So I've been in Spain for nearly 9 weeks now. Just writing that out blows my mind...I have never been in a foreign country for this long. It's absolutely crazy! But I'm loving every day here and just trying to make the time last....even though with Daylight Saving Time in effect as of yesterday, it seems to be slipping through my hands.
But what's been going on with me since the last time I wrote? I'm sure that's what's on your mind right now. Well, I made it through some of my toughest midterms in my college career and now I'm at spring break numero uno--Semana Santa (Spain's Holy Week). This is a huge time for the country of Spain as a whole as they get ready for Easter, but it's an even bigger deal for Sevilla because they boast the best processions and floats in the country. I was a little bummed that I decided to stay here for the first break (after I thought about my study abroad budget realistically) but now I'm really pumped! I'm so blessed to be in a city as culturally-rich and beautiful as Sevilla that I'm glad to be here for this week. People come from all over the world to Sevilla just to see its Semana Santa processions and I get to live here and see the sights as I please? I'll take that!
I'll explain what Semana Santa is exactly in the coming posts (or you can research it online!) but I just wanted to tell you all where I'm at right now in this study abroad journey.
I was looking at my pictures from New York and other places around Spain and already I see myself from a different perspective. I mean I just tackled New York City a little more than two months ago all by myself, but as I looked at my pics I thought, "Man, I look so young...and innocent."
Normally this is something you say when you're looking at pics from your teen years and you're in your late twenties--not two months after you started living abroad! But what's even more shocking is the farther I go back (like just last semester), the younger I look to myself! It's crazy, but it just goes to show you how much living abroad can change your perspective. I know so many more things now and am exposed to many different things everyday that I just can't go back to how I thought in the past. I'm gonna have one heck of a time readjusting to the United States, let me tell you!
Well, it is after midnight for me now and I have a busy week ahead of me. It's time to get some rest so I can see more of the processions tomorrow and...maybe do some homework?! Yep, such is my life in Spain.
There's always something I should be reading or working on!
'Ta luego y buenas noches! :)
--Sarah
P.S. I saw the funniest thing today: A carriage horse was snacking on the seat of someone's Vespa parked near the famous Alfonso XII hotel. He only scuffed it up though. I've never seen that happen in daily life so I had a good laugh as I passed by. The owner nor the carriage driver was around to reprimand the horse, so that just made it even funnier!
Monday, March 29, 2010
Monday, March 15, 2010
Spanish paradoxes
Here are some rather confusing, yet hilarious paradoxes I have come up against here in Spain:
***There are tons of commercials for these special digestive cookies that Spanish people supposedly eat all the time that are good for you (supposedly). But here's the thing they contain wheat gluten and all these other kinds of preservatives (and salt) that are horrible for you...guess what I got the whole time I was eating them? Diarrhea. Yeah, just an ironic little side effect for something that's supposed to regulate your body.
***Bathrooms in Spain almost always have soap in them, but what can you never find? Hot water! How are you supposed to kill the germs and why aren't Spanish people getting sick all the time??
***Choose wisely which kind of tissues you should buy. Ironically I'm pretty sure I'm allergic to the ones I was using when I had allergy symptoms a few days ago. Once again it defeats the purpose!
***All the fruit juices and yogurt drinks that are supposed to be extremely good for you have so much sugar in them! Which once again defeats the purpose of drinking them to get more natural sugars or calcium for that matter!
And my absolute favorite:
***No two clocks in Spain are set to the same time. Everyone's movil has a different time, the city runs on a much faster time, my senora's clock is ten minutes faster than my phone the metro is a couple minutes slower than my senora's clock and the world clock on my computer is off too! What is with you and time, Spain??? Ahhh, stop confusing me!
All that matters is that my watch is set 10 minutes faster than my phone so that I can make it back in time for lunch and dinner. The most important things in one's life, you know! ;)
***There are tons of commercials for these special digestive cookies that Spanish people supposedly eat all the time that are good for you (supposedly). But here's the thing they contain wheat gluten and all these other kinds of preservatives (and salt) that are horrible for you...guess what I got the whole time I was eating them? Diarrhea. Yeah, just an ironic little side effect for something that's supposed to regulate your body.
***Bathrooms in Spain almost always have soap in them, but what can you never find? Hot water! How are you supposed to kill the germs and why aren't Spanish people getting sick all the time??
***Choose wisely which kind of tissues you should buy. Ironically I'm pretty sure I'm allergic to the ones I was using when I had allergy symptoms a few days ago. Once again it defeats the purpose!
***All the fruit juices and yogurt drinks that are supposed to be extremely good for you have so much sugar in them! Which once again defeats the purpose of drinking them to get more natural sugars or calcium for that matter!
And my absolute favorite:
***No two clocks in Spain are set to the same time. Everyone's movil has a different time, the city runs on a much faster time, my senora's clock is ten minutes faster than my phone the metro is a couple minutes slower than my senora's clock and the world clock on my computer is off too! What is with you and time, Spain??? Ahhh, stop confusing me!
All that matters is that my watch is set 10 minutes faster than my phone so that I can make it back in time for lunch and dinner. The most important things in one's life, you know! ;)
Monday, March 8, 2010
God is truly amazing!
So yesterday I rediscovered that God does indeed have a sense of humor. I was on my way to my Spanish church last night but couldn't remember what the name of the street was or how far away it was from my house, so needless to say I was a little lost. Thank goodness, though, it was just a little side street off one of the main streets here in Sevilla...but finding that side street? Now, that was the struggle. However, I had a little help...
As I wandered around these smaller streets (where I thought the church was), I prayed, "God, if you want me at church to tonight, please get me there." Just your simple to-the-point prayer with a little bit of doubt mixed in there, but boy, did God answer it! Once I got back to the main street, I decided to just give up and go somewhere to sit and study, but then I kept thinking the church was farther than where I was, so I turned around. It's a good thing I did because I would've missed one of God's most beautiful reminders to us as believers:
And the street that this rainbow was over was the EXACT street Encounter Church was on! I took a few pictures of course and just started laughing.
GOD IS AWESOME!!!!!!! I hope you don't forget that (I hope I don't) as you go about your daily lives. We serve an awesome God who has an incredible sense of humor. :)
As I wandered around these smaller streets (where I thought the church was), I prayed, "God, if you want me at church to tonight, please get me there." Just your simple to-the-point prayer with a little bit of doubt mixed in there, but boy, did God answer it! Once I got back to the main street, I decided to just give up and go somewhere to sit and study, but then I kept thinking the church was farther than where I was, so I turned around. It's a good thing I did because I would've missed one of God's most beautiful reminders to us as believers:
And the street that this rainbow was over was the EXACT street Encounter Church was on! I took a few pictures of course and just started laughing.
GOD IS AWESOME!!!!!!! I hope you don't forget that (I hope I don't) as you go about your daily lives. We serve an awesome God who has an incredible sense of humor. :)
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Only in Spain...
I haven't really shared any stories or memories on here yet, so here goes...hope you enjoy!
Nearly a month ago (wow!!!) I went to los Carnavales en Cadiz (Ka-deeth) with some friends and Discover Sevilla, a tourist agency here that works with and plans trips for college students and tourists in Sevilla. The closest thing that I can relate it to is a big huge college Halloween party in the streets where everyone is dressed up in ridiculously good or bad costumes getting shwasted--and yet, still continuing to drink. Except not everyone who's there was young, in fact at times I saw more older people than young ones. My friends and I unfortunately got sucked into the center of the city where all the drunken mayhem was going on and didn't have the greatest time that night. Little did all of us know that just like 1/4 of a mile down the main street were plays and spoofs of political and historical figures/events being put on. I heard that there were people dressed up as Obama, Hitler and the Chinese president (whose name I don't know) and that would've been fun to see, especially since everything was satirical and politically incorrect! haha
But our schedule for the night turned into visiting the different people who dressed in groups and getting pictures taken with them. My favorites were the cavemen, penguins, ducks, crazy rocker guys from Barcelona who wore plain white tees so that American girls could write their numbers on them...and Aladdin and Jasmine. Jasmine was really drunk and gave each of my friends a page that she tore out of paperback book--which was hilarious and I kept the page! haha
My most memorable and vivid memory of the night was when I was talking to this really nice college-aged guy from Brazil. He is in his last year at the University of Salamanca and if you can believe it or not, he's studying Economics! In just the few minutes I talked with him--in English in the beginning--we had a lot in common...and he was the first decent guy I had met at Carnaval and didn't seem to be drunk. However, just a few feet away from me my friends were getting harassed by a group of cows or something and they wanted to get away from them as fast as possible...but I didn't want to leave cause I was having a nice time talking with this guy. Unfortunately I had to tell him goodbye, but he still wanted to keep talking to me! Two of my friends then proceeded to drag me away from him and I remember him asking me in Spanish, "Pero, quieres hablar sobre la economia?" [Don't you want to talk about the economy?]. No, but you're cute, I thought. I responded with, "My friends want to go so I can't. Sorry!"
I will never forget yelling that out to this guy as he watched me be physically dragged away by my friends. It all happened in slow motion too so that made it even harder to break away, but it made for an awesome memory. I didn't see him again that night and probably won't ever see him again. If I'm meant to run into him again I will, but if not, then God's got something else in store.
Time is flying by here in Spain, but I am enjoying every second I can. I hope to have so many more of these "Only in Spain" moments and be able pull them out whenever I am missing Sevilla.
Nearly a month ago (wow!!!) I went to los Carnavales en Cadiz (Ka-deeth) with some friends and Discover Sevilla, a tourist agency here that works with and plans trips for college students and tourists in Sevilla. The closest thing that I can relate it to is a big huge college Halloween party in the streets where everyone is dressed up in ridiculously good or bad costumes getting shwasted--and yet, still continuing to drink. Except not everyone who's there was young, in fact at times I saw more older people than young ones. My friends and I unfortunately got sucked into the center of the city where all the drunken mayhem was going on and didn't have the greatest time that night. Little did all of us know that just like 1/4 of a mile down the main street were plays and spoofs of political and historical figures/events being put on. I heard that there were people dressed up as Obama, Hitler and the Chinese president (whose name I don't know) and that would've been fun to see, especially since everything was satirical and politically incorrect! haha
But our schedule for the night turned into visiting the different people who dressed in groups and getting pictures taken with them. My favorites were the cavemen, penguins, ducks, crazy rocker guys from Barcelona who wore plain white tees so that American girls could write their numbers on them...and Aladdin and Jasmine. Jasmine was really drunk and gave each of my friends a page that she tore out of paperback book--which was hilarious and I kept the page! haha
My most memorable and vivid memory of the night was when I was talking to this really nice college-aged guy from Brazil. He is in his last year at the University of Salamanca and if you can believe it or not, he's studying Economics! In just the few minutes I talked with him--in English in the beginning--we had a lot in common...and he was the first decent guy I had met at Carnaval and didn't seem to be drunk. However, just a few feet away from me my friends were getting harassed by a group of cows or something and they wanted to get away from them as fast as possible...but I didn't want to leave cause I was having a nice time talking with this guy. Unfortunately I had to tell him goodbye, but he still wanted to keep talking to me! Two of my friends then proceeded to drag me away from him and I remember him asking me in Spanish, "Pero, quieres hablar sobre la economia?" [Don't you want to talk about the economy?]. No, but you're cute, I thought. I responded with, "My friends want to go so I can't. Sorry!"
I will never forget yelling that out to this guy as he watched me be physically dragged away by my friends. It all happened in slow motion too so that made it even harder to break away, but it made for an awesome memory. I didn't see him again that night and probably won't ever see him again. If I'm meant to run into him again I will, but if not, then God's got something else in store.
Time is flying by here in Spain, but I am enjoying every second I can. I hope to have so many more of these "Only in Spain" moments and be able pull them out whenever I am missing Sevilla.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Longing for familiar things...
Things I miss:
MILK!!!!!!! (both skim and CHOCOLATE)
Eggs and Sausage
BAGELS!!!!!!!!!!!
Mexican food (as in Chipotle...)
My buckwheat husk pillow that is amazingly wonderful to sleep on!
Dinner at a decent time in the afternoon/evening
A smaller school and one that actually looks nice
Stores staying open past 9pm.
Walking to class/living close to your classes
PEANUT BUTTER (a small jar is like $4-5 here!)
Morning classes (I know I'm crazy to say that...haha)
Hanging out with friends in public places/apts instead of at bars!
FRESH, CLEAN AIR most places I go
Taking American money out of ATMs
My friends and family of course!!!!! :)
Peace and quiet
UNSALTED FOOD! :(
Driving a car/carpooling with people!
Things I DON'T MISS:
Whiny closed-minded Americans :P
Speaking English everywhere I go
Being informed everyday of how much the gov't is screwing things up yet again
Staying in touch with American pop culture--aka what the celebs are doing
Life before Nutella with breakfast
TV (except for one certain show in particular)
Dressing informally (Dressing up is fun and makes you feel more confident during the day!)
Living at school and eating on campus :)
Getting hit on by creepy guys and black guys during the day (it only happens to me occasionally at night here)
...well, that's all I can think of right now. There's probably one thing I'm missing on both lists...but you tell me. :)
MILK!!!!!!! (both skim and CHOCOLATE)
Eggs and Sausage
BAGELS!!!!!!!!!!!
Mexican food (as in Chipotle...)
My buckwheat husk pillow that is amazingly wonderful to sleep on!
Dinner at a decent time in the afternoon/evening
A smaller school and one that actually looks nice
Stores staying open past 9pm.
Walking to class/living close to your classes
PEANUT BUTTER (a small jar is like $4-5 here!)
Morning classes (I know I'm crazy to say that...haha)
Hanging out with friends in public places/apts instead of at bars!
FRESH, CLEAN AIR most places I go
Taking American money out of ATMs
My friends and family of course!!!!! :)
Peace and quiet
UNSALTED FOOD! :(
Driving a car/carpooling with people!
Things I DON'T MISS:
Whiny closed-minded Americans :P
Speaking English everywhere I go
Being informed everyday of how much the gov't is screwing things up yet again
Staying in touch with American pop culture--aka what the celebs are doing
Life before Nutella with breakfast
TV (except for one certain show in particular)
Dressing informally (Dressing up is fun and makes you feel more confident during the day!)
Living at school and eating on campus :)
Getting hit on by creepy guys and black guys during the day (it only happens to me occasionally at night here)
...well, that's all I can think of right now. There's probably one thing I'm missing on both lists...but you tell me. :)
Monday, March 1, 2010
Daily reminders
Well, it's hard for me to believe that I have been in Spain for almost 6 weeks now! It still feels like I'm new to the culture but in reality I'm not. I can for sure say that I have fully adjusted because I am hungry at meal times and I feel sleepy when it gets late here. I also was just thinking about my upcoming 3 day week (today was a holiday too :) and mentally preparing for classes and my schedule...and I was able to visualize how the week would go mostly. So yes, I have adjusted but I'm still learning new things about the people, the culture and myself everyday. I could even say that I'm getting comfortable but I DON'T want to feel that way. Because, once you get comfortable in a geographical region or a place in your life, you begin to get desensitized and I want to see, feel, hear and do everything possible here, not just in Spain, but all over Europe too! This is an experience of a lifetime and I have to keep reminding myself of that.
Here are a few things I tell myself everyday when I'm feeling overwhelmed or discouraged:
*I did not come here to fail...I came here to succeed above and beyond my expectations.
*I did not come here to speak English...I came here to improve my Spanish and get to know the locals and become a part of this culture!
*No one here knows who I am or was...so why not seize the opportunity to let my personality shine and make a fresh start?
*I did not come here to be the same person I usually am...I came here to find out who I really am, what I'm capable of and--if it's in God's will--to find someone to love.
Verses that have been encouraging me:
One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple. For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock. Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me; at his tabernacle will I sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the LORD.
***Psalm 27:4-6***
Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. ***Psalm 73:25-26***
Please pray for me as I am working hard at reading the Bible every morning before I get ready. I feel like there is a strong opposition against me when I do read and pray before I start the day and those days are actually pretty bad and chaotic...so I know that the devil is working against me. Spiritual warfare and the workings of Satan are very real but I keep reminding myself that if God is for me, who can be against me? I am under His umbrella of protection and am strengthened by your prayers as well as mine. He has a purpose for me here that goes beyond studying and traveling and I hope to discover it and possibly fulfill it while I'm here.
Pues, buenas noches a todos! :)
Here are a few things I tell myself everyday when I'm feeling overwhelmed or discouraged:
*I did not come here to fail...I came here to succeed above and beyond my expectations.
*I did not come here to speak English...I came here to improve my Spanish and get to know the locals and become a part of this culture!
*No one here knows who I am or was...so why not seize the opportunity to let my personality shine and make a fresh start?
*I did not come here to be the same person I usually am...I came here to find out who I really am, what I'm capable of and--if it's in God's will--to find someone to love.
Verses that have been encouraging me:
One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple. For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock. Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me; at his tabernacle will I sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the LORD.
***Psalm 27:4-6***
Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. ***Psalm 73:25-26***
Please pray for me as I am working hard at reading the Bible every morning before I get ready. I feel like there is a strong opposition against me when I do read and pray before I start the day and those days are actually pretty bad and chaotic...so I know that the devil is working against me. Spiritual warfare and the workings of Satan are very real but I keep reminding myself that if God is for me, who can be against me? I am under His umbrella of protection and am strengthened by your prayers as well as mine. He has a purpose for me here that goes beyond studying and traveling and I hope to discover it and possibly fulfill it while I'm here.
Pues, buenas noches a todos! :)
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