So this is me writing from a house with HEAT, eating vegetables and peanut butter and speaking English! You have no idea how amazing this feels. This weekend, Kathryn and I came to Puerto de Santa Maria to visit a friend from the States. Wait…rewind… not exactly a friend, more like a lady who I met for five minutes at a party, who scribbled down her email address for me on a napkin. However, my roommate and I were homesick so I pulled the crumbled pieces of the napkin from the bottom of my suitcase and emailed Connie.

Connie was a gift from God. And when I say that I mean she had the white gown, the wings, the halo, the works. When we arrived on Friday afternoon, we were greeted with a basket of any and all now cherished American items. There were Triscuits, granola bars, chocolate, Chex mix, and most importantly the latest issues of People and Marie Claire! Although it rained the entire time we were here, it was still the most incredible weekend simply spending time with Connie and her two sixth Grade girls: Carlie and Haley. We walked around downtown Rota, it rained; we walked on the beach, it rained; we walked around Ronda, it rained. We just got back home and I am now seeing a glimpse of the sun popping out from behind the clouds.

Ronda is a little historic town in the south of Spain known for its old fashioned walkways, its hilltop view, and its historic bridge. I bought a postcard showing what the walkways would have looked like. They were beautiful. Then we drove around the city, and probably around the same one way streets 20 times trying to find our way out. Finally, after passing the bright pink car for the sixth time, we decided to take a different road. Just when we thought it couldn’t get worse, we ended up driving straight up a set of stairs, ending up on the top of a mountain, not being able to turn around, and backing straight back down the staircase in the pouring rain. Connie was trying to stay calm, Kathryn was soaking wet, I was panicking, Carly was saying her Hail Maries and Haley was playing her Gameboy.

The cloud-covered view of the valley through the back window was incredible.

Finally, after giving up and deciding to leave the city, we ended up finding the historic bridge. I got out of the car and was instantly whacked in the face with a gust of rain. Katherine’s umbrella turned inside out and we scrambled to take pictures, like all other desperate tourists, of the most picturesque scene in Spain. I have included one here. Dump water over your head to get more of the feel.

Well, I’m leaving tomorrow, so I must go now and store up some food to survive the long week with Inca.

As promised, here is the next installment of my weekly blog, only 5 days late. I have just been so busy with all of my studies here I haven’t found the time to write (yes, Jill and Laura, I am sucking up). School started last Monday, and I still haven’t gotten used to the schedule. My stomach is constantly grumbling because we don’t eat dinner until 9:30!

The first day we were in our house, I noticed there was no soap in the bathroom. Unfortunately, I made the mistake of asking Inca for “sopa” (soup) and proceeded to nod along as she went on and on about how much she loved “sopa” as well. At least this would be a cleanly household. I have been with Inca 14 days now, and I have consequently eaten 14 bowls of soup. Besides the monotony of food (I really did like the croquettas the first 6 times), Inca’s house is quite the pleasure. Spanish houses don’t have heat. The first week we were here, “stoofy” the estufa (heater) became our best friend. However, on Saturday, the war began. It reminded me a little of the war between the mom and dad in A Christmas Story over the leg lamp. Every time we were in the room, we would turn on stoofy and sit near her and adore her radiant heat. Every time Inca came in the room, she would turn it off unplug it and put it away. Finally, Saturday night, we had come in from the cold outside to the even colder inside, and we realized that stoofy was nowhere to be found. According to Inca, the neighbors had called and complained that the estufa was “broken” and was making too much noise. I have never heard stoofy utter a peep, but I can say that I thought a freight train was passing by our window until I realized that the clanging and whistling noises were coming from our sleeping senora next door. Last night, “stoofy”-less, I slept in two pairs of pants, a coat, a scarf and a hat. If I had known I would be studying abroad in Antarctica, I would have brought my parka.

But that’s enough about Inca, I could talk about her forever. She is quite the little goody bag.

Even though, I’ve only been here for two weeks, I already feel like a native of Sevilla. Since sitting here in the Parque Maria Luisa, three people have already asked me for directions! Oh, wow, o.k… via writing this…yes, I am not kidding, right after writing that sentence, I realized how much of a naive tourist I am. Those friendly folks that were asking me for directions…yes they just stole my IPOD. The first one who asked me directions I’m sure was scoping out for what valuables I had. The second was a distraction while the first grabbed around my back .The third, well I think the third was really lost. Just when I was getting excited about looking European and being a good neighbor, I was brought back to earth that I will forever be a Sperry wearing blonde.

Welcome to the neighborhood

P.S. The caption to the picture: Who I want to be in 50 years. Except I want to be listening to my IPOD.

Hola a todos!

I remember from a Spanish class I took in high school that Spain speaks the fastest Spanish in the world. I have read that Sevilla speaks the fastest Spanish in Spain. And during our orientation, the group leader asked who was staying with Incarnita…us… and proceeded to inform us that Incarnita speaks the fastest Spanish of anyone she knows in Sevilla. Excellent. I am currently living with/ trying to communicate with the fastest Spanish speaker in the world.

Incarnita is definitely a character. The first day I met her and her husband Carlos, I laughed so hard that I cried, even though I could only grasp about every tenth word. She uses hand motions constantly, she loves to shrivel up her face, and she can sound like any animal she chooses. Last night, we had story time for over an hour and she proceeded to tell us a story about a lady with boobs of silicon (we caught on when she started grabbing her own), and then there was a story about a baby in a trash can (or it may have been a dog, I couldn’t tell if she was barking or crying). It is kind of like an ongoing game of charades. I am anxious to get to the point when I can actually follow the stories because they seem extremely interesting. Also, for any of you who have seen the movie “Mean Girls”, Incarnita looks a lot like Regina George’s mother. She is a “cool mom”.

Every day for lunch we get soup, salad, and whatever kind of fried ball she decides to make for the day. We usually get potato chips or French fries tambien. She must have a deep fryer in the kitchen because for dinner we have fried balls again (filled with some sort of ham/tuna/ potatoes/cheese) and fries. I haven’t really decided yet what Spanish food is going to do to my body, but I am a little worried. I walk a lot every day, but just in case: please don’t make fun of me when I get home. I’m just trying to be polite.

The times here are very different as well. Every day there is a siesta from 2-5! Most of the stores are closed and everyone takes 3 hours to rest/ have fun. I think this would be an excellent idea to instill in the United States to reduce stress levels. It is absolutely amazing. The one drawback is that I love to sight see at these times, which is perfect, except that everything is closed.

Every day on my way to class, I have to walk through the Parque de Maria Luisa. It is the most gorgeous place I have ever been. Yesterday, we went to hang out there and look at a lot of the glorietas in the park. I decided it would be fun to feed the birds but before I had even taken out my money to buy the seed, I had at least 8 birds all over my body! It was so much fun, except for the fact that my favorite tan coat is now tinted a little bit green. I guess the food goes through them pretty fast.

Anyways, I am in the hotel we stayed at the first night, stealing their free Wi-Fi like your typical hobo, so I should leave before they shoo us out with a broom.

City of Oranges

Typical tourist as I am, I arrived today in Sevilla at around 3:30 and I was out of the hotel, camera in hand by 4:00. I actually felt quite refreshed because I took three sleeping pills today (or was it yesterday?) After 2 years of tossing and turning for at least an hour a night, I feel like a kid who just discovered cake. I had no idea the luxury I was living without. I fell asleep for 90% of the flight (my seat reclining mechanism was broken), and I slept through the entire bus ride to Sevilla (thank God I had my friend Jason next to me to poke me extensively at our stop).

As I emerged from the hotel, I looked up to discover a beautiful orange tree! I quickly unzipped my fanny pack and whipped out my camera to grab a shot. I looked down the street and I realized there were about 300 more lining the sidewalks. In fact, as we got lost trying to navigate the back alleyways that were not even listed on our map, I don't actually recall a moment when an orange was not in sight. Therefore, I have deemed this city my "city of oranges". Given I have an addiction to orange juice/ oranges/ any other orange flavored food, I have decided that I am going to like it here.

Following my usual "hit and run" approach to city tours, we saw all 7 of the major sights in Sevilla today. We also enjoyed our first official meal in Spain at the local McDonalds. For all those scowling at my insolence, I am proud to say that I ordered my chicken snack wrap in Spanish.
We met the rest of our group tonight at the hotel, went to dinner and went over the plan for the rest of the trip. No one slept last night and so everyone is hitting the hay early, except for a few brave souls who decided that they need to embrace their first night being able to order alcohol without a fake. For the sake of my parents, I will not admit to which group I belong. All in all, Sevilla is gorgeous, but I am anxious to actually know the city. I'm also anxious to drink orange juice.

Welcome

I would like to begin this blog with an apology. First of all to all other bloggers out there... I have never read your blogs. In fact, I used to believe that blogging was a good way to avoid sending annoying e-mails to everyone you know about how much fun you are having living an exotic life in a foreign country while we are stuck here being normal. However, after having approximately 27 people ask me if I would have a blog while abroad, I have finally caved in. I must admit I am excited to have an excuse to write about my experiences.
I leave for Sevilla on Tuesday the 6th of January. I only have 32 things left on my list of things to do before I depart, but instead of shrinking, that number seems to be growing. I still don't know my exact living arrangements, but I do know I will be living in a home with a native family and a roommate from UNC. I will also be traveling around Spain a lot, so if you know of any contacts or any specific "must-see" sights, I would love the advice. The biggest thing I am worried about, though, is packing. How in the world am I supposed to pack for 4 months in 1 1/2 suitcases when I could barely fit everything in the back of the van this past semester? God is challenging me.
Anyways, if you are still reading, thank you. I plan to update this blog regularly, but I can't make any promises. It is a new year, so just like any other resolution, I will hope for the best.
I love you all and I will miss you all dearly.