Chapter One-Hundred-and-Twenty-Five: Hola de Espana: Parte Uno

Hola mis amigos! For those of you who don't follow me on Facebook, I have a big surprise for you! I am in Spain!

Hola!

In Chapter One-Hundred-and-Seventeen, I made a resolution to travel more, including a program that I applied for way back in December-ish. Well, the great news is that I made the program! Through Texas Tech Honors College and Study Abroad, I'm taking two classes and staying in Sevilla, Spain for a month. I'm going to do my best to post as much as I can so y'all can experience Sevilla alongside me, but please be aware that I may spend most of my time exploring instead of blogging.

My adventure truly started about a week ago, when I was on the brink of leaving for my first out-of-the-country trip. I was extremely anxious and excited all at once. I don't think my heart rate was below 100 the entire week before I left. I tried to spend time with loved ones as much as possible. I ate dinner with my parents whenever I could, went out with my aunt and grandmother, and had brunch with my best friends (separate dates, however, because my friends are traveling or just as busy as me!). I was reviewing every pin on pinterest, every travel blog, and watching Spanish tutorials (all at once), trying to be prepared for this trip. However, it's evident to me now that nothing truly prepares you for a trip across the Atlantic Ocean, and that's okay. It's nice to be prepared, but also having a flexible attitude while traveling can make or break the experience.
With that note, let's start the adventure!

Mary, my long-time roommate and friend, also got into the program, so naturally we wanted to do pretty much everything together. I said goodbye to Mom and Dad and cried leaving my two guinea pigs and dog, and then drove three hours to Mary's house. The very next day we drove another two hours to the Houston airport.

I can now say that I've been to New Jersey (and flew right over NYC!). After our layover in Northern America, we flew off of home territory. I have to admit, it was a little exhilarating and sad to watch my country fade away as we ascended into the dark night sky. Slowly, slowly, our plane flew farther and farther away, until the lights of America were no more, and all we could see was the vast blackness of the Atlantic ocean. 

Mary and I landed in Lisbon, Portugal for a hot minute. We ordered some Starbucks in broken Spanish in a Portuguese-speaking country. Airports are strange because you're constantly surrounded by very different people. People arriving at their destination, people leaving for their destination, people staying for a layover, people staying for vacation, people rushing to their next flight.... However, while in line at Starbucks, we heard Portuguese, Spanish, and British-English. Having so many different people concentrated in one area creates for interesting people-watching (and hearing).

This was my first experience out of the country. I have to be honest, I didn't feel that much different except that I was tired and surrounded by people who didn't speak my language. I'm not sure what I was expecting to be feeling anyway. Sad for leaving America? Excited to be in another country? Relieved to not be on a plane for another 7 hours? Hmmm....

We flew out of Lisbon in a small propeller plane. Mary and I were so tired from traveling for over 15 hours that we kept nodding off during the one-hour flight. It was hard to ignore the views, though!

Our little plane

Goodbye Portugal! Maybe I'll see you again

We arrived in Sevilla, Espana smooth sailing. From the airport we took a taxi, which was our first interaction with a Spaniard. He spoke a little English, but we didn't have to say much to get where we needed to go. The driver sped through the streets of Spain, crisscrossing roads I didn't understand and squeezing between buildings and people. My eyes were glued to the passing world around us. Billboards covered with Spanish, buildings that were centuries old, and packed-tight apartments and shops, lined like sardines in a can. I was exhausted and ready to take a week-long nap, but how could I sleep when I had an entire city to explore?

After we were briefed by Texas Tech on how NOT to make a fool of ourselves in a foreign country, we had our first Spanish meal. The hotel served us a beautiful three-course feast. Salad, fish, and of course dessert. After the meal, a large group of us walked around the corridors of the city to see the Cathedral of Seville lit up at dusk. 

After most of us had been awake for well over 24 hours, we had the best sleep of our lives that night. 

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The next morning we were introduced to our "Host Mom"; the wonderful person who will house us, feed us, and pretty much be our "Mom" abroad. Mary and I were placed with two other girls with a woman named Maria. We greeted her with besitos (where we place our cheeks together and kiss the air) and listen to her say "Que Guapas" over and over. We all blushed and said Gracias to the compliments, but I think we were all just so happy that our Host Mom was just as excited to meet us as we were to meet her. 

We walked/rode the bus to our new home, an apartment building squished amongst the rest of the urban city's living quarters and shops. A quaint little flat with lots of plants and pictures of a past we don't know yet. From any window, we have a great view of the city we will be exploring for the next couple of weeks. 

For lunch (served around 2:00-2:30 pm in Spain), our Mom cooked us Paella, a well-known dish originated in Spain. Our Mom set down the dish and we all gasped from its beauty and delicious smell. "La foto," our mother said. "Si!" we all replied, pulling out our phones to take a picture of the dish before we devoured it. And, truly, it was devoured. We ate the entire pan. 

Delicioso!

Following lunch is the time known as Siesta. This is when local businesses close 2-6 pm and Spaniards return home for relaxation time. Hardly anyone is out during the afternoon. This is perfect for us college students who already love napping (and just ate a large meal). 

After our household had its nap, we decided to walk around the city for a bit. Around 8:00 pm, because it was Sunday, Mary and I headed to a local Catholic church. It was truly a sight to behold. These are the moments that I absolutely love The Church. She is so universal, because while I couldn't understand the language, I understood the actions. I had Mass in a church in Spain, which was still the same Mass that fellow Americans were having that same day. The Church is truly a wonderful gift to behold. After Mass, Mary and I hung around to gaze upon the church's beauty and snap a couple of photos. 

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The next morning we awoke early to visit the Alcazar de Sevilla, a royal palace. We went on a group tour and explored the multiple rooms and gardens of the palace. 

It was a very interesting structure because it has a blend of both Arab/Muslim and Christian architecture. The entire palace has a presence of geometric shapes and patterns as well as internal gothic arches and Christian art. Some rooms very much show Muslim history, like the rooms with low, flowing water and open ceilings, such as the room pictured below.

Other rooms are explicitly Christian, with the gothic arches or the presence of an actual small chapel. 

Needless to say, it was a very beautiful palace. We even got to explore the massive gardens, where a great multitude of plants, mazes, and even peacocks reside. 

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On July 4th, it was just an ordinary day in Spain. This was so strange to me, because back home everyone and their mother are wearing red, white, and blue, and probably eating BBQ. I was a little homesick this day because I really wanted to be at home celebrating with my family. However, some of my classmates and I went to go visit Las Setas de Sevilla, or "The Mushrooms of Seville". 

This structure was built in 2005-2011, and I wish I could tell you more but I didn't read much about Las Setas. All I know is that Sevilla was planning to build a parking garage here but then, in the midst of construction, they discovered ancient ruins and everything froze. There is a museum in the basement of the structure where these findings are on display, but my group and I were focused on what was UP, as in on TOP of the mushrooms. 

What we found were great views of the city. All around us were high-rise apartments and even taller steeples. Far off in the distance, we saw farmland surrounding the urbanization, and it was all quite a sight to behold. It's incredible to think about how much these buildings have seen. Las Setas is so new to the city, but some of these cathedrals and administrative/government buildings have seen hundreds and hundreds of years. The worn brick on the oldest buildings has had so many hands brushed against it. Gazing upon this beautiful, foreign city, I can't help but feel so small in the aspect of size and time. 

On the way home, we came across a school with a wall that stretched all around it. On the wall was a beautiful, colorful mural that I fell in love with. It's covered in quotes about education, such as

Teaching requires listening

Education is a weapon of mass construction

Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world

As you can imagine, I particularly loved this little art piece we stumbled upon. Being here isn't just about finding the sites the tourists see, but it's about living in the city and finding little treasures that impact us. 

Of course, it was Fourth of July so we had to celebrate, even if it was just a little. Happy Birthday, America. Miss you. 

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Yesterday, some of the girls and I decided to hit the shops and find some local clothing! Before coming here, I researched and researched what the locals wear (to try and blend in better). I was warned about the danger of shorts, and how Spaniards never wear them, and how Spaniards frown upon them blah blah blah. Well, turns out, twenty-one-year-old Spanish girls wear shorts just like twenty-one-year-old American girls. Que Guay! 

Yaaaaay!

After classes, a group of us headed to Plaza de Toros, the bullring. Now, I have to warn my readers: this may be hard to look at/read, so if you feel uncomfortable, please just stop reading here. This will be my last addition to this blog post so you won't miss out on anything! 

In Southwestern Europe, bullfighting has been a tradition that has passed down for hundreds and hundreds of years. In Spain, especially in Sevilla, bull fighting is still happening (and has actually been protected by the European Union for cultural preservation). While it was hard to watch, it was hard not to appreciate the culture. The Matador traditional garment is very beautiful, and watching the footwork and fluid movements of them just shows how much work and training goes into this tradition. Watching the dance between man and bull was very interesting. It almost takes you back in time when man had to hunt to survive... this art form is unique in the fact that the man, while performing the art, has the chance of death. Nailbiting, for sure! While I appreciated the cultural experience and exposure, I will probably not watch another. 

The Matadors

After it was all over, we went outside and actually saw one of the Matadors coming out. He was one of the two matadors that evening to receive an ear, which means that the judge of the night (some esteemed figure) was impressed by his performance. This Matador in particular was only seventeen years old!! We even exchanged some Spanish, which was the highlight of my night. 

That's my first week in Spain in a nutshell! I'll be posting soon to keep you updated on all of my adventures, but internet access is spotty and poor, so please forgive me if my timing is off/scattered. As always, thanks for reading! I hope you enjoy this adventure with me. Hasta luego!