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"I fly because it releases my mind from the tyranny of petty things." --Antoine de St-Exupery

Saturday, January 22, 2011

What Street?

I am now all unpacked and settled in my new casa for the next 16 weeks. My family consists of: a mom, Pilar, a dad, Pepe, a 21 year old sister, Maria, and a 10 year old sister, Paula. Yesterday morning we had some more information sessions, and then Pilar and Maria picked me up from the hotel.

There are, I believe, seven or so different neighborhoods in Sevilla, and I'm in the one called Porvenir. My house is about as 10-15 minute walk from one of the buildings I will have most of my classes in. I'm not sure yet about the other building. My address here is:

c/Gonzalo Diaz, 1-2nd izquierda
41013 Sevilla, Spain

I also got a phone today (finally!). My number is 627 857 618. It's nice because any calls or texts I receive, I don't pay for. So if you have an international phone card (or are willing to pay a lot of money to chat), feel free to call! I believe the country code for Spain is 34...

My family is nice. Pilar talks nice and slow for me as does Maria for the most part. I've only met Paula a couple times since she wasn't here when I came yesterday and since I've had so much to do with the group. I cannot understand Pepe at all. But maybe over time I'll get used to it and be able to pick out a few words from the mumbling.

It's a small apartment, but it works. There's three bedrooms, a living room, a kitchen, and a bathroom. My room is also pretty small, but I'm able to fit what I need to in it. I'll put pictures up soon when I feel more comfortable with my family.

Ironically enough, they had a student here last semester from Madison, but I don't know her (not that I expected to). It'll take some time to get used to what the norms are in the house such as when they eat (which is really really different), work, and etc, but I'm sure it will be fine. Having a schedule again will be nice when school starts. And there is a park three blocks away where I can go to run which will also be nice.

The past two nights we've gone out to different areas of the city. Unfortunately, I never know where I am and follow people who do. The streets are very curvy and very confusing. No map has all the street names on it and there are no street signs; just the occasional name on the sides of buildings. This, again, is something over time that I will get used to when I know what buildings I need to go to. I've gotten lost a few times, but every time I make it back!

Tomorrow the only thing we have planned is a trip to the Alcazar which is a historical landmark. After that, I'm hoping to be able to lay out a map (or many) and gather my bearings about where things are and what is what. I'm not sure if that will make me feel better about it or confuse me more, but my family will also help me if needed. I also plan to do some shopping. Already I have lost a button on my new coat and a strap of one of my purses broke (for those of you that know, the new brown one that I was going to use for books). Que triste :( But right now they have Rebajas! This is a period where there are huge sales all over Spain. And it only happens twice a year, so we came at the right time.

We start our two week intensive Spanish course on Monday, so I will be in classes M-F from 12:30-3:30. I'm getting excited for it because I think it's going to help me a lot. Speaking Spainsh here is actually easier than I thought it would be. I find that the words are coming to me quicker and that I can understand most of what people are saying (at least those who talk slow enough). Hopefully I'll be able to say the same next time!

1 comment:

  1. You are going to be fluent when you comeback and if I comeback from Brasil, I am just going to be confused. hahaha

    Yay for sales though - get on that, too bad there's no picture texting like we usually do about whether or not we should buy something...which just makes me buy more things...crap.

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