Explore. Dream. Discover.

Let me start off by apologizing for taking forever and a half to write another entry in my blog. I’ve been so caught up with my first full week of school, exploring downtown Sevilla, and planning weekend trips, that my blog sometimes gets pushed aside. So let’s see, what have I been up to this past week and a half ?…Well, last week I completed my first full week of school here in Spain and all seems to be going well. I’m taking four classes which include international marketing, international finance, Español de negocios (Spanish for business), and Español Avanzado (advanced Spanish). I was relieved to find that all my teachers are really nice and extremely helpful, and they almost never give homework. So, much unlike American universities where you have about 5-6 hours of homework every night, and then two tests, three quizzes, and one research paper all due on the same day, here in España it’s about one hour of homework then time for a siesta :) Oh and did I mention I have all Fridays off! Yep that’s right, so my weekend begins after school on Thursday (11:50am) and lasts until Sunday night! So that leaves a lot of time for weekend trips!!

Speaking of weekend trips, two weekends ago Callie, Brooke, Joe, Elliott, and I went to Matalascañas to soak up the sun and enjoy the beach. The bus ride only took an hour (in a coach bus may I add…we role in style here..lol..not really) and with Joe and Elliott’s hilarious stories and antics, the ride went by really fast. The beach was incredible (aside from the topless women with bikini bottoms that look like dental floss). My favorite part about Matalascañas was definitely the history behind it. Sitting on the shore of the beach is a massive leftover watchtower that was one of the seven defense towers built by Phillip II in the 16th century in to protect Spain's coast from Turkish and North African invaders…after years of wear and tear it’s nothing too extravagant to look at, but the history makes up for what it lacks in looks. 

Matalascañas

This weekend we decided to stay local, save money, and get to know our hometown of Sevilla a bit better. Callie, Brooke, and I toured El Real Alcázar, which is a royal palace that was built in the 14^th century to house the royals when they came to Sevilla. The palace still hosts the royal family from time to time whenever they venture to southern Spain. El Real Alcázar was absolutely incredible and words cannot describe the detail and skilled craftsmanship that went into building that palace. However, the most beautiful part of the palace had to have been the royal gardens which take up more room than the actual palace. The royal gardens were perfectly manicured and filled with flowers, palm trees, hedges, massive trees, and tranquil fountains tucked away in secret corners. It was amazing walking through the gardens…aside from getting run down by a mama peacock that was getting quite defensive of her baby (uhhh me and birds!).

  

Royal Gardens of El Real Alcázar

Overall, I’ve had two amazing weekends in a row. I’ve started to push through my homesickness and open my eyes to see how blessed I am to have this amazing opportunity to live, study, explore and experience Spain. I think every now and then we get so caught up in our own world and petty little problems that we let slip away some amazing opportunities, sights, experiences, and creations that God has sent our way. Like my roommate Callie quoted to me a few days ago from a Carrie Underwood song (ah love my country roomie!) “While you're sitting around thinking about what you can't change and worrying about all the wrong things, time's flying by- moving so fast, you better make it count ‘cause you can't get it back.” 

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” ~ Mark Twain

Mi Cuarto (my room)

Sooo this is a picture of my room that I share with the lovely Callie Self. As you can see, our room is…humble, yet welcoming. My bed is the one on the far right with Kingsley, my koala bear sitting on the bed (he decided to sneak into the photo). I have my pictures taped onto the wall right next to my bed, so I get to see the people (and animals) I love every morning when I wake up, and every evening before I fall asleep.

Mi cuarto and I have a love/hate relationship at the moment. I love it because it’s cozy, tidy, and the view from my window is awesome, but some days (mainly nights actually) the hate side of our relationship rears its head. 

Not having any air conditioning in Sevilla, where the average temperature right now is 100F (37c), does present its challenges to say the least. Waking up in a puddle of sweat with your pajamas sticking to you isn’t exactly ideal. How bout a fan? How bout not. Believe me that was the first thing Callie and I thought of after waking up glistening with a layer of sweat stuck to us. The thing is, here in Spain, electricity is ridiculously expensive so our host mom doesn’t want us to leave anything plugged in. She’s also a bit paranoid about sparking a fire (I think that’s what she was trying to tell us…still working on this Spanish to English translation). So, we are only allowed to use the fan during our siesta (nap from 2-5) and trust me, Callie and I crank that baby!

We have to leave the windows open for some air circulation...especially at night, but since we live in the city, its sirens, horns, cars/bikes revving their engines (cuz apparently the street outside our building is the NASCAR speedway), music, and loud voices 24/7. Or should I say ONE loud voice that Callie and I like to call “The Pterodactyl” (you know…the flying dinosaur, yeah that’s how it’s spelled, I googled). She is a quite an “abundant” woman who owns a shop right outside our apartment building and stays up until about 1am every night, smoking and drinking with her amigas, and letting out her sporadic pterodactyl screeches. So the noise, coupled with the heat comparable to that of the Sahara desert, makes a goodnights sleep pretty rare. Thankfully I’m able to wedge earplugs into my inner ear which helps mask some of the noise. I’m sure after a few more weeks I won’t be able to notice the noise nor the heat. Aside from the earplugs, I brought along my little koala bear friend, Kingsley, who certainly helps me sleep better (yes I know I’m 20 years old). Having Kingsley here gives me a sense of the familiarity of home, and reminds me of a certain special someone.

All in all, I guess I have to say that love outweighs the hate just by a little bit, and I do love my room, aside from a few imperfections. My room is teaching me to appreciate the everyday things I take for granted like air conditioning and silence. I’ve noticed the imperfections are what make it unique and different. Everything has imperfections, and nothing/no one would be interesting if it were all perfect.

"A diamond with a flaw is worth more than a pebble without imperfections" ~ Chinese Proverb

I've Arrived!

Hola a todos! After being in Sevilla, Spain for a little over a week, I finally decided to put my siesta to good use today and start my blog! A week ago I left the comfort and familiarity of my home in Chicago and embarked on my adventure to Sevilla. The morning of my flight was exciting, bittersweet, and stressful all at the same time. I spend the first half of the morning doing my last minute packing, and checking and rechecking my list of things to bring (yes, I do love my lists..Brooke and Eddie). The second half I relaxed and tried to mentally prepare myself to leave my "comfort zone" of familiar places and faces, and venture out into my "push zone" of the unknown. After loading my bags into the car, and saying some tearful goodbyes to my family, my mom and I headed to the airport where I met up with Brooke, one of my good friends from school who is also studying abroad in Sevilla thank God!! We both said our final goodbyes to our families and headed off to our gate, but not without first running into Miley Cyrus and momentarily stalking her through the international terminal.

My first flight was from Chicago to London, and took about 7 hours. From London we flew to Madrid, where I experienced my first taste of Spain…while also walking a 35 minute maze to get to my next gate…I’ve honestly never been to an airport more confusing than Madrid’s. From Madrid we finally flew to our final destination (and my home for the next four months) of Sevilla. After struggling with our 500 lb suitcases, Brooke and I caught a cab (or should I say formula one racecar) to our apartment complexes which are luckily on the same street, Avenida de la Paz.

VIEW FROM MY ROOM

Once we arrived, Brooke and I stepped out into the sweltering heat, paid the racecar driver, and went our separate ways (which is only a 55 second walk/13 second drive away…thanks google maps). My host mom, Mari Paz (sporting some sassy floral print short shorts at the age of 55), and my roommate Callie, came down to meet me and help me with my suitcases. Once in apartment 7A, I met my adorable 62 year old host dad, Jose Luis, and was shown to my room which I share with Callie, whom I was relived to find is a completely normal and friendly southern belle from Mississippi (with an amazing voice!!). She showed me around, translated a few Spanish words I couldn’t quite understand, and taste tested my first meal of deep-fried chicken nugs and tortilla Espanola (epitome of health).

My first night here was tough. Definitely shed a few tears, especially when I was putting up a few pictures of my family, boyfriend, puppies, and kitty right near my bed. I know it’s completely normal for me to feel the way I do, and I know in a few weeks time I’ll be acclimated and having the time of my life! 

"The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page." ~Saint Augustine