Some girlfriends

More new friends

Art Museum

Torre del Oro at night (between the two bridges I take)

Hi there! Sorry I haven’t written- I’ve been busy with school. One week down of my two-week “intensive” language course. It’s the exact opposite of intense. We have a nice little old lady as a teacher so we accomplish/learn nothing in class. It’s frustrating but hey at least it’s easy. Had the first test Friday, hopefully that went well. Otherwise I have been just hanging out around town and going out at night. Went to the art museum for school which was really neat. I hated having to do homework while there so I hope to go back sometime and really enjoy it. I am continually meeting people which has been great. Last night some of my friends from UW (Erica and Hannah) came in to Sevilla from their program in Barcelona and we went out to dinner and a bar. It was really nice seeing them! It was refreshing to see other people from home in a similar situation. They love Barcelona and I can’t wait to go visit there, as I have two best friends from home (Sirisha and Shaun) studying there too. Next weekend, after my final for this language class, I am heading to Granada with my school program. It is only a few hours away and it will be fun to have my first official trip all planned out for me. There has been talk of traveling but it is hard to decide where to go- I want to go everywhere! I am thinking I want to hit the main cities in Europe- like London, Paris, and either Florence or Rome. I also want to go to Portugal since it is so close! I’ll be traveling to Morocco with my interest group in April. I am in the group called "four cultures", which is about the cultures of Catholics, Jews, Muslims and Gypsies so it should be really interesting! I can’t wait to start up with regular classes and activities I signed up for such as volunteering. It is always nice to chill here at the house but it can be awkward. Maria had a benign tumor taken out this week so I was fed by her daughters that are difficult talk to. Maria is okay and back home! I missed her! I got her flowers and had a fun time chatting with the old flower guy, who insisted I come by today so he could give me a rose. I laughed but didn’t go. Creepy... It’s getting easier to talk in Spanish as long as I ask the person I’m speaking with to slow down. I’m sure it'll get easier; it will only have been 2 weeks tomorrow! I also hope the urge to buy everything I see in every possible color gets easier. There are SO many stores its ridiculous. I’ve decided that in Sevilla there are a plethora of shoe stores, orange trees, dogs and children. Its fun to walk through the city and see these things, but boy has it been hard to adjust to how slow everything is. They do not speed through each other on the sidewalks, don’t eat or drink anything on the go, and take 3 hours out of their day to go home and eat lunch with the family. It’s wonderful but a difficult adjustment. Also, they don’t eat past 10ish at night, and I get hungry when I’m out! It is strange not to have late night snacks, but nonetheless very healthy. Except we did find a stand open late this week with churros con chocolate. It is fried dough that you dip in hot chocolate. It is delicious but of course you don’t feel so great after you scarf them down. The food is awesome. Maria is a wonderful cook and I eat everything she makes, which never seems like a lot of food but always fills me up. It’s a good way of life, the vida espanola. Of course I miss home, but I’m doing much better. Hope all is well back home and that everyone stays warm!