One of the biggest parts of my life here in Seville, and one of the things I will miss the most is my señora. She is a wonderful little lady full of joy for life, opinions about my life, and she is also incredibly talented in the kitchen. Marisa will forever be in my heart after this semester.
But let me tell you a bit about her favorite thing: her grandkids. There are five of them. Two live in Germany, but they got here to Seville yesterday. Every day this semester she has gotten up a little after me and one of the first things I hear in the morning is "Hola! Mis niñetos, que precious!" or something along those lines. I promise that it is one of the most beautiful things. Her love for them is so sweet, there's really nothing they could ever do that would break that! Today I was eating lunch with her in the kitchen holding her youngest grandbaby, Nicolas (8 months), in a sling sort of thing while she was talking to me. Nicolas was falling asleep for his nap and just made my heart happy to see them.
As much as she loves to give her opinion about the places I travel or where I should go out at night, she always loves to hear about my latest adventures or how much fun I had doing something, and she always greets me with besitos when we haven't seen each other in a while.
This week has been a little different for us. A few big things have happened, one of which was the death of a wonderful friend. In a country all alone, my señora was a huge comfort to me. For me to sit and try to explain through my tears in Spanish the person that Marcy was, I needed her loving care. There aren't really words to explain how much she means to me, and how much I value her!
A few things about my señora:
1) her favorite city in the world is Tokyo
2) whenever either of us go shopping we HAVE to show each other what we got. it's one of her favorite things!
3) she saw a commercial by Enrique Iglesias' mother about vitamins and now has a shelf full of vitamins that she takes every day so that she can be like his mom
4) she had her nose pierced AND her tongue pierced when she was young. in her words "yo soy muy moderna"
5) she has a chihuahua named Paquito who eats more than he weighs
6) one time she told us about how she was practically born in her dad's airplane.. at least I think that's what she said
7) besides her grandkids, her second favorite thing in the world I would say, is laughter!
So there you have it, a few things about my señora Marisa.
Saturday, April 11, 2015
Tuesday, April 7, 2015
Semana Santa Adventures! Paris & Ulm, Germany
Wow I have lots of updating to do! It's crazy that I'll be back in the USA in five weeks or so and my time here is nearing its end. I've learned a lot about myself, about the world, and about Spanish this semester, and if anyone is considering studying abroad I definitely recommend it. It's not the easiest thing you'll ever do, but it overall makes for a wonderful experience.
This past week was Semana Santa here in Sevilla, and as such I didn't have class all week. Therefore travel. I spent five days in Paris then five days in Ulm, Germany!
In Paris I stayed with a Covenant friend that is studying abroad there (Susanna) and had a wonderful time experiencing the city with a "local"! Really though I'm so thankful to have been there with friends who knew what to do. I went to Parisian bars, a market, ate baguettes with fresh cheese in Park de Buttes-Chaumont, took in views of Paris from Sacre Coeur, which is a beautiful white church in Montmartre. We also walked around that neighborhood, ate and walked through the Latin Quarter, had Belgian waffles, and saw the Pantheon. I ate ice cream in front of the Eiffel Tower, went to a French church, visited the Arc de Triumph, shopped a little on Champs Elysees. I saw the Mona Lisa in the Louvre, Notre Dame, the Lock bridge, and also read a book at Shakespeare & Company. I went to Plaza de Republic where there still are things that say "Je Suis Charlie". And my favorite part and where everyone must go in Paris was Musee d'Orsay where I went with a friend, Hannah Brown, and experienced the beautiful museum that was once a train station and also saw many beautiful works by Degas, Monet, and van Gogh. Degas' "Little Dancer" was even there and I saw her in DC right before coming to Spain! It was a great few days with some wonderful people in a beautiful city!
My grandparents have always had exchange students, and when I was 16 they had a girl named Franzi from Germany come stay with them. Franzi and I became pretty good friends in her year there, and her family invited me to spend Easter with them in Ulm, Germany! I had a wonderful time with her and her parents, drinking coffee, eating fresh bread with homemade jams, exploring Ulm, and reading books and newspapers. It was a great way to end my week!
Looking ahead I don't really have anymore "big" trips planned. My parents will be here in less than ten days and I can't wait to see them! Then I'm going to the beach in Portugal at the beginning of May then on back to Maryland for the summer! I'm still kayaking as much as possible and speaking lots of Spanish!
This past week was Semana Santa here in Sevilla, and as such I didn't have class all week. Therefore travel. I spent five days in Paris then five days in Ulm, Germany!
In Paris I stayed with a Covenant friend that is studying abroad there (Susanna) and had a wonderful time experiencing the city with a "local"! Really though I'm so thankful to have been there with friends who knew what to do. I went to Parisian bars, a market, ate baguettes with fresh cheese in Park de Buttes-Chaumont, took in views of Paris from Sacre Coeur, which is a beautiful white church in Montmartre. We also walked around that neighborhood, ate and walked through the Latin Quarter, had Belgian waffles, and saw the Pantheon. I ate ice cream in front of the Eiffel Tower, went to a French church, visited the Arc de Triumph, shopped a little on Champs Elysees. I saw the Mona Lisa in the Louvre, Notre Dame, the Lock bridge, and also read a book at Shakespeare & Company. I went to Plaza de Republic where there still are things that say "Je Suis Charlie". And my favorite part and where everyone must go in Paris was Musee d'Orsay where I went with a friend, Hannah Brown, and experienced the beautiful museum that was once a train station and also saw many beautiful works by Degas, Monet, and van Gogh. Degas' "Little Dancer" was even there and I saw her in DC right before coming to Spain! It was a great few days with some wonderful people in a beautiful city!
My grandparents have always had exchange students, and when I was 16 they had a girl named Franzi from Germany come stay with them. Franzi and I became pretty good friends in her year there, and her family invited me to spend Easter with them in Ulm, Germany! I had a wonderful time with her and her parents, drinking coffee, eating fresh bread with homemade jams, exploring Ulm, and reading books and newspapers. It was a great way to end my week!
Looking ahead I don't really have anymore "big" trips planned. My parents will be here in less than ten days and I can't wait to see them! Then I'm going to the beach in Portugal at the beginning of May then on back to Maryland for the summer! I'm still kayaking as much as possible and speaking lots of Spanish!
Franzi's parents at an archeological site outside of Ulm
Myself and Hannah Brown in Musee d'Orsay
That Eiffel Tower though!
Henry and myself in Montmartre
Monday, March 16, 2015
Covenant Reunions and Cold Cities
This weekend was a whirlwind of wonderful things. Friday afternoon I flew to London and met up with some Covenant friends! It was so crazy to be in London with Covenant people that were here for spring break and Covenant people who are studying at Oxford and in Paris... definitely a little mind-blowing. And oh so wonderful!
I was in London for less than 24 hours, but managed to see and do a ton! I ate fish and chips in a pub, and walked a lot around the city. I walked out of the Westminster underground station and the first thing you see is Big Ben and the House of Parliament... so incredible! I saw a celebration for the unveiling of a statue of Gandhi and Westminster Abbey, I saw Buckingham Palace and walked through St. James' Park. I got to go in the Globe Theater and into St. Paul's Cathedral, and of course saw the Tower of London! Then it was off to Dublin!
Dublin (and Ireland) is a place that I absolutely want to return to! In my time there we walked around a lot, went to the Temple Bar area, and went to the Guinness Storehouse, and in the future I would love to get to explore more of the countryside!
As fun as this busy weekend was, there is always something sweet about coming home to Sevilla and the streets that I know and love. This weekend will be pretty relaxed school-wise as this Friday we have a trip to Ronda, Spain!
I was in London for less than 24 hours, but managed to see and do a ton! I ate fish and chips in a pub, and walked a lot around the city. I walked out of the Westminster underground station and the first thing you see is Big Ben and the House of Parliament... so incredible! I saw a celebration for the unveiling of a statue of Gandhi and Westminster Abbey, I saw Buckingham Palace and walked through St. James' Park. I got to go in the Globe Theater and into St. Paul's Cathedral, and of course saw the Tower of London! Then it was off to Dublin!
Dublin (and Ireland) is a place that I absolutely want to return to! In my time there we walked around a lot, went to the Temple Bar area, and went to the Guinness Storehouse, and in the future I would love to get to explore more of the countryside!
As fun as this busy weekend was, there is always something sweet about coming home to Sevilla and the streets that I know and love. This weekend will be pretty relaxed school-wise as this Friday we have a trip to Ronda, Spain!
Myself (Spain), Henry (Paris), Conrad (Lookout Mtn), John Christian (Oxford), and Michael (Lookout Mtn)
View of Buckingham Palace from St. James' Park
Buckingham Palace
Awkward cold photo in front of St Paul's Cathedral. I've now been to 2 of the 3 largest cathedrals in the world!
Shakespeare's Globe Theater
Church in Dublin
Me and the Guinness turtle
Basically nothing can stop me now.
Fish n chips & Bangers n Mash & flights of Dublin-brewed beers
Susanna, Henry, myself, and our perfectly poured pints!
Wednesday, March 11, 2015
Sevilla sorts of things
Today I got to go to the Cathedral of Sevilla with my art class! We have been studying gothic architecture, especially cathedrals, and so it was really cool to get to apply the things I've learned. Also it's incredible how huge it is. It's the third largest cathedral in the world and the largest gothic cathedral! Also part of Christopher Columbus' remains are there (they really are, they DNA tested them). And this is right down the street from my school! So cool. We also climbed the 35 ramps and 17 steps to the top of the Giralda to see some awesome views of Sevilla.
Also I got a manicure today for 3 euros. I didn't even know that was possible (aside from in China)!
An interesting thing about Sevilla is that SEVILLA HAS MADE ROLLERBLADING COOL AGAIN. Go Sevilla. There are always people rollerblading around and also at night some kids hang out in a plaza and do tricks on their rollerblades. Also so many people bike here, so that's pretty cool too. And everyone who doesn't rollerblade or bike walks everywhere, which is something I'm definitely going to miss when I go back to the States!
Anyways, here are some photos from the Cathedral! And my next blog post will be all about my adventures in London and Dublin!
Also I got a manicure today for 3 euros. I didn't even know that was possible (aside from in China)!
An interesting thing about Sevilla is that SEVILLA HAS MADE ROLLERBLADING COOL AGAIN. Go Sevilla. There are always people rollerblading around and also at night some kids hang out in a plaza and do tricks on their rollerblades. Also so many people bike here, so that's pretty cool too. And everyone who doesn't rollerblade or bike walks everywhere, which is something I'm definitely going to miss when I go back to the States!
Anyways, here are some photos from the Cathedral! And my next blog post will be all about my adventures in London and Dublin!
One of the organs in the Cathedral
Christopher Colombus' remains
View from the top of the Giralda
View from the Giralda of the top of the Cathedral
The Vision of St. Anthony by Bartolomé Esteban Murillo
Part of this painting (the monk) was cut out and stolen in the early 1900's and returned about 20 years later when it was being auctioned in New York City and was recognized
Monday, March 9, 2015
Let the adventuring continue!
Happy Monday morning world! And happy spring break to all you Covenant students! This morning (12:30ish) finds me at The Good Burger, enjoying some ice cream while reflecting on that past week. I arrived at school this morning to find out that my professor would not be in today, and just like that my morning became free! This afternoon I'll be going to our amazing receptionist, Ana Bello's house to learn how to cook paella and croquetas. Both classic Spanish foods!
This week was a full one! I kayaked (Monday & Wednesday), drank cafe con leche (every day), turned 21 (Thursday), explored Toledo (Thursday & Friday), and experienced Madrid (Friday - Sunday)!
The Toledo trip was with the Semester in Spain program, and we got to go to La Iglesia de San Tomé, which houses El Greco's Entierra del Señor de Orgaz. I've been studying El Greco in my history of Spanish art class, and so it was incredible to see that in person. We also got to go to the Cathedral of Toledo, which is considered the most Spanish of the gothic cathedrals in Spain, and also is home to Greco's Expolio. On our way to Toledo we made a stop at some windmills, which appear pretty normal but are actually the ones from Don Quixote! I spent my birthday night exploring the winding streets of Toledo and eating delicious food with good friends, and Friday afternoon I caught a bus with some other students to Madrid!
Wow, Madrid. Everyone should go! There is so much to do and it is such a fun city, and this was also a spur of the moment trip for me (I decided Thursday to go)! My friends and I stayed at a hostel called Way Hostel, and walked a ton. Saturday morning we went to San Gines, which opened in 1894 and is the oldest and best place to find churros con chocolate! After that we went to Plaza Mayor and then to the Mercado de San Miguel, which was full of delicious-looking fruits, veggies, meats, seafood, and wine. We met up with some other students from Semester in Spain at the Palacio Real to do a tour (student discounts are great) and got to see the armory and first floor of the palace! On our way to lunch at El Tigre we stopped at the Puerta del Sol to see the famous bear statue, then continued up to Gran Via to find El Tigre. Guys, that little bar was incredible- if you're ever in Madrid, go! We grabbed lunch there then went to take a little rest by the Prado before we took in some art, which consisted in laying on a grassy hill listening to the sounds of a guitar. The Museo del Prado is HUGE. We spent around two hours there which was not nearly enough, (got in for free-student discount) but had time to see Las Meninas by Velazquez. There are no words to describe how amazing it is to stand before such a magnificent work of art! I also got the see The Third of May, by Goya and many many other masterpieces. After the Prado we went over to Reina Sofia to see the Guernica by Picasso which was obviously incredible. We also visited the Parque del Retiro and did some shopping on Gran Via! Madrid is definitely one of my favorite cities, but after our six hour bus ride back to Sevilla, it felt great to be home!
This week was a full one! I kayaked (Monday & Wednesday), drank cafe con leche (every day), turned 21 (Thursday), explored Toledo (Thursday & Friday), and experienced Madrid (Friday - Sunday)!
The Toledo trip was with the Semester in Spain program, and we got to go to La Iglesia de San Tomé, which houses El Greco's Entierra del Señor de Orgaz. I've been studying El Greco in my history of Spanish art class, and so it was incredible to see that in person. We also got to go to the Cathedral of Toledo, which is considered the most Spanish of the gothic cathedrals in Spain, and also is home to Greco's Expolio. On our way to Toledo we made a stop at some windmills, which appear pretty normal but are actually the ones from Don Quixote! I spent my birthday night exploring the winding streets of Toledo and eating delicious food with good friends, and Friday afternoon I caught a bus with some other students to Madrid!
El Explio
San Gines- Churros con chocolate
El Mercado de San Miguel
Palacio Real
The bear!
Monday, March 2, 2015
Sunny with a high of 75!
And so begins week 7! This past weekend I went to a little town in Portugal called Olhao, which was incredibly beautiful and relaxing! I was also serenaded in front of a crowd in Portuguese. Didn't know that was on my bucket list, but we'll check it off anyways! I went with four friends and we rented an apartment and thus had the opportunity to use a kitchen. We made good use of this by preparing homemade mac & cheese and garlic bread and eating ice cream. Simply marvelous. And very American! It was definitely interesting to be in a place where they don't speak either of my two languages!
This week is full of school (well, until Wednesday), kayaking, and sun! The weather here in Sevilla is gorgeous and I love it. Curiously enough, the Spaniards still wear coats and scarves and everything! It's like the weather hasn't changed since we arrived, when actually it has gotten about 30 degrees warmer already! Thursday and Friday my school travels to Toledo, the old capital of Spain, and Thursday is my 21st birthday! I'll be waking up at 5 something and spending around 7 hours on a bus... but it should be a good time! I'm still loving kayaking, and am actually about to go do that now! But before I go, here are a few photos from the past week!
This week is full of school (well, until Wednesday), kayaking, and sun! The weather here in Sevilla is gorgeous and I love it. Curiously enough, the Spaniards still wear coats and scarves and everything! It's like the weather hasn't changed since we arrived, when actually it has gotten about 30 degrees warmer already! Thursday and Friday my school travels to Toledo, the old capital of Spain, and Thursday is my 21st birthday! I'll be waking up at 5 something and spending around 7 hours on a bus... but it should be a good time! I'm still loving kayaking, and am actually about to go do that now! But before I go, here are a few photos from the past week!
Jamee, Shawna, and myself on one of the islands off the southern coast of Portugal!
Serenaded in Portuguese! *no he did not propose (as far as I know)
Rafa (kayaking instructor), Lauren, myself, and Brian at the Club de Piragüismo de Triana!
Tuesday, February 24, 2015
Granada, Spanish friends, and kayaking!
This past Friday and Saturday, my program took all of us students to Granada. Granada is another city in Andalucia (the southern region of Spain) that used to be under Muslim rule. It was actually the last city that Isabel and Fernando conquered. We stayed in a five star hotel and got to visit La Alhambra, the old and incredibly decorated castle, and also the church where part of Isabel and Fernando's bodies are buried. Granada is a beautiful little city that was sort of a mix between the Spain I'm used to and the Morocco that I've had the opportunity to experience.
Life here in Sevilla is good. My Señora is an incredible cook who never uses a recipe or measuring cups, which is pretty amazing. I did try baby eel the other day. Needless to say that was an adventure! I've hung out with my intercambio a few times. An intercambio is a native Spaniard that I meet with for about an hour a week to hang out and practice Spanish. Mine is named Carmen and is the same age as me! She's really great about introducing me to her friends and after class a few times a week I go hang out with them. The newest thing in my life begins this afternoon when I go take a class about kayaking! I'll be joining one of the clubs along the river so I can go kayaking every day if I so desire! This is something that I've wanted to do since the first day I got to Spain and saw people on the river, so I'm super excited for the opportunity to join the river crowd!
Here are some pics from Granada!
Life here in Sevilla is good. My Señora is an incredible cook who never uses a recipe or measuring cups, which is pretty amazing. I did try baby eel the other day. Needless to say that was an adventure! I've hung out with my intercambio a few times. An intercambio is a native Spaniard that I meet with for about an hour a week to hang out and practice Spanish. Mine is named Carmen and is the same age as me! She's really great about introducing me to her friends and after class a few times a week I go hang out with them. The newest thing in my life begins this afternoon when I go take a class about kayaking! I'll be joining one of the clubs along the river so I can go kayaking every day if I so desire! This is something that I've wanted to do since the first day I got to Spain and saw people on the river, so I'm super excited for the opportunity to join the river crowd!
Here are some pics from Granada!
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