Jueves

I have to admit, this week has been somewhat overwhelming. I feel like there is a lot of adjustment necessary in a really short amount of time, what with traveling, moving into a new place, and starting school. Additionally, not having a grammar class in two years means I have had some trouble remembering verbs and their conjugations. Yet despite all of that, I really feel like I can learn Spanish well on top of having an awesome semester in a new country.



This photo is from a walk around Barrio Nervion. Chelsea, Meara, Rachel, and I decided to explore where we lived and we found some pretty weird (in a cool way) grafitti. We also found a really cool store (una tienda de chinos), that sells all sorts of stuff (and cool junk) for a small price. I got some pretty cool gafas de sol (sunglasses) for only 3.50€.



Today was actually pretty neat, as classes ended early and we had group excursions to various places in Seville. My group went to Alcázar, which is a royal palace here in the city. Our teacher told us that the location actually consists of many palaces layered on top of one another, originally building on top of Moorish ruins. It is a really interesting place because you have so many styles from different eras all in one location. It was really beautiful. I took a lot of pictures, which I´ll post at some point later once I put them on my jump drive to bring to the center.


Additionally, Rachel and I just went out for our first tapas, which we ate at a bodegita near the center norteamericano (which is what the Center for Cross-Cultural Study is referred to in Sevilla). We split a tortilla de patatas wisky (a Spanish omelette with potatoes, whiskey, and garlic), a small chorizo sandwhich, and espinacas con garbanzos (spinach with garbonzo beans). It was really tasty (and we took a few pictures, I´ll have to post them soon), though it was interesting to note that we have had a lot of what we ate with Loli. I´m so glad that she loves to cook, because I really love to eat her food. Plus, she talks about how she cooks in a more healthful manner, with less salt and fat and more fruits and vegetables. My stomach certainly has been happy here in Spain!


Now I need to buckle down and do some homework, though later Chelsea, Meara, Rachel, and I will be going to an exhibit of modern photograpy. I don´t know more than that, but I´m sure it will be a good time.