I think it’s pretty clear this
whole blog thing didn't work out (Sorry familia…) I really have no other excuse
except for laziness… But I figured I should at least write one last post about
my semester in Sevilla. Sometimes I have a hard time putting my thoughts into
actual sentences to just bear with me guapos and guapas. First of all, this has
been the best 3 ½ months of my short 20 years. When my advisor dropped me off
at my residencia (aka dorm) I was terrified. I was alone in a double room in a
building down a not-so-welcoming, alley-like street in a city all alone where I
could barely communicate with anyone. Now that I’m about to leave, I am so
thankful for everything I was scared of. Coming here with no friends made me put myself out there and make
some (who ended up being pretty great). My residencia wasn't half bad either
(although the Wi-Fi went out every time it rained…and sometimes even when it didn't).
I have learned appreciate other
cultures so much more after living in Spain. The people of Andalucía (the
region of Spain Sevilla is in) are some of the nicest and most helpful you will
ever meet. If you try with them, they will go out of their way to make sure you
understand (even if it means pointing or hand gestures). I’m going to miss
their food so much (with the exception of sea creatures). Also, the people in
Sevilla live life at a pace 10x slower than I’m used to. They walk slower, eat
slower, and basically do everything slower except for speak. They never seem to
worry about anything. While they are in their own economic crisis and
unemployment is incredibly high, they don’t freak out. As long as they have
their families, friends and health, they are happy, which makes life here
pretty darn easy. The weather here is overall amazing. There were a few weeks
in the middle where Mother Nature wasn’t very happy with us, but luckily the
past week and up until I leave are solid 80’s and sunny (pretty good parting
gift if you ask me.)
I was super fortunate to have
had not only the opportunity to go to Spain but also other countries like
Portugal, Italy, Switzerland, France and Germany.
Finally went to Switzerland!
Every single place I went to
was different from the other and now makes me want to keep traveling (once I
hit the lotto of course). Being able to travel this much and spend a whole
semester in a place like this makes me realize how lucky I really am. If I
could bring all of my family and friends here to see and experience even just a
little of this I would in a heartbeat. Here are a few things I have learned/realized
while being here:
1. Spanish
people are just as scared of Americans as Americans are of them. At the
beginning of the semester my friends and I only spent time with each other and
other “English-speakers.” We were afraid the Spaniards didn’t like us, which
seems crazy now. After spending so time with them, we all realized the only
thing we had to do to break the barrier down was say hello.
2. Family
is literally everything. Being away for this long and not seeing my parents and
dog has been a lot harder than I ever thought. Without trying to brag, my
parents are awesome and I am so thankful they brought me up the way they did
and gave me this opportunity because I will NEVER forget. If I had my family
all here (even my aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents and their pets too) I
definitely could live here…with the exception of summer.
3. Go
with your gut. If something doesn’t seem right, chances are it probably isn’t…this
applies with people and especially the food they serve at the residencia, which
is basically the Spanish version of Hurley, the ECSU dining hall.
4. Be
confident in your decisions, feelings, and actions. I did not realize this
until recently, but before I came here I had the tendency to let other people
tell me how I should feel, which someone should never let happen. You should be
allowed to feel down about things, or mad, or really happy, or even unsure,
because that’s life and I can tell you it did not slow down one bit for me while
I was here.
5. I
am excited to see my family and get a bunch of dog kisses (although her excitement
will probably wear off after five minutes..)
6. I
suck at blogging, writing in a journal, etc.
7. Try
new things (even if it means wearing tights under denim shorts). If there is
one time/place to put yourself out there and look weird, it is when you study
abroad.
8. Especially
new food. Who knows, you might actually end up liking the ox tail you tried at
your first dinner in the city, or become obsessed with bananas and avocados.
this isn't ox tail but you get the idea...the food is just really good!
9. Being
alone isn’t a bad thing. Neither is getting lost.
10. Always
carry and umbrella. The rain in Sevilla is unlike any rain I have seen and does
NOT wait for you to take cover.
11. I
am a breakfast person. And Spain is not.
12. The
friends you make while you are abroad WILL be some of the best people you know.
Whether you’re having a good day or bad day, they are always there for you, to
hug you, make you laugh, have movie nights with, and you will always have those
memories no matter how far across the world you are from each other.
Semana Santa festivities
13. I
feel much more independent and mature (although my family may not agree on that
second one haha)
14. If
I had to choose a favorite place that I have been to this semester, Sevilla would
take first.
Plaza de Espana
15. How
to control yourself on a night out (because lets be real, it’s legal here and
who hasn’t learned how much is too
much?). At least I haven’t woken up with any spontaneous bruises, broken bones
or no recollection of the night’s activities, right?!
16. Things
change as much as people do, but you can’t let that stop you from enjoying life,
you just gotta keep going.
17. If
I were to make a list of things I am going to miss, this blog would go on for
alotttt longer than it already has.
18. Spanish
people know how to party. To them, going home at 2 or 3 in the morning is an EARLY
night.... (I have no idea how some of them are alive).
19. Mayonnaise is always a good idea. Always.
20. Procrastination
follows you no matter how far away from home you go…
21. When
your teachers tell you to “forget about vosotros” in Spanish class because “nobody
uses it”, do not forget vosotros.
22. The
Cathedral at night might be one of the most beautiful things ever.
23. Goodbyes
are never easy. I walked out of University for the last time today and wanted
to break down…and that was just me with a building……….
the view from my roof never got old
At orientation for the University, one of the speakers
warned us to be careful because it is easy to fall in love with the city of
Sevilla and she was right. No matter where I was or how far I traveled, I was always
ready to come to that back double room in a building down the not-so-welcoming,
alley-like street.
-Avery
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