I Can Surf!

So last weekend I went to Lagos, Portugal with my friends as part of a tour group called Discover Excursions. I had an absolute blast! So here is the break down of my weekend.

Friday we hopped on a bus to head to Portugal. It was slightly stressful since first Melissa and I didn't know where we were supposed to be and then one of our friends didn't make the bus. But all was fine in the end and off we went. The bus ride took about 3 1/2 hours before we arrived at our hotel which was literally steps from a gorgeous beach. So we promptly changed into our bathing suits and headed down to the beach.

Yep all that beauty just a few steps from my hotel!

After the beach we went to check out the pool on the roof of the hotel. It was really windy so we didn't swim...but it did cause the key to our room to fall off the side of the building and get stuck on a ledge...we had to get the janitor guy to grab the pool cleaner pole to get them. It was actually really funny. After that we went out for dinner and ice cream and then drinks afterwards. Overall, it was a great day! 

Saturday we got up and went to check out some cliffs also not far from our hotel. 

After that we went kayaking, which included going in and out of little grottos and eventually taking a stop on a beach only accessible by boat. (I pick up some sea glass for you Aunt Marcelle). We also could go snorkeling even though there wasn't much to sea and in the process I cut the bottom of my foot pretty bad (don't worry I'm almost better now). Next we went to the end of the world to watch the sunset. Unfortunately there were a lot of clouds but not so many as to completely ruin the display. Perhaps it wasn't the sunset we hoped for but I still see it as a blessing. It was also weird to think that before people that the horizon I was looking at went into nothingness but now I know that my country lies on the other side of that horizon. It was a really neat experience. 

Sunday we went to West Beach to go...SURFING! I have only ever been surfing once before in my life (I would like to thank Woodstock Academy) but I wouldn't even count that as surfing because the waves were so minute I couldn't have boogie boarded on them. But not here! Here it was the real deal! I am proud to report I was the first person up on their board! I got up at least ten times. Some random guy even took my picture and in the picture I actually look like I know what I'm doing! Most of my friends got up too! (Though some did struggle) After surfing we had to head home to Sevilla. But overall it was a fantastic weekend! That's how I like to do travel, doing active outdoorsy things! 

This weekend I stayed home for the first time since coming to Sevilla and man has it been great! But fear not! Just because I am not jet-setting off for a few weekends doesn't mean I won't have things to talk about! Until next time! 

When Life Gets Busy

Hello to my "fans" (as my mom likes to call you)! I know I have been doing quite a shabby job lately at keeping up on my blogging. But I've got to say I've been doing better than in France. Though my excuse there was that the internet didn't work, here its that I have just been too busy. Busy doing what you may ask? Well here is a list of things that are on my schedule weekly.

1. Classes (obviously) I'm taking five of them. There is a lot of homework...unlike in France...

2. Interest group meeting. This is to help round out my knowledge of Spain. My interest group is called "Other Spanish Realities" I know that title doesn't make much sense in English but I promise it does in Spanish. In the group we learn about other countries' influences on Spanish culture and our time together culminates in a trip to Morocco! (perhaps my true reason for joining the group)

3. I have an intercambio or basically a language exchange partner. We meet once a week so that I can practice my Spanish (as if I don't do it enough) and so that she can practice her English. Though to be honest we mostly speak Spanish.

4. I am teaching English classes twice a week to adults. I'll just say its an interesting experience that I am definitely going to learn a lot from, I could write a whole blog on this experience alone so perhaps I will. But today is not that day.

I think those are the major things and trust me they take up a lot of time! So now let me take you back 3 weekends ago to when I went to Granada for two days.

We arrived in Granada just before lunch time after a 3 hour bus ride. The lunch was amazing because it was buffet style!!! Finally I could take the amount of food I want not the extremely copious amounts of food my host mom gives me (again another post for another day). After the lunch we headed to the world famous Alhambra! This is the most visited tourist site in Spain next to the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona. Despite the rain and cold the place was packed with tourist. Which I will not lie irked me a bit because people tend to ruin my pictures. But no doubt I accidentally photo-bombed a few as well. Here are some pictures of the Alhambra. It is just so beautiful!

Alhambra from afar

After we finished our tour our guides took us downtown and showed us how to get back to the hotel then let us free. We went and grabbed coffee and then did a bit of shopping. In the process of shopping we stumbled upon a dance in one of the squares (I have no idea why I didn't take pictures or video of this) but it was really fun to watch because it was mostly elderly people dancing ballroom style. Some of these couples were really good! We joked about joining in on the fun but anyone who knows me knows I can't dance so we headed back to the hotel to change and freshen up before going out for the night. We went out for Moroccan food which just got me totally pumped for that trip to Morocco that I mentioned earlier. 

The next day they took us out for a tour of the town which would have been awesome except that it was raining. Its the only time it has rained in Spain since my arrival and of course it had to be that weekend...anywho we made the best of it! After a tour of the town we went and did a bit of souvenir shopping and then finally ended our time with lunch and a trip back to Sevilla. Some pictures of the old portion of Granada. By the way Granada in Spanish means pomegranate. (No granada for you Briana). This also reminds me of the word grenade and I wonder if they named them that because they kind of look like pomegranates? Maybe that's stupid...Okay so I googled the French word for pomegranate and it is grenade and so yes that is why grenades are called grenades, because they look like pomegranates. I guess I'm not so stupid after all...anyways pictures...

I know this post is long but bear with me, it's almost over. The next weekend I went to Cordoba. The coolest thing about Cordoba is its cathedral. Now most of the cathedrals here in southern Spain were once mosques and were transformed into cathedrals when the Christian rulers took over (typical). The cool thing about this one is that it still looks like a mosque on the inside! Except for the middle which looks like your typical baroque cathedral. I thought it was incredible to see the collision of culture in such an evident way. I also thought it was cool because churches come in all shapes and sizes. It doesn't matter if the church looks like a mosque, what matter is the hearts of the people inside it. So here are some pictures of the cathedral.

What a contrast eh?

We also saw the one of the only two synagogues left in Spain. It wasn't really that exciting to look at but it was interesting to learn that a place that was once home to many Jews now only has two synagogues. 

Sunday of that weekend I went to church for the first time since coming to Spain. (I know shame on me right?) One of my friends here, his parents are missionaries from Brazil to Kenya, and the pastor of this church is also Brazilian and happens to be family friends with Matheus' family. So we went to church and enjoyed worship, food, and fellowship! It was so wonderful, I have missed Christian community so much. The service was great and it was as though God was speaking right to me! This week I might check out a different church, we shall see! That's all, but stay tuned because I still haven't told you about PORTUGAL!!

Time for a Bit of Reflection

I have officially been in Seville for a little more than a month. I think it is about time for a bit of reflection on my life here: the little things that I love about Spain that have become so ordinary to me now but I will know I will miss once I'm back in the states, the things about life here in Seville that only someone who lives here can learn, the things that make Seville, Seville. So here we go with a little list of 5 things I love about Seville.

1. I love the evening in Seville, just as the sun is setting over the river. The air is crisp with the cool of the evening and the streets are alive with people going out to end their days with friends. There is just something about this time of night that fills me with peace. This is the best time to take a walk by the river.

2. The people here are so alive and passionate. You can see it as they sit in bars and chat for hours. You can see it in the way they dance, especially when it comes to flamenco. You can see their passion in their music as the street musicians play their instruments and sing their hearts out on the streets. You can see their passion at the bull fights and at soccer games. It's a passion for life that I have never seen before. 

3. The food here! It's impossible to not love the food! Their main ingredient is olive oil and they fry just about everything (even bread) and oh, it is so good! I may gain a few pounds here but it will be well worth it. My senora can't seem to stop feeding me! I am determined to get all of her recipes before I leave here! I want to be able to share with my family and friends back home all the wonderful food that I have experienced here. I suppose in a way it is another sign of their passion for a good life. Their passion spills over into their food. Also they have the brilliant idea of tapas! Why do we not have tapa bars in the states?! Below the picture is of churros and chocolate a traditional breakfast (or snack) here in Seville.  

4.  I love being surrounded by history, history that extends far past the creation of the United States and in fact a history that intersects with the history of the United States. In Seville's cathedral rest the remains of Christopher Columbus and within the walls Alcazar lies his personal office. The history of Andalusia doesn't just intersect with the United States but at one time it was the intersection of the world. Seville is known for being home to the three cultures, Judaism, Christianity and Islam and that is something I get to see on my walk to class everyday. For example, the bell tower of the cathedral was once a minaret for the mosque that once stood where the cathedral does now.  

5. The last thing I love about being here isn't something I can show you in a picture. Living abroad isn't like leaving for college. Sure I'm not living with my parents, but its more than that. Living abroad is all about stepping out of your comfort zone. Actually, if you ever really feel comfortable during your study abroad experience you are probably doing it wrong. Everyday I am learning something new that I cannot learn in the States. It may be a swear in Spanish that my Spanish professors would never teach me, or it could be learning from the metro security guard the most economic way to travel the city. Everyday I am interacting with new people from a culture so different from my own. I firmly believe that its an experience that you can never get without studying abroad. After my first semester abroad I went home a different woman and I have no doubt that this time around will produce the same results. Essentially this last point can be summarized by this statement: I love learning in Seville!