Algunos pensamientos y reflecciones / Some Thoughts and Reflections

I want to post a few thoughts about Spain in general this time. Expect this entry to be kind of rambling…

The traffic signals in Sevilla don’t make sense. There are times where it seems like everyone has a red light. Because of this, jaywalking happens all the time. In fact, you stick out like a sore thumb if you don’t jaywalk. Even the little old ladies do it. This makes walking anywhere an adventure. Speaking of walking – all the ISA people kept saying we’d be walking so much in Spain and it would take so much getting used. I’m already used to walking around UCLA, and I swear I walk less here than I did there. Or maybe it just feels like it because Sevilla is flat, a nice relief from the hills of Westwood!

Things are expensive here. It’s like the same numerical price as in the US but in euros, and the exchange rate sucks so that makes things REALLY expensive. You know something else? There are way more smokers here than in the US. It sucks because I hate the smell of cigarette smoke, and when you go out at night, people are smoking right next to you. I’ve been having a seriously difficult time getting the smoke smell out of my hair. I wonder what Spanish women do…live with it?

I have good days and bad days when it comes to speaking Spanish. There are some days where I understand almost nothing. There are other days where I can speak it fairly quickly (quickly, not well). On our first night in Sevilla, our host mom told me and Maggie that it takes 2-3 weeks to feel comfortable. I’ve been here two weeks now and I feel like I’m starting o hit a frustration point with Spanish. I still love hearing and seeing it, but sometimes I just feel really held back by the language barrier. I’m definitely outside of my comfort zone, which was one of the purposes of this trip, but it’s very frustrating sometimes. Like when the metro was having problems and I had to wait for the angry Spaniards to finish talking to the security guy (b/c they talked too fast for me to understand) and then I had to ask what was going on. Everything has worked out so far, and I’m sure it’ll get easier with time, but right now it’s still hard!

Kind of random, but I keep getting asked for directions, usually in the metro station. And 4 out of 5 times someone has asked, I’ve known the answer and given it in (iffy) Spanish. I’m kind of proud of myself for that. One of these people was a Paraguayan woman (no sevillano accent so she was easier to understand) and we had a short conversation after that. I’m hearing enough Spanish that it’s starting to seep into my dreams a little bit (only in weird ways, and I’m always very aware that it’s Spanish), which I think is cool.

I’ve been doing some travel planning, which is exciting. ISA has excursions planned for us that include Lisbon, Ronda, Córdoba, and Granada (I feel like I’m forgetting one). I also plan to do the optional ISA trip to Morocco. In addition to IA trips, I have two more trips planned with friends. I’m going to Croatia in November (with Malia and Ryan) and Greece in December (with Lori, Katie, and Alyssa). Depending on money/timing, I might try to go to Barcelona or maybe Cinque Terre as well. I feel like I should take advantage of all these amazing places while I’m living here! I love living in Europe. There’s just something about it…

Today I went with Lauren and Lori to Cádiz. It was just under a 2-hour train ride to this beautiful old city and beach. It was sooooooo much fun and very relaxing. I’ve decided I like the renfe trains (that’s what they call the Spanish train system) a lot better than Amtrak. Renfe trains are just so nice and smooth…

On the whole, I’m starting to feel more settled here. I think I’ve made some good friends, and I have a lot to look forward to. Classes have been really manageable so far and there’s been lots of fun things to do after class. Of course I’m still missing my family like crazy (I have some REALLY homesick moments – like when I see a cat – and let me know tell you there are cats all over here just wandering around), but I’m trying to focus on enjoying my time here. As of today it’s only three months until I go home! The first couple weeks went by both really fast and really slow…I suppose life is like that. ¡Hasta luego amigos!