the beginning of sevilla...

So I've been in Sevilla for over a week now and I already feel like I've done so much.

Our directors took us to our apartment after we got off the bus, and we got everything setup. I was amazed at the location. As we drove up, we passed the river and watched as hundreds of people passed in the narrow cobblestone streets. I could see the top of the cathedral, the torre de oro (tower of gold) from the cab, and I knew I had made the best decision.

The streets smell like oranges and all you can hear is the buzzing of voices. It's astounding how many people walk the streets.

We finally got all of our luggage into the apartment and settled. It was all too overwhelming, as we all (the roommates and I) attempted to realize that this place would be our home for 4 months.

We went out to a flamenco bar that night where they play live music. The crowd was an older, local one, and was a great welcome into the Spanish culture. Calle Betis, the main nightlife street, is less than 2 blocks from our apartment. It sits right on the river and the street lights and bridges sparkle. After the bar, called Lo Nuestro, we decided to check out a discoteca (dance club). We got to TEATRE, and it was not really crowded. When 2:30 or so hit, it started hitting too.

We spent the next few nights getting acquainted, buying groceries and things for the apartment. Somewhere in between we had a placement test to gauge our Spanish levels and place us where we belonged, an orientation at the universidad pablo de olavide (UPO, my new school :) ) and a welcome reception on campus.

School started last Wednesday. I'm taking History of Spain, Women and Literature, US-European Relations Post WW2, and The European Union. So far, so great. There are no classes held Friday in the Centro para extranjeros (center for foreigners), so we had 2 days of school last week.

Thursday, we had an intercambio event. Intercambios are events that we do with Spanish students so we can get to know Spain like locals. My roommates and Nabilah and I got partnered with Josef, who was absolutely hilarious and adorable. He partnered with Nuria and Santiago (Santi) and we joined our two groups together for a night on the town, Sevillian style. Santi told us that we were going to a really cool, hole in the wall place. He explained "CERVEZA, GRATIS. TINTO, GRATIS. CIGARILLOS, GRATIS. MESAJES, GRATIS. COMIDA, GRATIS. XBOX Y PLAYSTATION, GRATIS PARA JUGAR." (BEER, free. Wine, free. Cigarettes, free. Massages, free. Food, free. XBOX and PS3 free to play.) We all waited outside this lounge, thinking that it was impossible. We got in, and it turns out the lounge is sponsored by Lucky Strike Cigarettes. Essentially, it's an advertising campaign that hopes to spread the buzz about the company by offering free things to people. I was a bit sketched out and didn't have any drinks because of course I always assume the worst, I couldn't believe something like this could be existent. I asked Santi and Josef if they'd been there and if it was legit and they said it had been there for over 2 years and still strong. I still didn't believe what I was doing. We didn't stay there for long, and Santi, Nuria, and Josef wanted to take us to a traditional tapas restaurant. In Spain, 'tapear,' or going out for appetizers. Most restaurants do not reopen for dinner/tapas until 10, and they write the tapas on a small chalkboard in the street in front of the entrance. It's such a cool thing. We got cervezas and tinto downstairs and waited for a tapas table. We got seated, upstairs at a long table for 15. We each ordered tapas and spent the next hour or so practicing our spanish with our inercambios.We thought our intercambios would leave us after tapas, but my roommates and Nabilah and I ended up going out with Santi and Nuria. We headed to some clubs, but since it was only midnight, and Spanish clubs don't start getting crazy until about 3. We ended up hanging around for a bit at a lounge/club called Buddha, but it got POPPIN at around 2. There are 3 levels to the lounge and each plays different music. There are purple couches everywhere and it's Buddha/Siddartha themed with cool art and sculptures everywhere. I've got to get going, until next time.


LP