Once we got to Sevilla we were dropped off at the homes of our host families. This was one of the most nerve-wracking moments of the trip so far! These are the people I'm going to call family for the next 3.5 months! Fortunately, I had nothing to worry about! My host family is wonderful! There is a husband and wife, and also their 6 year old twins (who can easily take over if the Energizer bunny ever wants to retire!). They are a lot of fun, and I am quickly feeling more and more like family here. My roommate Chelsea and I share our own room and bathroom, complete with sink, tub, and of course a bidet (which also doubles as a foot washer). We live in Triana, which is a part of Sevilla that has a ton of shops and cafes, and seems to be a bit less "touristy" then the other side of the river, where you can find the Cathedral and Plaza de España, among other things.
Daily life here is so much different than at home, but I'm quickly adjusting to (and enjoying) the cultural differences. First, the meal schedule. Breakfast here is usually between 7 and 9, and is really small, around 2 you eat lunch, which is a 3 course meal, and then dinner is around 9 or 10. I've adjusted pretty well so far, but for some reason around 12 I usually feel the need to eat... Also siestas=amazingness! I seriously am already dreading having to go back to a siesta-less life! During siesta (about 2-4/5) most of the stores are closed, and everyone chills at home (which for me means lunch, catching up on Facebook messages, and then taking a glorious nap!). Its also during the hottest part of the day, so it means you can get out of the heat and relax for a bit! Also, here everyone stays up really late! On Friday night a group of us went out and walked around the city until about 1:30, which sounds really late, but in Sevilla the night is just beginning! When we went home we passed families, people with babies, groups of middle school age girls, people over 60 (no offense if you're over 60, but lets get real...), really all the types of people you would expect to see at 7pm in Chicago, not 1:30am. But you really can't blame them, because at 1am its beautiful outside, all the restaurants are open, and the night is just beginning! The one thing I don't like is that in Sevilla, if a woman smiles at a stranger it a. means someone will try to sell you something, or b. you are going to get hit on.... Seeing as I don't want either of these, I've had to pull out the straight face in public, which as many of you know, is pretty against my nature. I think I'm getting a hang of it though!
So these first few days have been a lot of get to know everyone/the city activities, which have been really helpful! On Thursday we had orientation in the morning, and a tour of Sevilla in the evening. Friday we registered for classes in the morning, met in a park for games in the evening, and then a group of us went out afterwords (as mentioned earlier). On Saturday we spent most of the morning (which morning lasts until 2) on a photo scavenger hunt. My group didn't win, but I still had a great time getting to know and spend time with people I hadn't known well before! The city, on the other hand, with its short, curving streets, is going to take a lot longer to get to know! This morning a group of us went to an evangelical church, which turned out to be a really awesome experience! Meeting with a group of brothers and sisters halfway across the world is so beautiful, but then singing songs I know like Amazing Grace and Breathe in Spanish was beyond words. God is so amazing, is about all I can say! (Just a side note, for communion they served wine, which I have never taken before, and I can't say I'm a fan... It burns a lot more than grape juice). After church we went for café and fellowship, which is when I tried my first Spanish coffee (actually a latte machiatto, but thats about as close as I'm going to get to the real stuff!).
As for speaking in Spanish, being surrounded by the language is strange, but really exciting! I'm already picking up new words, learning Spanish lingo, and becoming more used to hearing the Spanish accent. The first day I could hardly understand my host parents, and could kind of understand the kids. Now, I feel a lot more confident and can usually get the gist of what they're telling me, and this is only after 4 days! I can only imagine how much I will improve after 3.5 months! Anyways, tomorrow is my first day of class, and I'm actually pretty excited to start, and to have a normal schedule!
Miss you all in the States, and hope that everything is going well for you! Feel free to message/email me and I'll try to get back to you asap! Also, thank you for all of your prayers for safety and good health, the Lord has been listening and I have been super blessed so far with both! For this week, prayers would be awesome as I start class, begin to settle into my home and this culture, explore the city, and continue to meet and get to know new people. No prayer is too small or insignificant! Anyways, its almost midnight here, and I need to get some rest before tomorrow!
Love you all! Hasta luego!
Rachel :)
My roommate Chelsea and I on the bridge between our house and school our first day in Sevilla
Me at the Plaza de España, a beautiful building (and huge tourist attraction) in Sevilla
The Torre del Oro, which is right across the street from school. This is one of my favorite pictures so far!
Me after I just finished my first coffee in Spain!