Sevilla! (days 1-5!)

It's really hard to keep up with this because there is always something going on! We arrived by the AVE train in Sevilla around 2:30 on Sunday.  The train was a lot of fun and I loved getting to see other parts of Spain!  When we arrived, our host families picked us up.  Stephanie and I were first and we left with Aurelia (Leli) by taxi! We got to her apartment and found out that we were very lucky-we get our own rooms and only share a bathroom with each other.  Leli is very flexible and only asked that we didn't shower after 11 because her 13 year old daughter, Gloria, is asleep by then and it wakes her up.  She asked us what things we liked and disliked..I accidentally told her I like to eat hands!  She lives a block from the Plaza de España and it is absolutely gorgeous!

Our first night in town just happened to be the championship game for the Euro Cup-Spain versus Italy.  We got to watch the game at La Seta (Spanish for the mushroom), which is basically a big area with a giant television.  It was packed!

 Denver and me at La Seta

 Me, Stephanie, and Afhton

 The giant TV

 Some crazy Spaniards...they painted our faces for us!

After Spain won, Sevilla went NUTS.  There were people everywhere-dancing and singing on dumpsters, fountains, throwing things, fireworks.  It was like a riot and it was SO much fun.  My group decided to go to a bar to meet up and the atmosphere was jovial-people were still singing and dancing Spain songs like "Yo soy español, español, español" (I am spanish, basically), "Yo soy el mejor, el mejor, el mejor" (I am the best), and "Somos los campeones de la Europa" (We are the champions of Europe).  It was SO much fun!

 La Seta after winning!

 The Fountain!

Crazy Spaniards!

Monday, after our night of celebrating the win, we all had to take a placement test to see what level of Spanish we needed to take.  All of us were practically falling asleep during the test, but most of us managed to get into Advanced Spanish!  Both of my professors are women and I have already learned a lot.  The university is in a 4 story building and it has 1-2 classrooms per floor.  It's so small!  The first day of class was nerve-wracking because we met the students that are staying the entire summer-Sessions 1 and 2.  Most of them are really nice and friendly, some of them don't like us as much!  Stephanie, my roommate, and I have the same class schedule so it's nice to have someone to walk with. We only have one of our classes together, Culture, and the first day we got assigned a really difficult assignment.  We asked Leli for help and she loved being able to help us-needless to say we were probably the most prepared in class the next day!  My culture class is my least favorite-all we do is watch videos.  I love my language and grammar class and feel like I'm learning a lot!

The food here is AMAZING.  Lots of carbs, so it all tastes delicious.  One of the tastiest meals I've had was cold potatoes, green onion, vinegar, salt, and tuna.  Why someone decided to mix tuna and potatoes together I don't know, but it was surprisingly delicious!  I thought that I would lose weight here with all the walking I do, but Spaniards eat SO much bread...probably about a loaf a day so it all evens out!  They eat at random times, too.  Breakfast is at 8, lunch at 2:30 (lunch is the biggest meal of the day) and dinner at 9:30 or 10.  Some Spaniards don't go to dinner until around midnight!  It stays light outside longer, so maybe that's why! My body is going to be so out of whack when I get back!

On Monday night, Denver and I went to explore the Plaza de España, which is about a block from my apartment. It was so pretty and perfect and I just loved it!  It's where Star Wars Episode II is filmed!

After the Plaza de España, we had a meeting about basic things in Sevilla-if we need a doctor, problems with homestay families, etc.  Then we went out for Tapas with the group from Summer 1.  It was SO much fun.  Like I said earlier, most like us, but some don't!  After tapas we all went out for a drink-I have fallen in love with Tinto de Verano..it's a little bit of wine and 7up mixed with fruit.  It's similar to Sangria, but not as strong!  After a tinto, Denver, Brett, Will, and I left to get a cab home.  We got in about 1:30-early for a night in Spain!

Tuesday was not a very eventful day.  We were all so tired from the previous two day's festivities that we all just hung out at home.  I started working on this blog and finished up homework and rested because I knew that the 4th of July was going to be crazy!

Yesterday was DEFINITELY crazy.  It was easy to pick out Americans in Spain because everyone was wearing red, white, and blue.  After a long day of classes, Denver and I met up to look for España soccer jerseys.  We were told we could find them at El Corte Inglés-little did we know there are about 4 or 5 El Corte Inglés's and they all have different things.  We finally found them at the last store we went to!  Then we had an intercambio-a hangout with local Spaniards.  They took us to one of their favorite cervecería's (like a tiny bar) and we had a drink and talked.  They were really funny! Finally, Denver, Brett, Afhton, and I went to get dinner.  We went to a place that served tapas but they were out of almost everything and the food we got wasn't that great so we probably won't be going back.  Soon after, we called a cab and met up with our group at a bar called Long Island Bar (I think!).  They are known for having 50 shots for all 50 states.  I walked in and immediately ran into an Aggie.  He was a few years older than me but it was so cool to see the Aggie network in action! 

Today is going to be another low-key day.  I'm caught up on homework, finally finishing this blog, and probably about to take a siesta.  We're eating dinner at home tonight (Leli makes the BEST food) and then I think Brett, Denver, Afhton, and I are going to meet up for some ice cream and hang out.  I'll try to keep posting somewhat regularly but it's so hard to find the time! Hope everyone had a great 4th of July!