Not exactly...

While in the car today with one of the teachers from the school where I teach, I was asked what the American view of Spain is. Well, that made me think of some pretty funny things I have heard from people in the past. Between studying abroad here and living here, I have received many comments from my friends in the United States about the country THEY THINK I live in. I will not name names, but I will write about the comments because I think they are hilarious.

1.) Spain is a part of Europe. Do not ask me how the tacos and quesadillas are here because unless I go to one of the very few Mexican restaurants they have here, I will not know. We eat foods that are a lot more spicy in the United States than they do here in Spain. You have a better chance of getting authentic Mexican food in the United States than I do here in Spain.

2.) I never see men in sombreros or young girls going to quinceañera parties.

3.) If you ask me about dancing, I can tell you all about Flamenco. I cannot, however, tell you about the Cha Cha, the Rumba or the Tango.

4.) So what city are you living in, Madrid or Barcelona? People, people, PEOPLE! There is a whole region in the south of Spain...it's called Andalucía. And I just so happen to live in the capital, Sevilla. Ever heard of it? It would be like saying where do you live in the United States, New York or LA? But I swear everytime I tell someone I live in Spain, there is always that one person that asks me if I live in one of the two cities mentioned above. Well...not exactly.


Just thought I'd share for those of you reading! Because maybe the image you have in your head of this country and this city is part of one of the above categories...well...not exactly!

The good, the bad and the ugly

I should be planning for class...but some things just came to mind.

I think I've learned more about loss, love, ups, downs, money (or lack there of), people, languages, cultures...life. It hasn't by any means been easy living here. People always say, "You live in Europe! How tough can life actually be?" Exactly. I LIVE in Europe. The vision that everyone has in their heads are the images of vacationing and studying in Europe. LIVING is different.

Nothing surprises me anymore. And as the saying goes Stuff Happens. Stuff happens all of the time.

I am living in Europe during a brutal financial crisis. The unemployment rate in Andalucia has reached about 30%. And it's scary. I walked into school today and I was told there was a possibility I might not receive money for my work in December until sometime in January because the public schools in the area just don't have money from the government to pay us. It has gotten to the point where the American embassy in Madrid has had to intervene. That's not something anyone wants to here. But it's another step...another obstacle.

It is times like this when I ask myself, why did I do this? It's just so absolutely frustrating at times. Why couldn't I just be normal and stay at home and find a job somewhere in Philly, live in the comfort of my own home, speak the language I do not have to struggle to speak, use dollars instead of euros, know where to go when I need something...food, clothes, medicine, etc.

Then it hit me. I'm 22 years old. It's a time to take chances. I look at all of my fellow auxiliares here and see how everyone struggles with their own problems. But we've all managed to get through it. We see how happy and grateful the Spanish people are for our help with their English. We walk by ancient buildings and monuments every day. We experience culture that is different and older than anything in the United States. We are learning a second language and how to live in this country submersed in that language.

Is it okay that the government decides whoops we hired you without having the money to pay you? Absoultely freakin not. But it is how you handle these types of experiences that make you stronger.

From the beginning I said I would report on everything in this blog...the good, the bad and the ugly. This is happening along with the up and coming air strikes right around the time when we are all flying home for Christmas and let me tell you it's frustrating. But it could be worse...a lot worse. And as Christmas draws near and I will be arriving home in 10 days, I look back on the past 4 months and wonder where they went. I also look back on everything that has happened. Part of me is saying jeez I can't believe I have 5 months left...whereas another part of me is saying jeeeezzzzzzz how do I only have 5 months left. It needs to slow down!

But when all is said and done, I would recommend the experience to anyone. It sounds crazy but I learned more here than I have ever learned in a classroom. I went through 4 years of college and thought I was learning about myself and others and how to work and live. And then I had this experience. And to be honest, if I could go back and do it all over again, I wouldn't change my decision...not for anything in this world. Life is about living. Not playing it safe.

People

La gente, gens, leute, people. No matter how you say it, we are all people. And sometimes, we are more similar than we think. Yes we have different customs. We might like different foods. We might have different beliefs. We might speak different languages. But isn't that what makes the world go 'round? If there is anything I have learned in my time both studying and living abroad, it is that YES people are different but those differences are beautiful! How boring would it be if you constantly spent your life surrounded by people who were the same as you.

As for the language, many people use the phrase "language barrier" as a negative term. I couldn't speak to him because of the "language barrier." Well, I felt uncomfortable approaching that group because my Spanish is not that great. If it wasn't for the "language barrier...." My opinion...how about we all forget about the "language barrier" and look at it in the sense that language should never be a BARRIER to keep you from getting to know someone. We might have limited vocabulary when we speak. We might not be "gramatically correct." But who cares?

About a week ago, I went to an "intercambio" party where people go to learn language. At one point, my roommate Carolyn and I were engaged in a conversation with five other people. It was not until the end of the conversation that Carolyn brought up the fact that it was true we were speaking with five other people in Spanish but only one of them was from Spain. Yes, there was a guy from Spain, a girl from France, a girl from the Czech Republic, a girl from Greece and a girl from the UK. I just thought it was absolutely amazing that I was speaking to so many people in one language but that language (Spanish) was the native language of only one person in the group.

Then we decided to have a party on Tuesday night and who showed up? Spaniards, Germans, Americans even our friend Anna from Latvia. There was German and English and Spanish being thrown around the apartment in various conversations at the same time and I found myself speaking Spanglish. Sounds complicated, right? Nope. It was the most fun I have had at a party in a while. Just to see people around the apartment communicating in so many different languages is something I will never forget and it is times like these that seem so insignificant at the time, but when I look back, I think that this is such an amazing opportunity. There is never a dull moment here.

So I'll end this blog with this:

If you think about anyone who is fluent in a language, they often times use that fluency to start arguements, curse people off, get into fights, put people down, gossip, etc. But when you are learning language, no one ever teaches you how to get into an arguement. You rarely learn the bad words until you seek them out. So maybe it is best if you meet people who do not speak your native language. You speak about intelligent topics and you learn about cultures and customs. You learn to listen and accept people for who they are. And that is what I think is the most amazing thing about language. I feel like I have had better and more wholesome conversations with people here who do not speak my native language than with people who do. But when all is said and done, I think language is more of a pathway to meeting new people and it only becomes a barrier when you let it. I try to keep that in mind when I meet new people and I think everyone should too. And the next time you meet someone who does not speak the same native language, forget about that "barrier" and use it as an opportunity. You would be surprised with what you learn.

Our Spanish Thanksgiving

We can't get a turkey. Green bean casserole will not taste the same without French's fried onions and Campbell's cream of mushroom soup. Where in the world are we going to find marshmallows in this country for the sweet potato casserole? Do they even know what mashed potatoes are here? Our oven only fits at most, two casseroles at a time. How will we keep everything warm? Most importantly, how will we survive without having anything containing pumpkin for dessert?

This year, Thanksgiving was a Thanksgiving filled with doubts. My roommates and I were thousands of miles away from our homes where we have been celebrating Thanksgiving and Thanksgiving traditions for years. We were all missing out on mom's pumpkin desserts, delicious homemade gravy, TURKEY, family time, AND we had to cook for ourselves! Not our Moms and our Aunts...US...alone...in the kitchen...preparing Thanksgiving! But we had to celebrate. Although we are living in Spain, we are Americans through and through and the last thing we were going to do was sit around and have grilled cheese for dinner. After determining that this day was going to be a little different, we decided to start the hunt for ingredients.

Rumor had it that a store called VIPS which is about a 15 minute walk from my apartment had marshmallows. When I got there, I found them tucked away on one of the shelves with a slogan on them that said, "America's Favorite Treat." I was never so happy to see them but never in my life did I think I would be paying 4 euros ($5.50) for marshmallows! Next came the hunt for spices like nutmeg and cinnamon as well as other ingredients for our dinner. I was all ready to buy the Spanish version of Cream of Mushroom Soup (Sopa de Crema de Cetas del Bosque) until my roommate yelled out in the middle of El Corte Ingles (the famous Spanish department store that has a super market on the first floor with many American foods)...BRIDGET, THEY HAVE CAMPBELL'S CREAM OF MUSHROOM! I was pumped. After paying 4 euro for two cans of that which would have originally been about $0.80 in any American grocery store, I decided that we could easily turn this Thanksgiving around.

Since my roommates and I have work until Thursday, we decided we would make our Thanksgiving meal on Friday since we have off. We would also have Thanksgiving for lunch since lunch is the big meal here instead of dinner. So the preparations began. We began cooking around 11 am for a 3 pm meal. The menu included:

Chicken
Chicken gravy
Stuffing
Mashed Potatoes
Sweet potato casserole
Green bean casserole
Honey glazed carrots
Garlic broccoli
Deviled eggs (because my roommate Kathleen always has them in her house for an appetizer)
Bread
Wine
Brownies for dessert

There we were in a kitchen as narrow as an upstairs hallway with about 5 feet of counter space total for all of this preparation. We filled the kitchen with all of our ingredients as we put on our Christmas song playlists on iTunes. And we began. We mashed the sweet potatoes with a pestel (yes as in morder and pestel...yes we were living in the stone age on Friday) since we did not have an electric mixer. We used so many ingredient substitutes and held our breath with every casserole that went into the oven hoping it would turn out alright.

Let's just say we were all more than pleased with the way the meal turned out. The first day was our roommate meal and the next day we introduced Thanksgiving dinner to some of our Spanish friends. They were confused by the whole let's put all of the same food on the same plate and go back for second and third servings. But they loved it. They were amazed by the concept of gravy and marshmallows on top of sweet potatoes and all of the preparation that went into one meal. In the end, we had a very successful weekend of Thanksgiving madness.

After reflecting on the weekend, I realized I have a lot to give thanks for. I have my wonderful family and extended family who helped me begin my journey through "Teach in Spain" by providing me with the support I needed to come to Europe and live a healthy and happy life here. I have my friends both in the United States who constantly assure me that I am never alone in this experience. I have a boyfriend in Hawaii who makes me happy from 7,000 miles away and makes a long distance relationship as easy and painless as they come. And as I looked around the Thanksgiving table, I looked at my roommates and my friends both Spanish and American and I realized I am lucky to have them as well as the the people who I work with at my school and my new students. Each one of them has been put in my life for a reason, and I feel so blessed and lucky to have all of them in my life right now.

After rereading the paragraph above, I realize that despite the very high highs and the very low lows of this experience, I have a lot to be thankful for. What more could a girl want?

British English is Cramping My (Teaching) Style

British English vs. American English

If you have ever heard someone from England speak, the first difference you will notice is the accent. Obviously. If you continue to have a conversation with them, you might notice some differences in the words used to describe basic everyday things. Take the word elevator for example. In England they say lift. Or you might notice a difference between the spelling: colour as opposed to color (as the spell check on my computer tells me spelling the word color as colour is incorrect...how ironic). Yes, there are differences, but they rarely keep you from understanding a person from England if you are someone used to American English. It's not like a native English speaker speaking to a native Spanish speaker for example. But what if you were an American teaching in a school where the students have been taught "British English" their whole lives?

This is where many of the difficulties lie in teaching English as a foreign language in Spain as I have discussed in previous blog posts. For me, I do not think one type of English is necessarily better than the other type, but I am fascinated by what is considered right and wrong in both types of English. I have discussed before the usage of the word "rubber" for eraser, which as we know in the United States, this is unacceptable. I have also learned that students often say "I've got" for "I have" whereas in the United States, we would fail a term paper if we tried to write "I've got."

But this is where I draw the line...this is where British English cramps my (teaching) style. The other day, I was writing a sentence on the board. I wrote words such as "color" and "program" and my students started whispering while the teacher looked very confused. I asked what they problem was and everyone asked why I was spelling the words wrong. And I told them this is how you spell them in the United States. The teacher then went on to explain to me that if the students write "color" instead of "colour" or "program" instead of "programme," they are instructed to take points off of their exam. How crazy is that?

For me, the most important part of learning a language is being able to communicate with other people. It does not matter if you write "color" or "colour" because when you say it, it sounds the same. Even if you write it differently, people will still know what you mean! Isn't the main goal of learning a language being able to communicate with others? Just one of the many thoughts that has crossed my mind since I began teaching.

Oh the Beauty of Language

Chip
Cheap
Ship
Sheep

Above are just a few examples of words my students have trouble pronouncing. They are so used to pronouncing the letter "i" as an "e" sound. So when they say words like "chip" it sounds the same as "cheap." The same with when they say "ship" it sounds like "sheep." They thought it was so funny to hear me go through the words and say the correct English pronunciation for all of them. Then I explained to them all of the troubles I have with their language like the double r, for example. One of the girls in my class even asked me if I thought it was funny to hear them (my students) speak. I told her no because I, too, am learning a language and I probably sound a little strange when I speak. So no, to me, they do not sound funny. If anything, I give them credit for having the courage to speak to a native speaker. Because as I know from experience, it is not an easy thing to do.

Every day I become more fascinated with language and pronunciation. It is amazing how someone who is raised saying "ship" and "sheep" does not even think twice about pronunciation when speaking the words. But people who are not native English speakers have to think so hard before pronouncing these words.

Each day in Spain is a new adventure. I never know what is coming next. Take today for example. I did not expect to spend 20 minutes of the class going over the differences between "ship" and "sheep" and "chip" and "cheap" that later turned into the difference between "shit" and "sheet" and "bitch" and "beach" (which was acceptable because this was my adult class...I was not teaching this to young children. And they asked! Don't worry ;) ). Nor did I expect a lesson on the simple present, present continuous, simple past and simple continuous to turn into a conversation about Bridget's favorite music (both Spanish and American) and why the Philadelphia Phillies are far more superior than the New York Yankees.

I also did not expect to receive the best package from the best mom in the world with all of these great teaching materials. Nor did I expect to ever be excited about teaching materials...side note.

On my way home from picking up my package, I did not expect a 3 year old girl to come running out of her pre school, punch me in the thigh and then run back to her mother. Like what did I do to you...I was on the other side of the sidewalk?! I also did not expect to walk into the grocery store and have the guy at the cheese counter wanting to be my best friend. Rando...but I like the Spanish people so yes, let's be friends.

This week, I also experienced for the first time what it felt like to get paid...you know...get money for something I am finding out is something that I love to do.

But most importantly, I did not expect to Skype with my mom and by the end of the conversation realize how much I have grown up. Sounds really cheesy I know. But after talking about paying rent and bills and completing the steps to become a resident in Spain and figuring out life in another language, I finally realized that it is true that you never stop learning. It is certainly exciting. At the same time, it is extremely frustrating and scary. But in the end, it's a good life. And I like the feeling that I get when I know I am living it to the fullest.

Why don't you look scary?

The Spanish people are beginning to understand the concept of Halloween. Yes, they call it Halloween too. The Spaniards who are around my parents' ages do not really celebrate Halloween at all. The young children are getting more and more involved in the holiday and most of them dress up and have even started trick-or-treating in their neighborhoods. And the Spaniards who are my age understand Halloween but they did not grow up trick-or-treating or even wearing costumes. This is a somewhat recent development for them.

There is confusion with the whole costume concept. Here in Spain, Spaniards think all Halloween costumes have to be scary. They don't, as we all know. Most of the "scary" costumes and mask wearing phases of our lives ended in the early pre teenage years. So you can imagine that when the Spaniards saw an energizer bunny, a cowgirl, a pumpkin and a gothic girl walking down the street on the way to the bars, they were a little confused. I am very interested to see what Halloween will be like when the younger children are older. I predict that trick-or-treating and dressing up will be much more common in a few years.

Then there are the concepts of pumpkin picking, pumpkin carving, jack-o'-lanterns, Halloween decorations and candy corn that my students have never heard of so it was pretty fun to teach them about everything. The one thing they all found interesting and somewhat crazy is that there are Halloween stores that are only open for a few months out of the year. Looking back on that, it is a little crazy.

Ironically, my Halloween in Spain was the best Halloween I have had in a very long time. I went from not having a costume until 5 pm to running to the Chino (aka discount Chinese grocery store that has everything including rabbit ears and a puffy tail for 1,80 euros) and throwing together an outfit last minute. After, other American English professors came over along with some Spaniards to celebrate glorious Halloween in our piso. The mini fiesta en our piso turned into a night out as it normally does. We walked to the bars as I was told that my rabbit ears "were not mine" (obviously...thanks rando Spanish guy) to having a conversation with people in the bar completely decked out in rabbit garb. Let's just say a Halloween where half the people were dressed up and half of the people we looking at you like you were an insane idiot was by far one of the best ones yet.  As I fell asleep around 5:30 am (having the next day off...All Saints Day...thanks for being a Catholic Country, Spain!), I felt pretty content about my life. And when I walked into school today and told my coworkers what I was for Halloween, I started out by saying "Yo era la conjeita de..." (I was the little rabbit from...), and they all responded "de Playboy!" and I proceeded to explain that no, I was not the little rabbit from playboy but rather from the Energizer commercial. They understood, laughed, and I loved how they all knew about Playboy. Spain, I love you!

Ronda, Spain

Who would have thought that an hour and a half away from the flat, urban terrain of Sevilla, the capital of Andalucía, there was this tiny, yet breathtakingly beautiful city. The city of Ronda is situated on a mountain with the Guadalevín running through to separate it into two parts. Ronda is a city in the Málaga province which is a province best known for its beaches along the Mediterranean. 


Since we are broke teachers living and working in southern Spain, my roommate Carolyn and I decided to take the 21 euro round trip bus ride out to Ronda where we spent the day wandering through the streets and taking pictures of the amazing views. This city is a perfect example of why I love Spain so much. There are mountains and there are beaches. There is the new and the old, and often times, the new is combined with the old. There is Muslim, Christian and Jewish influence. There is the south or as we like to say Andalucía which is completely different from the middle and northern parts of the country. And there is so much history that it continues to blow my mind with every new city I travel to.


So as I said before, being broke teachers, this was the perfect trip for us. It was 21 euro to take the bus from Sevilla's Prado de San Sebastian to the center of Ronda. The best part about Ronda is that if you want to do activities, there are places to go like the Plaza de Toros, various scenic view spots that cost about 4 euro to get into, Arab baths, the former town hall and various churches. But if you travel for the day on a budget like Carolyn and I did, it was very easy to keep the trip cheap. With the 21 euro bus, 3 euro for toast and coffee for breakfast and 8 euro for a glass of wine and tapas, the trip was a very affordable 32 euro.


So what was my favorite part? The Puente Nuevo of course or the "new bridge." The Puente Nuevo separates the new part of the city from the old part of the city and stands 390 feet above the floor of the canyon below. The breathtaking sights of the mountains surrounding the city and spending the day getting lost in Ronda's "pueblos blancos" or "white towns" was enough for me. It reminded me how diverse Spain really is in culture and geography as well. The trip was also a nice break from the hustle and bustle of el Centro in Sevilla.


I give Ronda two thumbs up and if you ever find yourself in Andalucía, the inexpensive trip to Ronda is well worth it for its breathtaking views!

Rollercoaster

One day, a group of students are staring blankly at you, wondering what you are saying. On that same day, it rains for the first time in over a month, you forget how to speak Spanish (and English for that matter), and everything goes wrong. You question your decision. So many small problems could have easily been fixed if you would have just stayed in your country, speaking English and living the day to day life you have always known.

Other days, the students are laughing and having a conversation with you, your English and Spanish are both perfect and you understand what everyone is saying. The bus arrives on time, the Spanish people are helpful and you never, ever want to leave Sevilla.

Sounds about right. Yes, life here is in fact a rollercoaster. As the saying goes, you really do learn something new every day. In my experience here during study abroad and now, I think I have learned more about life than I have ever learned in a classroom. Here, I struggle with something every day whether it is something big like speaking to Spanish parents about why their child might not be understanding something in one of my classes to remembering the word for "chicken breast" when I go to the butcher. When I struggle, I sometimes think, "This would be so much easier in the United States!" Or "If that person would just speak English, my life would be a lot easier!" But then I think about how much I need this experience for myself, for my future. Because, after all, life is what you make of it.

So after the whole "rollercoaster" lead into this blog post, I will finally get down to a day in the life of a Language and Culture Assistant in Spain.

My week here begins on Monday mornings and ends on Thursday. I take either the 8:15 or 9:15 bus in the mornings depending on my schedule. I have three classes a day, four days a week. Sounds easy, right? Yes, I love where I work and I love my schedule, but it is far from easy. I spend about six of those hours in the classroom. I teach English conversation courses in the high school and I teach lessons in the "Trasnporte y Comercio" ciclo of the school. What is a ciclo? Well a ciclo is basically equivalent to a 2 year college or an associates degree. People who are in the ciclo have completed high school (even though the ciclo classes are in a high school) and they will go straight to work after the two years or attend the university to continue their studies. So I have a mix of classes and topics and students with so many different levels of English. When I am not in the classroom, I am working with English professors to help them improve their reading, writing and speaking abilities. Oh, and my whole day consists of speaking. Speaking, speaking and speaking. Whether it be English->Spanish, Spanish->English, all English with some people, all Spanish with others, and Spanglish. Oh beautiful, wonderful, Spanglish. It works wonders.

When I return home for siesta (the mid day break for lunch, resting, etc.), I eat lunch and run, relax or prepare lessons for the week. Around 7 pm, my day picks up again. Mondays through Thursdays, I teach English in an after school club in my neighborhood. The classes are from 7:30-8:30 pm, and as in the high school, my students are on so many different levels which is challenging. At 9 pm, I am usually back in my house, eating dinner and getting ready to go out to grab a drink with friends, or recently, just finishing lesson plans and going to bed.

Sounds pretty uneventful, right? But I have actually really been enjoying this experience because each day is sooooo different. Honestly, not one day here has been the same. Yes, my routine is the same more or less, but you never know what kind of questions the teachers and students are going to have for you or completing tasks you know you SHOULD do but have been too LAZY to do. For example, today, I FINALLY went to get a library card. It was a pain having to go do it and learn all the rules about the library from a Spanish librarian, but it opened up so many new resources for me like free wifi and teaching materials. There are also copy machines and printers (like most libraries) which is good because I do not have access to those resources in my piso, where I live.

All in all, everything is one big rollercoaster. I wake up knowing that the day I am about to experience will definitely not be like any one I have ever experienced before. But that's what makes this whole thing so great!

How to Survive as an American in Sevilla

No matter what part of the world you are in, some things will always be the same. For example, there are going to be places to buy food, clothing and additional necessities in most of the countries you travel to. There are going to be buildings, homes and people, churches, famous sites and schools. So why is surviving in a different country so hard?

1.) The language barrier. Try to know some words in Spanish and always keep a dictionary on hand. As long as you make an effort to try to talk to the Sevillanos in Spanish, they will work with you. If you expect to walk in, speak English and expect that everyone should accommodate you...think again. This is something I learned very quickly. Yes, in Madrid and Barcelona, and even in Rome, you can expect to find many people who speak English. But Sevilla is different. It takes a while to be able to express yourself and more often than not, you will find yourself using a million different words to describe the one word you want to use, but speaking the native language will be beneficial to your experience.

2.) The older Señoras have opinions...and they are not afraid to share them. You are a 22 year old American coming from a part of the country where the winters last from November to March. So as soon as 75 degrees hits in the spring, it is shorts and sandals time. In Sevilla, 75 degrees is still chilly. So you will find the older ladies shaking their finger at you and telling you to put on a coat. They do not care who you are, where you come from or what your background is. If they think you are dressing inappropriately, they will tell you. The same goes for the grocery store and other public places. There can be a line of 50 people, but it doesn't matter. Those ladies will make it to the front, and without shame, cut directly in front of you with much poking and pushing involved. In my opinion, stand your ground on this one. Many people are told to "respect your elders" when they are growing up. Forget that here. Those ladies will beat you to everything so when they push, push back.


3.) It sometimes works to your advantage to use the excuse "Oh but I do not speak English." For example, people come up to you and try to talk to you about money or some cause they are promoting, just stand there and say "I do not speak Spanish!"


4.) Do not take any plants from anyone. The gypsies around the touristy areas will offer your rosemary, you will not know exactly what it is, why it is being offered to you, or what to do. One second later, they are putting it in your hand and hounding you for the money you "owe" them for taking the plant. Oh and if you see anyone pretending to drop a baby, they baby is made of wood, you will run to try to help it, and the gypsies will steal your things. Get it? Got it? Good. Stay away from the gypsies or the "bargain" trip you thought you got from your travel agent or social club can turn into not such a bargain after a few run ins with these people. 


5.) Frutarias = best friends. Often times in the United States, specialty stores charge more than they should for items you can find for cheap in your local grocery store. There is a produce store by my house in the U.S. that charges an arm and a leg for their locally grown tomatoes. Of course they are delicious, but after a few runs to get "local" tomatoes, it starts to put a dent in your wallet. So a piece of advice for broke teachers or students like myself who are living or working abroad, avoid the grocery stores when it comes time to buy fruit, meat or fish. Fruterias are the stores that sell fruits and vegetables in Spain. I was able to get 4 bananas, one very large head of romaine lettuce, 3 very good sized tomatoes, 2 green apples and an onion for 3.80 euros. In the grocery store, that would have been double. 


6.) Do not be afraid to bargain hunt in another country. Always keep your eyes peeled. If you want to buy something, but you think it is too expensive, you WILL be able to find it for cheaper somewhere else. If you were in the United States and saw a pair of $500 shoes that you absolutely love, most people my age would not go and drop $500 just for that pair of shoes. You would search TJ Maxx and Marshalls to find a look alike for A LOT cheaper. It is the same for shopping in Europe. First off, the euro is more expensive than the dollar so keep that in mind before you buy. Second, just because you are in a foreign country doesn't mean you have all of a sudden lost all of your bargain hunting skills. Try to stay away from the touristy areas where things will be more expensive and head of the beaten path. You will find stores and restaurants that are so much cheaper than the ones you saw by your hotel in the center of the city. It might take a little more time, but it will be worth it!


I will keep updating this one post as I think of things since I am learning new tips everyday living as an American here in Sevilla! 

Language...it's "curioso"

Everyone knows that every native Spanish speaker on this planet can roll their r's. I cannot. Still working on that. But did you know how hard it is for native Spanish speakers to say their y's without making them sound like j's? I guess you can say we all have our own difficulties learning how to speak a second language. So far, I think the most rewarding part of teaching English is recognizing my students' desire to learn. Even the professors who I work with are working so hard to improve their English. I love the mentality the professors in my school have. I feel like sometimes people think they are too "old" to learn a language or never studied it in school so therefore they should not even try. But these professors amaze me everyday. They try so hard and it is so rewarding to see them get excited when they are able to speak and understand English because they know whatever knowledge they gain from me, they can continue to teach to their students after I am gone.

Then there are the students. I am still working on trying to get them to speak because it is hard for them to speak English in front of a classroom of students who might have traveled to an English speaking country. I need them to shake the mentality that they might not be "as good" at English as their classmates so they can just speak, but it is a challenge. Then there are the students who I tutor. Many of them are good at English because they grew up learning the language. Here in Spain, it is now mandatory for a student to begin learning a second language by age 5 at the latest. So many of the students I tutor have been learning English since they were born. But even with their English level being decently high for their age, they are still kids and still try to pull the same punches that American children do. For example, today during tutoring, my two students thought it was hilarious to try to trick me into saying "Me gusta la pasta penne." "I like penne pasta." Well I knew very well that "penne" is pronounced the same way as the Spanish word "pene" which is of course the Spanish word for a certain male reproductive organ. Let's just say they did not get away with it.

But overall, I think language has been fascinating me more now than ever before. Today I was working with one of the professors from my high school who is learning English. She was telling me about her trip to the United States a few years ago. She told me she "pass" through Pennsylvania and I corrected her by saying "passed." She then wanted to pronounce the word "passed" correctly because it is often hard for native Spanish speakers to say the -ed ending of past tense verbs. Once she finally got that down, she was still frustrated that she couldn't say "passed" like I do. After repeating the word a number of times, she finally asked why she could not say the "a" like me. And then it hit me. I am from outside of Philly. The way I say my "a's" in words like "passed," "basketball," "fast," etc. is different from most native English speakers. I just thought that was so funny and so interesting that just like the Spaniards down south here in Andalucia have an accent, I have an accent as well.

Also, since England is so close, many of the English teachers here are from England or have studied in England. Many of my students have studied in England or Ireland as well because the United States is difficult and expensive to get to. So the English here that is used by the schools is British English. Imagine my surprise walking into my classrooms and hearing my students asking each other to borrow "a rubber" (an eraser) when I am thinking they are talking about a contraceptive. Like what?! You're 14...wait a little longer please! Then having them tell me that they "have got" two brothers or they "have got" a dog makes me want to scream because that is taught to them as the correct way of saying "to have." Well how can this be when every paper I have ever written would have had a billion points deducted if I used grammar like that? I've got...pshhh. Then there are words like "flat" vs. apartment and "trainers" vs. sneakers...you get the point. It is very interesting to hear these differences but hey England...stop messing with my American English!

Today, one of my students also asked me why Americans say "I'm gonna go" instead of "I am going to go." Or "I wanna eat a snack" instead of "I want to eat a snack." And I thought the Andalucians eating their letters was bad. This experience really has been teaching me how difficult English can be and how I can better help these students because I, too, am learning language. Sometimes learning and understanding Spanish is easy, while other days, I cannot even understand "Hola! Que tal?" Let me just say learning and teaching English is hard. Learning and teaching Spanish is hard. But when you're going back and forth between English and Spanish all day, by the time the day ends, you're speaking a horrible mess of Spanglish and you might as well just head to bed because you cannot make any sense after midnight anyways.

Bottom line is every day is a new adventure...from talking about the economic crisis in all parts of the world and stocks and Wall Street and the difference between traders and brokers (my father would be proud) and greed and corruption and all life's issues in English (like I did on Monday) to teaching the basic a,b,c's and 1,2,3's of English and reading childhood storybooks...it really has made me realize that language is very "curioso."

There's No Place Like Home

And I'm not talking about the United States. There are times when I am out and about, running errands or going to and from work, and I say that I am "going home" after. Before, I would just say I am "going home" because my piso here in Spain is technically "my home." But now when I say it, I mean it. Spain...my neighborhood...everything is "my home." I know I am from the United States and my family and friends are there but there is no rule that says you cannot have two homes. The second I left Spain to go back to the United States in 2010, I knew I had left a piece of me in Sevilla. My goal this time around was to go back to Sevilla, pick up the piece of me that I lost, bring it home and continue on with life. Well, I need to face the truth. Family and friends...do not get worried. I will be in the Philly airport in June. But I know a piece of me will remain here although my intention was to come here to bring it back with me. So I guess you can say I found my second home here. And even though it is very early on in my experience, I am sensing another difficult end to this journey.

Why did all of this came about today? I was asking myself the same thing. But as I walked to the bus station on my way to work, I realized I finally had a routine down. Wake up, walk across the Puente de Los Remedios, look to my left and see the Torre del Oro and Giralda standing tall among the palm trees that line that Guadalquivir river, head towards the university which just so happens to be an old tobacco factory that was operating before my country was colonized, turn to go to the bus stop, hear the little stop and go crosswalk lights chirping at me and telling me to cross as the motos fly down the typical European style streets, take the bus to work, and proceed with my day. This is where I live. This is my home for the next eight months. I am lucky to have this experience.

Then I realized I am going to have good days and I am going to have bad days. The good days are my motivation to push through the rough times. Yes it is true that my Grandmother passed away on Wednesday, my computer crashed on Thursday and my Blackberry broke on Friday, but I discovered quickly (and I discovered the hard way) that life goes on. And that it did. Life went on. And what better place for life to move on then in my new home.

Remembering someone special

There is not one special memory I have that does not involve my grandmother (Gram). She never missed a birthday or a sacrament. She never missed a graduation or a school play. Every season she came to watch a game of a sport that I was playing at the time that meant sooooo much to me (or so I thought). But of course, I never ended up pursuing that sport for more than a season or two. To Gram, it did not matter how big or small the event was...she was there.

I will always remember Christmas with her on Goshen Road when I was very young, lunches and poolside afternoons at Hershey's Mill, daily chats on our family vacation at Lake George, and the "Gram-isms" she would say to make me feel better if I was feeling down. She always knew what to say and she always made sure I knew that "God will never give me more than I can handle." After talking to her, I always left the conversation feeling comforted and ready to handle whatever life had to offer. Sometimes, Gram would even relate what I was going through to something she experienced with one of her seven children when they were growing up. Sometimes the stories were funny and made me laugh while others made me realize I am not the only person who experiences their bumps in the road. Most importantly, Gram made sure I knew whatever I was going through, I would never have to go through it alone because she was there for me.

Gram and her beloved husband, my Pop, are the reason I am here today and living the wonderful life I have. Gram and Pop were married for 58 years, raised seven amazing children who went on to have me, my brother and sister and my seven cousins. Growing up, I knew that being a "Higgins" meant understanding the importance of God and the importance of family. When I was young, I always thought having uncles, aunts, parents and cousins who all got along with each other (for the most part ;) ) was normal. It was not until I was a little older that I realized my family was special. And all of this began with two people...my grandparents. I know it was not always easy for them, but with a little (ok a lot) of help from God and with the support of each other, Gram and Pop were able to instill in every single one of us a sense of family.    

As you all know, I am living and working in Spain. Leaving home in September was hard but I knew I would never forgive myself if I did not take this opportunity to teach and live abroad. I was lucky to have everyones' support when I made this decision. The people who were the most supportive in addition my parents and siblings were my grandparents. When I studied abroad here in the Spring of 2010, Gram asked if I was going to be keeping a journal. I did and when I returned, Gram borrowed my journal for a week and read the whole thing. She knew I had fallen in love with this city and when I told her I was returning, she was thrilled for me. She told me, "Bridget, I read that journal and I know how much you love it there. You are young so go do this while you can." And that was Gram. She always put other peoples' best interest before her own. I knew as well as she did that anything could happen while I was here, but she never once made me feel the least bit of guilt about leaving.

I knew that Gram was sick when I left, but as far as I was concerned, it was nothing a little medicine could not fix. That was why I was shocked to receive the news, three days after I landed in Spain, that she needed open heart surgery. The first thing I did was call Gram's hospital room. She was amazed that I could call her from Skype and I ended the conversation by saying, "Hang in there Gram, I love you, and do not worry because I will see you at Christmas."

I was shocked to find out that a couple of weeks after the surgery, Gram was not going to make it. She could not recover. This past Thursday, I awoke at 2 am to a phone call from my mom. She told me that on Wednesday night, six hours behind my time in Spain, Gram had passed.

At first I thought, how is my family doing, especially my father who is Gram's son and how am I going to get through this without my family. Then I realized I do have someone helping me through this and that person is Gram. She always made sure everyone was taken care of and she put everyone first. I have no doubt she is up in heaven and she is taking care of me from up there. She knows I am sad and I have been through some really rough times since Thursday, but when I woke up this morning, I felt like I was ready to handle this. It just took me a few days to realize that Gram never left and she never will leave me. I have another angel looking down on me and if anything, my experience here in Spain is going to be worth it because she is up there guiding me through it. I also feel lucky because I can remember Gram as the strong and proud woman that she was when I left her. I never had to see her suffer. I am happy my last memory of my grandmother was seeing her in her house before I left for Spain, excited for me and ready to hear about my stories from abroad.

My last words to Gram were "I love you, see you at Christmas." And I am happy they were my last words. In Spain, the people here do not like to say "Adios" because it is so permanent and signifies that you will never see that person again. So instead they say "Hasta luego" which in English means "See you later!" So Gram, coming from your granddaughter, I would like to say "Hasta luego" because I know that when my time comes, I will meet you in heaven and I will see you again! I love you.

Beginning to understand...

I cannot believe it is only Wednesday because I feel like I have done so much since Monday. I have taught two classes entirely on my own, found tutoring jobs, conversed with teachers at my school (in English and Spanish), met around 20 of the 150 teachers at my school (ask me their names and I would probably be able to name four). I have also done my commute for the fourth time since I have been here as well as lived my daily life here in Sevilla. 

Let's just say I am finally beginning to understand the Spanish education system and get a glimpse of what my year will be like here in Sevilla. I cannot explain how excited I am to see where the year will take me. The teachers at my school are all wonderful. Yesterday I had four teachers surrounding me. They were so interested in my background and my life in the United States. Unfortunately there are so many English teachers who want a native English speakers in their classroom, and since I am the only one in the school, it is hard for my coordinator to fit me into all of the classes. I am just so amazed at how much the English language is valued here. Not only do I have my students listening to me while I teach, but I have the teacher listening to me because they want to learn as well.

The main goal of my classes is to get my students to talk. I tend to put them into small groups and have them discuss their family life and interests with each other. All of the classes are in English but I feel weird pretending that I do not speak any Spanish. The teachers told me they want my students to think I speak absolutely no Spanish. So yesterday, when one of my students asked me what a neighborhood was, I heard whispers going through the classroom saying "barrio, barrio!" which means neighborhood in Spanish but I couldn't say "Yes! Yes! Barrio! That is correct!" because I am not supposed to understand Spanish.

So far I think my students like me! I ran into some of the students I had on Monday and they asked me why I haven't been in class since Monday and I told them it's because I have to go to so many different classes. They told me they would ask my coordinator if I can be in their class every day. That made me happy. It made me feel like I was doing my job right. My coordinator also told me he thinks I will do very well at the school because I am outgoing and not afraid to talk to people. I hope he is right!

First Day!

After completing the round trip bus ride out to Alcalá de Guadaíra (the town where I teach...10 km from Sevilla centro) on Friday, I felt pretty confident going out there this morning. The bus ride was very smooth and I met two more auxiliares who were repeating the program and headed to my same town! I bought my bus pass yesterday which is good for all city transportation but I did not realize I had to tell the bus driver he had to type in double credit for my card. I thought it just took the exact amount but because I am going outside of the city, I had to be charged the extra fee. One of the auxiliares who was in his second year helped me out with the whole situation so I could avoid a bunch of angry Spaniards cursing me out for holding up the line. As it turns out, this auxiliar attended both undergrad and grad school at Virginia Tech (my sister Monica would be so happy)! It really is a small world.

I had to depart from the other two auxiliares a few stops before because my school is on the very edge of the town. So I walked to school and saw my coordinator in the teachers' lounge. He told me to go with him and the only thing I had to do was get the students to talk. Well, I walked into the classroom and my coordinator sat down with the students and I taught everyone. My first day...standing in front of the class...running the WHOLE class! I thought there might have been a time where my coordinator stepped in and said thanks Bridget, I will take it from here. But no. It was just me. I actually enjoyed it though! The only difficult part about the day was that I discovered that all of my students were on different levels with their English. I had some students who looked at me like I had two heads when I spoke while others knew exactly what I was saying. I was a little nervous but my coordinator was very happy at the end because I got everyone to say something in English. I did not really look at it as that big of an accomplishment because all I was doing was having a conversation with them along with some speaking activities, but to the Spanish students and their professors seemed very happy to have me there.

After an hour or so my coordinator told me I could go home which I thought was weird. That's it? Work is over for the day? I do not think it will be like this every day because my coordinator is still getting my schedule together but I was shocked I was done.

So I guess overall it was successful. I even got two students to tutor out of it! It was so easy that they came to me so I don't have to go soliciting around town. I was so surprised at how much the people in Spain value the English language. Everyone seemed so fascinated by my culture and language. I envy them because they are fluent in Spanish and they are fascinated by me because I am fluent in English. I guess the saying is true that the grass is always greener on the other side!

I really do think this will be a challenging yet very rewarding and enjoyable year. I am excited to see the progress my students will make throughout the year as well as watch them achieve their personal goals. I know some of them are planning on taking the English test for the university and want all the help they can get and I really want to do my best to prepare them and watch them succeed.

Oh and if anyone was wondering, I did get a "Were there large parties at your university with lots of beer?" question asked by one of my students. I did not know how to explain Penn State's social scene to him without thinking I was a raging alcoholic, but I did not lie. I told him those parties exist, but we like to join clubs, go to class and attend sporting events as well ;)

All I Want is Good, Italian Tomato Sauce!

Today I would like to discuss the differences between grocery stores in Spain and grocery stores in the United States. Positives and negatives. Ok. So I went shopping at Mas. Mas is a relatively cheap grocery store about two blocks from my house. About 13 euros at Mas can get you some pretty decent meals for a couple of weeks (and by decent meals I mean basically vegetarian...eggs, cheese, lunch meat, fruit, potatoes, cereal, etc.). But I am not a really a big meat eater so it does not really bother me to not have it. Though one of these days I will buy chicken and I will have to buy it in grams and kilograms...scary thought!

When I went to the grocery store today, I was in Spanish mode and thought it would be fun to start making some Spanish food (beginning with tortilla) for some of my meals. Pretty easy...just eggs, onion, potatoes, salt, pepper, olive oil and you've got a meal. BUT the eggs were not refrigerated. And side note...neither is the milk. I knew about the whole non refrigeration of various foods, but when you actually have to go buy it yourself, it is a little unsettling. I did learn to get a Spanish-English dictionary on my Kindle though so if I do not know a food in the grocery store, I whip out my Kindle and type it in (thanks to my wonderful boyfriend...I didn't know it would be useful for more than just reading)! 

Then I found some cheese stuffed tortellini. And I thought, "Good meal...pasta is always good!" It comes prepackaged...kind of like how they sell it at Wegmans. But then I spend at least 10 minutes wandering around the store. All I kept thinking was, "All I want is good, Italian tomato sauce!" But there really is no such thing. Basically all they have in the stores are thicker versions of tomato soup that you can heat up and pour on the pasta. Some have chunks of tomato in it. But actual basil, garlic, chunks of tomatoes all cooked together in a pot and later put in a jar does not exist here. Or at least does not exist in my grocery store. It was an adventure...let me tell you!

And then as I got in line, I listened as the two Señoras in front of me we arguing over paying for two bags of potato chips. The one offered to pay for both but the other wasn't having it. So I stood in line for 5 minutes as the cashier and I looked at each other laughing as these Señoras argued over paying. I think the Señora who offered to pay for both ended up winning.   

Another interesting fact about the grocery stores is that they charge you 30-60 cents for each plastic bag you use. So whenever I go to the store, I always have to remember to bring my recyclable bag! And I have found that every day in the grocery store is a new adventure!

Sunday Funday

Or Sunday do absolutely nothing day. Getting adjusted to this tranquilo lifestyle is killing me...kind of. I am an American. I was born and raised to be on the go every second of every day. I am used to stores being open when I want them to be open and viewing Sunday as any other day. But that is not the case here.

I woke up and went for a run. The most convenient trail for me just so happens to be through Parque Maria Luisa, past Plaza de España (my favorite place in Sevilla) and the Universidad de Sevilla in El Centro. Then I ran past the Torre Del Oro, over the river and back to my barrio. What a shame...not. Let me tell you, it's no West Glen/Pleasant Grove trail (my neighborhood at home...not knocking it...just saying). I swear one of these days I might fall on my face from staring at everything around me...and the saying "I need to pinch myself to make sure I'm actually here," yeah I've been doing a lot of pinching.

After I got done my run, I got a bus pass! Which I thought would be hard but it turns out all you have to do is go to a metro stop and put money on a card. As the money starts to die, you just keep adding more. Typical I know, but I never had to take public transportation at home. The Cata buses around campus at Penn State were always free! So I guess I am all set to get to school tomorrow and the bus driver will not give me any dirty looks when I ask for change.

I also planned my first lesson for tomorrow! It is just a basic "Where do you live? What do you like to do during your free time?" kind of conversation lesson just to get the students talking. The teachers at the school did say that they do not know how much teaching will be done in the first day because the students will probably ask me a lot of questions about my life and the United States.

And now I am just sitting here in my piso...writing and listening to the sounds of families gathered in the apartments around me laughing and eating together. It makes me miss mine. One thing Spain could never replace are the wonderful family and friends I have at home.

As for a quick wrap up of the weekend, I went to some old haunts from when I studied abroad here. For example, Demo bar on Calle Betis. We also took a walk to Plaza Alfalfa and got some 5 euro big azz mojitos. They tasted great as usual :) . And last night my friend Fidel came over and saw that we were eating canned lentejas and grilled cheese for dinner so he decided to take us to the grocery store and show us a really easy chicken recipe. It tasted amazing after being deprived of meat (because we don't really know how to buy it here...I like to order in pounds not kilos). So anyways, it was good to see him and practice some Spanish.

As for today...it really is a lazy day here. People are not expected to do anything. As I said before, it is kinda nice...but for this chica americana, it's going to take a little getting used to!

And so it begins...

I left my piso today at 11:30 and let me just say the Andalucían sun is HOT. Now that I think of it, I do not think I have seen a cloud in the sky since I got here. It has been hovering around the upper 80s-low 90s (today being 86 degrees). In the sun, the temperature is sweltering, but I could live outside forever in the shade BECAUSE there is no humidity! I'm loving it!

Ok so as I was saying above, I left my piso at 11:30 and made my way to the bus station to get to my school. I hopped on the bus and actually got off at the right time and got to my school on time! But then I walked into my high school and I was like a deer in headlights. There were sooo many teenage students running around (because I am teaching in a high school). And let me just say, coming from an all girls catholic high school, it was eye opening to see a ton of Spanish students scurrying around the halls. The receptionist was very nice and helpful and led me to the classroom where I found the bilingual coordinator of the school. And let's just say I was thrown into a full class of students as I heard my bilingual coordinator say "Bridget, these are your students!" Yes, I was scared. I just stood there like, "Um, Hi, I'm Bridget!" I felt kinda scared and awkward but the students were very welcoming. And then my coordinator said, "Ok, I am just going to finish up the class and I will meet you outside to discuss your schedule."

So I waited outside...in the hall...being the awkward Americana that I am while my coordinator went down the hall to grab another teacher I would be working with. While he was away, two of my students came up to me and started talking. They were two high school aged boys and I was so surprised at how fascinated they were about my life and the United States. I also gave them a lot of credit because they came up and spoke to me in English and really wanted to practice. I was warned that some of my students would be afraid to talk to me because they might feel ashamed, but these students were great! I was so happy that they felt comfortable talking to me right off the bat.

After talking to the students, I went into the teachers' lounge and discussed my schedule. I have Fridays off (score) and I will work Monday-Thursday from about 9 am - 12 pm (some days more, some days less, just as long as they add up to 12 hours a week). I switched from English to Spanish and back to English while talking to two of the teachers. I will be in the classroom with one teacher in her English conversation course and then I will be in helping our with the specialty area of "comercio y transporte" (trading and transport) in the high school. I still have a lot to learn about that industry!

All of the teachers at my school seemed wonderful and I am looking forward to working with them! I think I might even have some tutoring jobs lined up tutoring the professors' children. Things are looking up and I cannot wait to start a full week on Monday! Now it is time for a run along the río under that Andalucían sun!

One observation...Spanish schools run from 8:15-9ish til about 2 pm. Get on that United States. Oh, and stop being so ignorant with your views on language learning. The people here value learning language so much and I feel like in the States, people are like just learn English and that's all you need to know. Open up your minds people! Language is a beautiful thing...and not just the English language! Just a little bit of my opinion ;)

Settled

Two 50 pound suitcases, one carry on suitcase, one backpack, and one purse thrown into one small elevator, ascend two floors, drag everything through the door and I am home. Finally. I looked around at the place that would be my home for the next nine months. Some aspects of the piso were the same as many apartments I had in the United States like having a bed to sleep in, closet space, various couches and other muebles (furniture).

And then there were some aspects of the apartment that were...well...not so similar. Yes, there is a washer. But as my roommate found out last night, it likes to tell you that the cycle is over, but when you go to open it, it dumps a pond of water all over the floor. (Still trying to figure that one out. Thank God for mops)! And there is no clothes dryer. So yes, I have to hang out the window and real in a clothesline that stretches from one side of the outside courtyard to the other. While my neighbors get to see my underwear displayed. But they do it too so I guess it is considered normal here. Anyways, hanging clothes outside = saving energy = my mother would be proud. The piso is on the second floor so I guess I will spend the next nine months praying that my clothes don't accidentally fall and plunge to their doom onto the floor of the courtyard that we do not have access to. If anyone is wondering, there are clothes down there and some clothes in the trees that have fallen from floors above us. Definitely different from the U.S.

Then there is the gas...oh yes...wonderful old gas. Do you want a hot shower? Ok, light the gas. Do you want to turn on the stove? Ok, light the gas. Do you want just a dab of warm water to wash your face for two quick seconds? Doesn't matter, LIGHT THE GAS! Now I know my Señora had to do all of this when I lived with her. But I never had to do it myself. The whole "living on my own in Spain" is definitely a learning experience.

Then there are the bed sizes. I wish there was a crowd of my friends in Sevilla Centro yesterday to watch as my roommates and I wandered to a bunch of different stores trying to find sheets and towels for our apartment. First, we found a set of sheets in El Corte Ingles for 99 euros...yeah we weren't about to do that. And then we found some for 30 euro...ok a little less...but no. Then we found a store called Trama. Sheets = 10 euro. Blankets = 12-14 euro. Making progress. Then it was time to look for pillows, and surprisingly, Zara home turned out to be our savior. There were pillows, discounted sheets, etc. for pretty cheap.

As anyone can tell from this blog, living in a foreign city is difficult. But words cannot describe the triumph you feel after accomplishing something over here. Some days it might be something as small as having a full conversation with a Sevillano without making too many mistakes (like I did in a cafe called Rodilla yesterday). While other days it might be something as significant as finding a place to live for nine months while only having about 5 full days to do it (like my roommates and I did last weekend). I think it is these triumphs that make me want to keep living here. I want to see what is going to come next. There have been some very difficult days already, but it is the successful moments that keep me wanting to face new challenges.

The Search Has Ended

Well people, the search for an apartment has ended! The first thing I thought when I found out we had to find our own apartment in eight days was, "Ok, I'll figure it out when the time comes." Well the time came and I did not know where to begin. My roommates and I spent two full days looking for apartments, walking around the streets and calling places that had "se aquila" (to rent) in the windows only to find out they were office spaces or one bedroom apartments. To say we were frustrated after calling so many places and speaking Spanish to these landlords would be an understatement. It was literally one of the most difficult things I've had to do in a while. We had to learn about things like words for security deposit and "We need a nine month contract...not 12!" and how much will this cost and what about bills, what's included? It was a whirlwind but I realized very quickly why our program made us do this. I learned so much about myself and what I am capable of.

Needless to say we came away with an awesome four bedroom apartment well within our price range. It is located in the same neighborhood that I lived in before with my Señora. Exactly two blocks ahead of her apartment. I love the neighborhood (Los Remedios) and I cannot wait to move in!

Tonight my roommates and I spent our first night in Sevilla without having the stress of apartment searching on our minds. It was a great feeling! We spent about three hours on the street eating dinner and drinking wine. We are starting to feel like Spaniards again! And let me just say I haven't been this relaxed since I studied here. Great to be back! A bad day in Sevilla is always a great day everywhere else!

I'm Home!

I have arrived in Sevilla safe and sound! The trip was very smooth but the good old Madrid Barajas airport never ceases to drive me crazy. Needless to say I was a little annoyed about paying for another bag and having to take a bus to the infamous terminal 4 but everything changed when I got back to Sevilla. When they came to visit me back in 2010, I met my family in Barcelona and flew to Sevilla after we spent a weekend in Barcelona. Everyone could tell I was happier when I got back to Sevilla. They told me I was uptight and stressed in Barcelona but once I got to Sevilla my whole demeanor changed. I guess that's what happened today. I do not know what is in the air in the city or why life just seems better here but one thing is certain...I am thrilled to be back.

I met so many friendly people from my program including my roommate at the hotel. We are getting along great and I'm excited to spend orientation with her! CIEE provided us with an information session at 7 (after I took a shower and a 2 hour nap...jet lag is never a good thing) and the information session was followed by a
welcome cocktail party with endless TINTO DE VERANO...made with FANTA! I thought I was in heaven and then they started to bring out the tapas...first one out TORTILLAAAA!!!! I was lovin life. Everyone was friendly and I couldn't get enough of meeting new people and talking to people about the program and the city. I already know there are people here who I can become great friends with.

The Andalucian sun was shining when I got off the bus today and it was a clear 90 degree day...I'm back in the city I love! I have a good feeling about this program. I'm excited for a week of orientation to get a glimpse of what this awesome year is going to bring!

The Hardest Part

Less than two days until I leave for Spain. And yes, the HARDEST part is saying goodbye.

It is crazy to think that I will be living in Spain on Monday. Today I spent the day running around and doing last minute errands that I needed to get done. Shoe store...had to make copies of passport, visa, EVERYTHING...last minute shopping, packing, etc. Then I decided to have something small at my house for my friends who wanted to say goodbye to me. You can ask my best friend, Kristen, and she'll tell you that I was texting her like crazy asking her why I decided to have a get together with my friends especially since the stress of leaving began to set in today. But thank God she told me not to worry about it and to go through with it! I realized I am lucky to have friends who came out to say goodbye to me AND friends who will be in Spain to welcome me when I arrive.

I spent the night surrounded by friends I met a few months after I was born, friends who I met in elementary school, friends who I met in middle school, friends who I met in high school and friends who I met in college. We had dinner and went out after to my favorite bar in West Chester. And I realized that although I will be living in Spain I have SOOOO many people back at home who cannot wait to see me when I get back and hear about my adventures. I know that most of my blog will be about Spain and my experiences over there. But for now, I want this blog to be about my amazing friends. Both the ones who were at my house tonight, the lucky ones still at PSU and the ones who's careers (like mine) have taken them to different parts of the country. You guys are awesome and I will miss you! You are the ones who encouraged me to do this and you are the ones who will bring me home. I am LUCKY to have you. Good luck to all of you...wherever life may take you, I know each one of you will do great things! I cannot wait for a rockin New Years back here in the USofA! Until then...Spain!

What are you looking forward to?

This is the most commonly asked question I have gotten from people since I made my decision. I'll give you my top 5...

1.) La gente...CLARO! The Spanish people are amazing. Of course I am pumped to see my friends who I met when I studied there, but I am also excited to meet new people. The Spanish people are very welcoming. They are passionate about their culture and value the relationships they have with their families and friends. They are sincere and the thing I like best about them is that they are not afraid to tell it as it is!

2.) The lifestyle. Walk...walk...walk. Don't expect to get to Sevilla and not have to walk. After the first few days, the legs ache and the feet hurt and you wonder how am I going to do this? The ancient cobblestone streets might wreck your shoes and they might even make you take a spill in public...especially if you are trying to make it in heels. And then you get used to it. You begin to wonder how you ever got in your car and went from place to place before. And then you end up back in the states. Don't worry...I love the U.S. but I HATE getting into my car to go everywhere! At school it wasn't so bad because as a student on a large university campus, I was able to walk everywhere. But after being home for a summer and having to get into my car to go everywhere, I have been dying to get back into a walking lifestyle. I also love how the Spanish people value time spent with family and friends. They meet on the streets to eat, drink and chat for hours. They are also not afraid to leave work, go home and have a lunch break that lasts for more than 30 minutes. They have a large meal in the afternoon and a siesta! Yes...people actually rest in the middle of the day...not work from 9-5 with maybe a 20 minute break for lunch. One saying the Spanish people have is "No pasa nada!" it's like the Spanish style "Hakuna Matata." When I am having a bad day (even though a bad day in Sevilla is a good day anywhere else) the words "No pasa nada, guapa!" are the best words I can hear. To sum it all up, I just cannot wait to get back to my "No Pasa Nada" lifestyle!


3.) The scenery. The Liberty Bell, the White House, Colonial Williamsburg, even places like the Brandywine Battlefield in my own hometown...there are lists of historical sites in the United States. When I used to walk around Penn State's campus, I would look at Old Main and say, "Wow! 1855! That's so old!" I used to marvel at Old Main when I walked past it each day with its white pillars and legendary bell tower. And then I arrived in Sevilla. I learned the easiest route from my apartment to class ran along side the Cathedral in Sevilla...tough life, right? Now I had something new to marvel at...the largest Gothic cathedral in the world and the third largest Cathedral in the world that just so happens to be the burial site of Christopher Columbus. So I went from passing something that was built in 1855 to passing a site with so much history! A site that was built in the 1100's as a mosque and reconstructed to become a cathedral once the Christians took over Spain and reconstructed time and time again to become the cathedral that so many tourists marvel at today. And yep, I passed that. Every single day for four months. Try to tell me that's not amazing. So yes, I guess I would say I am certainly looking forward to passing sites like these and living in a culture that are way older than my country.

4.) La comida! Many of my friends left Spain and couldn't wait to get back to bagels, bacon, eggs and pancakes for breakfast and pizza, french fries and burgers for lunch and dinner. The day I got home I had a hoagies and a Philly soft pretzel but the next day I woke up and made a Spanish tortilla for lunch. Something that is so easy to make took me forever because I tried and failed miserably when I tried to make it taste exactly like my Señora's. I scoured the grocery stores for Fanta Limon to perfect my tinto de verano but only found grape and orange flavors. And I'm sorry but Tinto naranja (orange) is just not as good limon. Of course there will be foods I will miss from the U.S. but I cannot wait to get back to the tortilla, gazpacho, solomillo, lentejas, paella, chorizo and of course CIEN MONTADITOS...because where else can you get a mug of tinto and 3 mini sandwiches for 5 euro?! 

5.) A new experience. Overall, I am excited for a new experience. Many people study abroad and have the time of their lives. I was one of them. But this time around, I am not trying to relive the same experience I had when I studied in Sevilla. That was an experience that I would never try to replace or relive. I will not have the same people, I will not have the same day-to-day lifestyle, I will not have classes in the university and I will not have a comfortable room in my Señora's apartment. But what I will have is a better understanding of the Spanish culture from the start. I will meet new people both American and Spanish who will change my life for the better. I will have a different day-to-day lifestyle that I know I will come to love. I will have a job and a classroom and students who I want to have an impact on. I will not be living with my Señora but I will see her and continue the friendship we formed a year ago. But overall, I will live and learn, I will get frustrated, I will laugh, I will cry, I will struggle and overcome obstacles and I will be a better person because I had this experience...an experience I could have never had if I didn't decide to take this chance. And I don't know about some people, but I would never be able to forgive myself if I didn't capture this opportunity.

The Decision

Should I return? Should I not return? That was all I could think about when I began my senior year at Penn State University in the fall of 2010. I knew the answer right away. Actually, I had known the answer when my plane left Madrid just six months before...

What a horrible plane ride that was! I was leaving Spain after four months of living and studying in Sevilla. I remember it as if it were yesterday. After boarding the plane, my friends took one last look out the window and fell asleep. And then there was me...crying uncontrollably and thinking this is it. I'm going home.

Later that day, May 14, 2010, I would be in good old West Chester, PA. I would be greeted by my best friends and family who could not wait to have me home. I would eat a Philly soft pretzel and a Wawa hoagie on my way home from the airport and wonder how I ever got full from the tapas I used to eat daily in Sevilla. My life would go back to the way it was and I told myself I would be fine. Many students study abroad and many readjust to life in the United States. I was confident I would be one of them. I would be someone who recognized that studying in Sevilla was a wonderful experience but it was something that had to end. I kept telling myself, "Be happy that you had the experience, feel lucky you had that opportunity, and move on."

And then it hit me. Culture shock...in my own country. The morning after I arrived, I woke up in the room I had slept in since I was six. I walked downstairs to the smell of breakfast cooking and my wonderful family waiting for me in the kitchen. Yes, I was home and I was happy to be there. But something was missing. I missed the excited "¡Buenos días!" I received from my Señora each morning as I shuffled sleepily into the kitchen to fix my coffee and toast. There never was a day when she forgot to make me coffee. It seems so simple now, but I will never forget the little things that she did for me, like making coffee, that came to mean so much to me. Then I thought of that same woman who set her alarm for 4 am the day before. She greeted me with her usual "¡Buenos días!", as awake as could be, as if it were just some ordinary day. And I'll never forget how she helped me with my luggage and stood in the doorway of her apartment and waved goodbye as I sat crying in the taxi that took me to the airport. Most of my friends said goodbye to their Señoras the night before. Some did not even say goodbye. But not my Señora. She was different.

I owe it to her for my return along with many other Sevillanos who helped make Spain feel like a second home to me. The Spanish people taught me the important lesson that language should never be a barrier to keep me from developing relationships with others. The Spanish people had an impact on my life and helped me reach my goals of learning another language. Since I have returned home to the United States, the desire to return to Spain has stayed with me. I want to return and help the Spanish people reach their English language learning goals just as they helped me reach mine. My experience in Spain clearly did not end after studying there as I had expected it to.

So as I sat in my house on Atherton Street in Happy Valley, PA this past fall, I wondered if I should return. I thought of my family. I thought of my friends. I thought of my boyfriend who's plans had taken him to the beautiful island of Maui. I thought of the life I would be leaving behind in the United States. I wondered what I would do if I was thousands of miles from home and did not enjoy what I was doing. I thought of my friends who were already hired and I wondered if I should do what most college graduates do...go out and get a job. Make money. Start my life...who cares if I like it or not...at least it's money...at least I'm secure.

And then I decided to take the chance and surprisingly, people were supportive. When I told my parents, they told me I needed to do this. I know they are going to worry about me until I step off that plane..back on United States ground on June 1st. But they are like most parents who want the best for their kids, and I realized they had the same voice in their heads that told them to let me go that I have in mine that is telling me to go. I am scared and nervous, but overall, I am excited. I am young and I have my whole life to work back in the States. So I am doing this. I do not know if this decision will be the best one, but there is only one way to find out and I will make sure I do everything in my power to make it the best decision I have ever made.

I will be nervous in the weeks leading up to my departure, but my boyfriend told me something I will keep in mind. He said, "Bridge, when you don't have anything to do except sit there and think about going away, you start doubting it because in the back of your mind you know you could have just stayed at home and played it safe. You could have been happy staying at home but all that will go away the second you step off the plane in Spain. It's hard to give up the comfort you had your whole life for something like this but it will make you better in the end."

I made my decision. I couldn't be happier with it. And despite the nerves, something tells me it's going to be great. See ya in September, Sevilla!