Is it already March?!

Wow, I cannot believe that I've been abroad for almost two months! The weather is starting to get really nice here, on average 70 degrees and sunny every day, and it's making the time just fly by. I felt a little homesick when it was cold and rainy, but Sevilla is gorgeous in the spring and now I never want to leave. Nothing exciting to report on the school front--my classes are going well and my professors are great, for the most part. The professor of my "History of Relations Between the Americas" class is a bit brusque and demeaning but hopefully he'll come around eventually.

The main entrance-way to the University. So beautiful!

My assigned “Intercambio” never contacted me so I’ve really been making an effort to befriend some local students around my age to practice my Spanish with! My friend’s Intercambio invited us over to his friend’s house for dinner the other night, it was so much fun! The two girls that live in the apartment cooked an interesting Italian dish for us comprised of pasta with red sauce and sliced hot dogs, but it was so cute and thoughtful! I told them next time we would come over and cook American food for them, but they didn’t seem to enthusiastic about the idea until I suggested Mexican food instead. I’ve really been craving home made guacamole and cooking for our new Spanish friends gives us an excuse (and kitchen) to make it!  After dinner we went to “botellon” in a nearby parking lot in the Triana neighborhood. Now, what exactly is botellon-ing? It’s essentially picking up a bottle of liquor, a liter of mixer, some cups and ice and taking these supplies to a public place to “pregame”. Since in Spain it is unusual for friends to visit your home at night and many local students live with their parents until they graduate from university students frequently find a park and botellon with friends before heading to bars or discos. The botellon phenomenon is an interesting part of Spanish youth culture—but actually enjoyable and a great way to practice speaking Spanish!

 

I had my last cultural visit with my program to Granada two weeks ago and I had a blast! We left on Saturday morning and returned late Sunday. There was so much to see in Granada! On the first day our group attended guided tours of the Royal Chapel and the Cathedral. Both were beautiful buildings, constructed during the early 16th century in Gothic-style architecture.  I enjoyed the outing to Granada Cathedral immensely. The interior is stunning and features huge white, marble columns, exquisite gold details and a beautiful blue ceiling with gold stars. After the guided tours our group dispersed to enjoy some free time in the city. My friends and I went for “tapas”, and were pleasantly surprised to discover that with the purchase of a drink (cerveza or vino) you receive a free tapa! 

Inside the Cathedral

Taking a break for some tapas!

The next day after a delicious American breakfast buffet our group set off for an expedition to the famous Alhambra. The Alhambra is an ancient city built by the Moors in the mid 14^th century and is comprised of a royal palace and military fortress. The palaces in the Alhambra were built for the last Muslim rulers of Spain and taken over by the Catholic kings after the reconquest in the late 15^th and 16^th centuries. The architecture of the Alhambra was beautiful and the views of the Sierra Nevada Mountains from the top of the fortress were spectacular. The journey to Granada was without a doubt my favorite cultural visit!

On top of the fortress in the Alhambra and overlooking the Sierra Nevadas.