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.
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| 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 14th 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!).
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| 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!) “
“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
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