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.