lots of plazas, and lots of cute places to eat.

My friends and I did a self-guided walking tour from Rick Steve's book that I had on my kindle. It was awesome and brought us to so many different places we most likely never would have been able to find within the maze that is Barrio Santa Cruz.

We started by the Giralda Tower/ Cathedral.

Patio de Banderas (above) was once a military parade ground. Rick Steves described this as a "postcard view." :)

Monasterio de San José de Carmen: where Mother Theresa stayed when she visited Sevilla!

Casa de Murillo: one of Sevilla's most famous painters, Bartolomé Esteban Murillo (1618-1682), lived here.

An adorable tea shop that I couldn't resist... I got some awesome loose tea called "Té aires de Sevilla", which mesns roughly "Sevilla's air." 

Plaza de los Venerables

Alex & me! There is such beautiful ceramic tile EVERYWHERE!

We spotted a cool rooftop bar/lounge, so we decided to go! We were pleasantly surprised by this view...

We ordered some champagne and toasted to how incredibly lucky and blessed we were to be there in that moment!