Primera Semana En España!

Sept 5-11

this keyboard is EVIL!!!

This is a bit ridiculous; I am using the laptop at the Center since I have a few hours to kill before I go home for the day. I spent about ten minutes trying to figure out how to type in the “#” sign in order to log on my email account… blah!

This week has been going by pretty fast, we started classes on Monday and our test results were given to us and some of us were moved to higher level classes due to these results. For the next three weeks I will be taking Advance Spanish Use and Oral Communications. A lot of people believe these classes are going to be a piece of cake for me but they won’t, Spanish from Spain is very different than Mexican Spanish… I will share a little story later on. I am excited because I now have e-net at home and a cell phone!!! I feel super techy since I programmed my phone and set up my e-net modem without a problem. I know at least TWO people who are going to be VERY proud of me when I tell them of my latest technology related achievements :D

Patio at CC-CS

Let me share a bit about the CC-CS (Center of Cross Cultural Studies) building. It’s an old Sevillana house, that means it has a lot of decorations with ceramic tile, a patio, it has three floors, three computer labs, lots of classrooms and a library and lots of bookshelves on the second floor, I found Twilight in there the other day. Interesting fact: in Spain the first floors is called “Planta Baja” or Lower Level, the Second Floor is called “Primera Planta” or First floor and the third floor is called “Segunda Planta” or Second Floor… yeah that was a bit confusing the first time around. I am still wondering what is the word for basement.

I like my classes so far, I am not sure about this play we have to write and perform that will take a good chunk of my grade but we will see how it turns out. My first class starts at 9am and ends at noon and then my second class starts at 12:15pm and ends at 13:30 (1:30pm). By the time we get home its about 1430 or 1500 if we walk, we avoid walking because it gets really hot out here and well, the heat is unbearable! Spaniards are very serious about their “Siesta” I was shocked to see that all the stores and most food places close at exactly 1400 (2pm) for siesta time. The only places that stay open are places like Starbucks, the Mall a.k.a Corte Ingles and the bars. Of course the Bars have to remain open because most people go for a beer and then take a siesta. I love to sleep and I quickly picked up on Siesta time, I think we should have Siesta in the USA!

Catedral De Sevilla!

Today- Sept 8
Turns out we don’t have our afternoon class on Thursdays and Fridays oh man: (
Thursdays we get to go on a “field tip!” This week my group is going to La Catedral De Sevilla!!!  I LOVE this Cathedral; I walk to CC-CS every morning just to see the morning light shine over this gorgeous building. Here is a bit of information about the Catedral De Sevilla!!!
It is one of the Largest Gothic buildings in the world and the 3^rd largest church in Europe. Its construction began in the late 1400s on the site of an ancient mosque and took centuries to complete. Christopher Columbus’ remains are buried here; his tomb is mounted on four statues outside the gates of the tomb of a Bishop whose name I cannot recall at the moment. The Cathedral has 15^th-century stained-glass windows, irons “screens” that close off the chapels; it has a few of Goya’s works. On the outside of the Cathedral on the side of the Giralda (the tallest tower of the Cathedral) there is a huge patio called Patio de los Naranjos (Oranges, one of the fruits of Sevilla).
              

La Giralda! 

 A little bit about the Giralda: Aside from the Catedral de Sevilla, the Giralda is the city’s most recognizable monument in the City. It is a Moorish Tower, we were lucky enough to “climb” this tower, we went up thirty-some ramps… made me appreciate stairs. When we got to the top the view of the city was breath taking. Best Class trip EVER!

Weekend-
Once again, no afternoon class…. Perfect! After my siesta a couple of us decided to go on our first Marcha. To go “de Marcha” means leaning our houses around 11pm and get back home until 6am. As much as I wanted to follow this tradion my body gave up at 2am. On Saturday Diana, Ted, Mikey (my pink bear) and I went to Plaza De España!

De Marcha, our first time out! Kasey, Brooke, Ted, Julia and I 

Random things-

 the dryer is TINY!

1 I’ve been told I can’t miss the GIANT post office but I still can’t find it… I don’t want to ask again for directions because I’ve already asked everyone at the Center once. 

I am wondering how my Señora dried all of our clothes, sheets and towels in one day… 

I had my first “Tinto de Verano” red wine with orange soda for lunch with my roommate and my señora… it was interesting. 

 I had my first “Café con Leche” and it was very strong and I felt the need to use two sugar packages… a sugar package here contains about 4 teaspoons of sugar.

 It’s a BAD idea to walk from school at 230pm… too HOT!

Mid-Terms are next week? WHAAAAT?!?!?!

I survived my FIRST week of classes :)

This Entry was composed from bits and pieces from my diary entries... hope you enjoyed it!

View of the City of Sevilla from the Giralda 

PS-
you can click on the picture and it will load on a separate page for a larger view.