Sevilla or Betis? by Tori Walter

By the end of the semester, I have learned that “Betis” is not only a great street for drinking on the other side of the bridge, but it also happens to be one of the two main soccer teams in Sevilla. The perpetual debate between which of the two teams is best, is something that seems to divide friends and family here in Sevilla. I thought this was funny, for the reason that when I meet people for the first time, after asking the normal introductory questions like “what’s your name?”, “where are you from?”, etc., I am immediately asked, “So, Sevilla or Betis?”. I thought fans took football seriously in the United States, but I was clearly mistaken. Here, it seems that the fans live and breathe their team, whether it be Sevilla or Betis. I think it’s very charming to see such passion for a sport that I grew up playing myself. I was lucky enough to attend a Sevilla Football Club Champions League game earlier in the semester. Despite the fact that I much prefer tequila to beer, I even managed to drink an entire Cruzcampo whilst watching the game. Que flama.

Soccer

One of my favorite experience here in Seville was going to a Betis game with all of the friends that I have made. This was fairly early on in the trip and I had never been into soccer aside from watching the World Cup years ago. Basically, I needed to go and have a European soccer experience. I had not even known that there were two Sevilla football teams and honestly was slightly nervous that I was supporting the wrong team. On a side note, while in Sevilla I also learned that it is very offensive to Europeans to call it soccer. Otherwise, I was so I was surprised how many fans they were! The line to walk into the stadium was huge but created an heir of excitement throughout the entire stadium.
The game itself was amazing. I filmed a few of the goals, and doing the wave in a foreign country while winning made the night even better. The only thing I regret about it is that we left too early and missed one of the goals. However, the overall stadium experience was amazing and I am so happy that I had this experience abroad with the new friends that I made.

Pictures of food

This day in age, in America, it is very common to take a picture of the food that you are eating and post it onto some sort of social media. Why is this? It is because we want to make others jealous by what we are eating? To show people amazing food you get to indulge in? Is it just a trend? Whether you are at a restaurant, ice cream shop, café, or even at home, everyone at one point or another is guilty of doing this. I admit, I do this pretty frequently. I guess the reason why I do it is to show people the amazing food I get to eat, but let’s be real, no one actually cares. However, coming to Spain, the reason I took photos of my food changed a little bit. I began taking picture of my food more for myself than for other people. I do it because I want to look back at my photos from my time here and see all the things I have done…and ate. Even though this is a common occurrence in America, it is not very common in Spain.
My host mom cooks me very good food and presents it very nicely at the table. I decided that I wanted to start taking pictures of the food that she makes so that I can remember it after studying abroad, and possibly attempt to cook it while I am at home. She did not appreciate this. She was okay with it the first couple times but then she started to get annoyed. She would always ask me why I felt the need to take photos of her food. I would tell her the reasoning and she thought it was very strange. She never understood the concept. She would say, you taking pictures of my food is equivalent to you giving a presentation in front of your teacher (given that she knows I hate presenting). I did not see how it was the same or what the big deal was. She explained to me that she does not come across Spaniards doing this and it is not something she is used. I did eventually stop doing this because she really did not like it at all

The best deal in Europe by Sam Danford

One euro? Seriously!? Perhaps the best deal in all of Europe happens to be at our fingertips right here in Sevilla. Back in the U.S people love their cheap beer and are willing to pay anything for it. At a bar in the States, I’ve seen a tall-boy (16 ounce) of Pabst Blue Ribbon sold for 3 USD. That was considered the cheapest deal at the bar. At a measly price of one euro, you can purchase the same tall-boy (16 ounce) can of ice cold Cruzcampo to kick off your night. Here at the bustling Kebab shops of Sevilla, we are spoiled by affordable beer. I purchased a bottle of water at the same shop for one euro and twenty cents, therefore paying more for a water than for a Cruzcampo. Why is the beer so cheap? Perhaps it’s because the ancient Cruzcampo factory is located here in Sevilla and is consistently pumping out cans on cans on cans of ice cold deliciousness, while it only rains once every 3 months. Water is scarce, booze is not.

The Spaniards don’t seem to recognize this deal in the same fashion that my friends and I do. When discussing the price of beer here, the locals are pretty ho-hum about the issue. They aren’t bee-lining for the Kebab stores or Chino shops (where a 40 ounce Cruzcampo bottle can be purchased for only 1 euro and forty cents, absolutely the greatest deal on the Spanish market) with the same enthusiasm as the gringos here. Drinking is part of the culture in Spain, as engrained as Starbucks is to white girls in college. No one bats an eye at a cheap beer here compared to in the U.S where there would be traffic jams for miles to get these deals. It all comes back to the wet culture vs. dry culture, and in Spain they have it figured out. A beer with lunch? No pasa nada. A beer with lunch (in the U.S)? You raging alcoholic. Being exposed to a “wet” culture the past four months has allowed me to discover the real reasons people drink as opposed to the black-out mania that occurs in the U.S. Rest easy 1 euro Cruzcampo, I’ll be back to see you soon.

 

Very Little? by Cara Kelly

When I made the final decision to come to Spain to study I was, by no means, relaxed about the situation. I would consider myself a pretty relaxed person but change is something that puts me on edge. I'd be leaving literally everything I knew for over 3 months across an ocean. My friends, my and anyone else I'd want to contact would only be available through Facetime....if they were even awake. One of the major reasons why I was so nervous about coming here was because of the language barrier. I would consider myself to know very little Spanish...some, but still very little. And I would tell that to Spaniards when they asked me. What I've come to learn here is that my definition of little and Europe's definition of little is very very different. I've met so many people in Seville who I've asked if they spoke any English. Their reply is almost always the same... “Just a little”. Meanwhile their having 5 minute conversations with me and using full and complete sentences. Some professions I can understand why they would need to know a second language. If you're in the customer service industry and in a touristy area, then yes, but their English is still very good! Other professions I'm completely taken back when they speak to me with so much ease and then say they they're not very good. My friend Julia and I were taking a weekend trip to Paris and had just landed at the airport. We were trying to get to our hotel and the bus was one of our only options. We didn't speak French and didn't know the area so we were having some trouble figuring out if we take the bus, if so which one, and for how long. We're convinced we figured it out and we step onto one bus. Immediately the man driving says something to us in French. The mix of looks on our faces and awkward silence, the man figured we were American. He spoke again only this time in English asking if we spoke English, with which we reply yes. He then proceeded to tell us that we needed to get off of this bus, head to our right and then take another left at the end of the building to get onto the metro. He even told us how long we need to stay on the metro for and what stop to get off at for the street of our hotel. At the end of his directions he turns to Julia and I and apologizes for not speaking very good English. We were both so shocked at his statement! There was no point in time during that entire narrative where I had trouble understanding his sentences or choice of words. This was one of the most surprising things for me in Europe thus far. Having people tell me that their English isn't very good and then speak better than I do. Not to mention how many different languages people speak in general. I don't think I've met a person here yet that hasn't spoken at least 2 languages. And here I am barley getting by with my very broken Spanish. It just amazes me how much more diverse people in Europe are than I would have thought.

Constantly Fighting? by Alexandra Moran

Having two younger sisters all close in age, there is certainly never a lack of things to argue about. We’ll argue about random things like who wore what shirt or get caddy about who has more social media followers, but normally these little spats are directed between us and rarely result in full on screaming. The same follows for my parents. I have absolutely had my differences with both my mom and dad and there have been plenty of confrontational conversations between us. Yet, I can only remember maybe one or two times that voices were raised to the point of yelling. My parents are very kind and loving but hold high expectations for behavior and so the few times I fight back to them it usually results in me apologizing for being disrespectful. Although I know families who argue differently, in my experience, arguing is something that takes place in private and is more of a conversation than a screaming match.

When I moved into my host family, I was thrilled to discover the family had a 19-year-old boy and 18-year-old girl. It has been such a wonderful experience living with Spaniards my age and learning all the little things about Sevilla that only a local would know. Yet something I noticed right away and felt uncomfortable with was the way in which they speak to each other and their parents. The first time I was sitting at the dinner table and the son and mother started yelling at each other, I immediately felt so awkward and in the way, as if I was intruding on a private conversation that I shouldn’t have known about. I talked to my roommate about it and we both agreed that it was very strange for us to be sitting silently at the table with what seemed to be very intense arguments happening between everyone else. Multiple other times, I would walk out of my room to the daughter yelling, literally yelling, at her mom and I would only assume the worst. They would turn and smile at me and then continue their argument, each one talking over each other and making their voice louder each time.

After each confrontation, I expected dinner that night to be awkward or for there to be residing tension because in my mind something really important must have happened in order for the family to seem that upset. But when I went to the dinner table, everyone was smiling and laughing as if nothing had happened. I was and still am somewhat confused, but I learned to go with it. Although there were many conversations that I would consider fights, my host family has the ability to forgive and forget and that is something I want to bring back to my own family. I think this experience is related to the idea that Spanish people are more passionate and emotive. They want to be heard and aren’t afraid to speak their mind forcefully even in the presence of a stranger. Or maybe it’s because they consider me part of the family. Or maybe they’re just like any other stubborn teenager.

(In)dependent Cultures by Madison McCormick

Being from the United States gives a certain pressure on questions such as: what I will be when I grow up, who will I marry, or how am I going to afford to live on my own? The culture in the United States puts pride in independence which I truly realized once I stepped foot into spanish culture. Rarely do students in the United States after graduating college move back in with their parents for more than a couple of years or so. People frown upon young adults, averaging the age of 25 and older, if they are still living at home with mom and dad. Americans see this as lazy, unproductive, or even embarrassing. I have found one of the greatest culture shocks to be that a spaniard in his or her 20’s to 30’s that lives outside of his or her parent’s home is extremely rare. Spaniards remain very dependent on their parents until an age far later than in the United States. Many american students often go to a university outside of their hometown and even out of their own state. I have learned that in most cases, spaniards go to a university in their own town that they usually have lived their entire lifetime. American students who live on campus usually do not go home for weeks at a time whilst spanish students see and speak to their parents at least once a day. Every day I learn more and more how many aspects of american culture which I thought to be “normal” are actually just a part of the culture I live in. Understanding other cultural values and ideas gives me a broader understanding of the diverse world we live in, and a better appreciation for other cultures.

Going the extra mile… or eight by Rachel Barrett

Since getting to Sevilla, or Europe for that matter, I do not think I have ever walked so much in my life in the matter of one day. Every night before I go to bed, I check my “Health” app on my iPhone to see how many miles I walked that day. As time went on, my mile count would go from around four miles at the beginning to now at least eight miles. Sometimes during lunch, I would check my steps as well and see I have already done three miles and be confused. Usually whenever I would walk around I would be out of breath and dripping in sweat. I am very athletic to the point where I barely even workout so walking a mile or two was a lot for me. In Sevilla, the metro only runs to certain areas so you usually have to walk at least a mile to where you want to go, so you obviously need to walk that mile back. I honestly love the lifestyle. After a long day of travelling and sitting on a train, bus or plane for how many hours makes me want to go for long walks once I arrive at my destination. Also, being in a city like Sevilla, I feel as though there is always something for me to do and always people on the street. It feels very comfortable here and like home. Walking around has made me feel less bad about all the tapas and Cruzcampo I have consumed since being here. When I first got her, my program directors told us not to feel bad about having two slices of toast in the morning for breakfast every day because with the amount we would be walking, we would burn it off in no time. I definitely was skeptical but now internalized it to be true. I do not know how my life will change once I get home considering I live in the suburbs and to walk into town would take me at least an hour and a half. I will miss the lifestyle of being outside and walking everywhere that is a huge aspect of life in Sevilla.

Body Language by Kiah McElroy

The restaurant is filled will noises of “Que tal?” and parents talking to their little ones so rapidly I can barely hear myself think. Suddenly, I come back to reality to the voice of the waiter saying “quieres la cuenta?”. At this point I had only been studying in Spain for about a week and could barely understand any Spanish, and yet I knew to answer with “sí” because I was ready to pay. I thought to myself, how is it that I know how to respond, with out being able to actually understand him? Body language. It is a powerful thing that all humans do with out necessarily realizing it.

Something I have realized here in Spain is how fluent their body language/gestures are. Whether you know Spanish or not, the fluidity in their movements allows you to somehow have a clue as to what their saying. Here in Spain however it goes deeper than the fluidity of their movements while talking, it’s carried out through all the actions they engage in. Dancing, singing, hanging out with friends, they are all translucent with the way they want to appear. I find this incredibly admiring because in the states I feel that sometimes people will say one thing, and mean another expecting for you to decode what they ACTUALLY mean. Here, in Spain there is no confusion rather direct communication. This is just one of the cultural differences I have fallen in love with.

My Waiting Room Experience, by Hannah Higgins

        I have been sitting in the waiting room of a clinic for about an hour now. I wasn’t sure what I wanted to make this post about, but I think it would be fitting to write about the fact that it’s so loud in here that I am having trouble writing anything. The more I think about it, the more I realize how truly strange this situation is. There are probably ten separate conversations going on around me, all at a regular talking volume. The conversations on the phone are even louder. I’m not sure why people don’t just talk at a quieter volume so that you don’t have to talk so loudly to be heard, but I realized that doesn’t happen here a long time ago. Something else that everyone seems to be doing is not noticing how much it sucks that we have all been in this room for a long period of time, waiting. Even though I don’t understand a lot of what is being said around me, I honestly don’t think very much of it is complaining. I’ve heard quite a bit of laughs too. Several people have even said “buenas tardes” upon walking in to the room to everyone here. No one seems as thrown off by that as I am, and everyone that has greeted the entire room has received several responses.
        As strange as this waiting room experience seems to me, I think I prefer it to what I would normally experience waiting at the doctor’s office in the U.S. Normally, it would be expected that I be as quiet as possible in order to not disturb anyone around me in any way. There would also be an understanding among the room that the situation sucks. I can’t even imagine someone coming into a room and saying “good afternoon” to everyone. I don’t think the response would be quite as positive and natural as the response it receives in Spain. Overall, I think people in Spain have a much better and more pleasant attitude toward waiting rooms than we do in the U.S.

Stay Thirsty? by Kaitlin Lewin

One thing I have noticed since I came to Seville, is how much water I drink. Going to school, I carry a personal water bottle that I refill 2-3 times throughout the day. I didn’t think anything different about it until I realized that during meals with my Spanish host family, I was refilling my glass 5-6 times and they weren’t even refilling theirs twice. In America, people are constantly reminded to “drink water” as it is considered a sign of health. At most American restaurants, you are given a free glass of water as soon as you sit down that is continuously refilled throughout your meal. In Spain, I noticed that if you want water you must ask for it, and even then you get at most a small bottle. I noticed another instance of this in one of my classes taught by a Spanish professor. He commented that all American students carry their own big personal water bottles. He made a joke, saying that we couldn’t go 10 minutes without drinking water. This struck me as odd as drinking water is supposedly good for your body, especially during the warmer summer months. However, I joined a gym here in Spain and they have a special scale that tells you the percentages in your body. According to the scale, the percentage of water in my body was over what the suggested level was. In other words, I drink too much water.

In the Seville shops, they have the huge water bottles that I have purchased for myself before. However, I’ve received weird looks from Spanish families who watch me drink it by myself, whereas they are sharing the same size water bottle amongst 4 people. I do not know where the idea that one must constantly be drinking water throughout the day originated in America, but I assumed it was a culturally universal idea. In America, there has been an increasing push towards “living healthy”, and perhaps constantly drinking water is the easiest way to live up to the American expectation. It was interesting for me that something I considered so innate such as drinking water changes from one culture to another.

A Spanish “Run” by Linsey Santos

There is a lot of new food to try here in Spain. I came to Spain to fully immerse myself in the culture so I have to try all of it, obviously. Also, we can’t leave out drinks. There are endless wines to try and each glass of sangria is a little different, so I also must try all of those. While I am doing more walking here in Sevilla than I was doing at home, I wanted to make sure I was working out here in Spain so I stay in the habit, and so all the bread my host mom serves doesn’t add up too much. As a solution my friends and I began to workout in Maria Luisa park a couple days a week. While in the park we would often see people running, biking, and even a few group exercise classes. After observing these individuals exercising I assumed that Spanish people engage in more physical activity than Americans, on average.

Well, this past weekend I participated in The Color Run with four of my friends. We were excited going into the 5k, as it seemed like a fun event that promoted healthy habits. When we arrived at the start around 8:30am the first thing I noticed was the age of the participants around us. Most seemed to be in high school, probably less than 15% of university age, and less than 5% above university age. In the U.S. the majority of organized run participants are over university age. Now, while I did not expect this to be a competitive event in any way it is called The Color “Run”, so I expected people to be running.

All the participants gathered in a crowd at the starting gate, the announcer counted down from five and everyone took off running. They took off running for about 50 meters. Then with exception of maybe 20 people, the entire crowd began walking. I was so confused. We had gone less than a half kilometer. This “run” was something we all paid to participate in so why were people walking? I had assumed, because of what I had observed in Maria Luisa park, that in general people here were rather active.

After returning home from the race I thought further about the run and my assumptions. When I originally made my assumption about Spanish cultural exercise habits I was in a park. This is probably a location that is very common for exercise. Therefore, basing my assumption of all Spanish people’s exercise habits on the people in Maria Luisa park was not an accurate sample. After reading some research online I found that studies show that approximately 44% of Spanish people do not engage in any form of exercise, while 36% of Americans do not engage in any form of exercise. So, in fact Americans are more likely to be active than Spanish people, contradicting what I originally thought. Although, this does not mean that Americans are healthier than Spaniards overall.


It was interesting to reflect on how quickly I made assumptions about Spanish exercise habits without realizing it. I wonder what other wrong assumptions I have made about the Spanish culture.

Nearly half of Spaniards never do any exercise

1 in 3 Americans Never Exercise: Study

Self Service? by Victoria Brown

On the first day of school, my friends and I decided to meander around the campus of UPO during our lunch break. We ventured through the many buildings that all looked identical inside, specifically the bookstore and copisteria, and ultimately we landed in the outdoor cafe. It was here that my observations of unusual behavior began.

After my friends and I got our coffees, we looked for seats. It was extremely busy and most all of the tables appeared to be in use. However, while scanning the seating area, I was stunned by the tables left with piles of trash on them, as well as by the disheveled placement of the chairs. I pointed at one of the trash covered tables and said, “I guess we can sit there.” We sat down and I recycled the beer bottles, soda cans, and pizza boxes. We immediately looked at eat other with a “WTF” type of face, one you give your friends when you’re all thinking the same thing. We all thought it was so odd that the students weren’t throwing their trash away because it would not be proper at our university. As time passed by, we kept noticing the tables next to us being left in the same manner. To add to the oddness, there was a lady who was cleaning up after everyone. We have people who clean tables at our school, but not who have a job of throwing everyone’s trash out. At my university, it is a student’s responsibility to throw away their trash and leave the table clean. If you don’t, it is considered rude.

The more I became aware of this habit, the more I’ve noticed it, not only in Sevilla, but also in other parts of Spain; I have a keen eye for such behavior everywhere I go. This past weekend at the Sevilla airport, for instance, I was looking for a seat at the café and I had the same experience—90% od the tables had trash left on them.

Why Are you Touching Me? by Jehanzeb W. Khan

I remember my first time sitting on a Metro in Sevilla, and I couldn't help but be amazed as to how closely people would sit and stand next to each other. I mean, obviously when the Metro is busy, it is busy, what are you going to do...but even when it isn't that busy? Goodness!

I use the metro twice a week, and each time I get on in the morning (at around 7:30am) I probably feel at least 20 other people's hands, bodies, and even their breathing against my own body. That's kind of gross huh?

I can imagine seeing someone back in my home state of Colorado, riding the light rail, and seeing something similar happen to them...and they would probably have a very adverse reaction...and with good reason, right? I mean, especially when it comes to going from point A to point B...you aren't really wanting no asking for someone to interact with you, let alone get all up in your business! Not in Spain.

I don't find it a matter of a lack of privacy, but more so about a more open sense of comfortability with a fellow human. I think a lot about my interactions with other Spanish folks, whether that be my host family or even total strangers...and how close they like to get when they talk to me. Especially when I interact with women from Spain, they never fail to offer me besos. Even things as simple as a touch on my shoulder or on my arm during conversation, which is VERY abnormal in the States, is not only normal here, but kind of comforting!

I have some friends who do not like getting touched by other people or receiving hugs at ALL...and to each their own. As I see it, not even a hug, but a simple touch, maybe even by a complete stranger on a Metro, is a warm reminder of the humanity that we have the pleasure of experiencing each and everyday. In my time here in Spain, I have come to appreciate those little moments and interactions I have with others. And to be quite honest, it makes being here feel a little bit more like a home. 

 

Who Drinks More?

One thing I realized as soon as I arrived to Spain, is how different the drinking culture is here as opposed to the United States. Here, you see people having a beer or a glass of wine at anytime during the day, as early as eleven in the morning. While it is most common to drink coffee in the morning, I have seen Spaniards having a beer with breakfast on multiple occasions. Walking around at two or three in the afternoon, you will see many people out enjoying a “bocadillo” and beers during their late morning break. At first, from an outside perspective it is easy to say the Spanish drink too much or maybe they show alcoholic tendencies. After spending some time in Sevilla and observing what it is actually like here, I realized Spaniards drink much more responsibly than Americans. In the States, younger people live inn such a “pregame” culture where you drink to get drunk. People will make drinking into a competition, and push each other to their limits. Here, locals will slowly enjoy a beer with their meal, rather than guzzling down drinks to feel a buzz. It makes me wonder if our drinking culture would change if our drinking age was lowered to 18 in the US. I think the younger generation would approach drinking in a different way and there would be less binge drinking. However, I do not think it would completely change what drinking is like in the US. Our time orientation in the US is completely different from Spain, that I do not see a time where it will be common to see many people drinking beers in the morning and afternoon. 

There is no such thing as siesta time, or a break in the afternoon in the US. It is also just more of an open, and accepting practice here. Along with laws against open containers in the US, there is also this sense of judgment towards drinking at certain hours of the day that are deemed “too early” by cultural norms. The biggest thing I have learned being abroad is that it is important to recognize the differences between Spain and the United States, not to deem one better than the other, but rather to begin to understand the people from each culture.

“Eating Healthy” in Spain by Morgan Zueger

Before I arrived in Spain, I had high expectations for their gastronomy. I thought I would get these four months to eat super healthy every day, with home cooked meals made by my host family. On the first night, I was so overwhelmed. Our host mom made croquettes, Spanish tortilla, fried potatoes, chicken legs and mussels. The only source of vegetable came from the “salad” – aka, iceberg lettuce and a few carrots, drenched in olive oil. I told myself that she made this assortment only because it was the first meal, and that we would be eating healthier the next day. Unfortunately, I was wrong! My daily diet consists of bread, fried eggs soaked with olive oil, a fatty meat and that same salad, most days.

Now, what I find interesting is that my host mom thinks that she’s serving us healthy foods and balanced meals. I believe that Spaniards have different ideas about health, and what it means to eat healthily. Therefore, when I don’t eat all of the oily, fried potatoes on my plate, my host mom gets upset and tells me to “eat my vegetables”. I believe that Spaniards genuinely think that they are healthy eaters, which stems from their long gastronomic history. But trust me, eating two loaves of bread per day, 10 servings of olive oil and and unappetizing amount of pork is not quite satisfying the food pyramid. I don’t wait to stereotype the entire country based off my single experience with my host family, these are just merely my observations. As a matter of fact, I’m sure that the health practices of each Spanish generation and family is different, because health ideals are constantly changing and are not consistent throughout one country.

Every restaurant that I have visited serves the classic tapas: tortilla, croquetas, patatas bravas, paella, jamón ibérico y queso etc. It is hard to come across some healthy options, in my opinion, but if I told that to a Spaniard I am sure that they would disagree completely. Even in my cooking class, we cook classic Spanish recipes that are so unhealthy. We even dedicated an entire class to cooking traditional and popular fried food (see photo).

On the topic of health, I recently returned from a trip to Morocco, and have been experiencing intense stomach problems. I told my host mom that I wanted to go to a doctor, and she laughed at me! She said that stomach issues were completely normal after a trip to Morocco, and she offered me a huge 600 mg paracetamol pill (which is an extremely high dosage to take in the first place, not to mention that it couldn’t possibly help intestinal issues). In my case, antibiotics were required to treat my illness. Paracetamol is their wonder drug, their “fix all” magic pill, when in reality it should only be used to treat specific symptoms.

My experience of health has been very different while in Spain, food wise and medication wise. Obviously there are many aspects of culture that affect the food choices and eating habits of people, and I am not trying to criticize the entire gastronomy of Spain. There are just many differences between our ideals and practices of health. To say the least, I am excited to get back to the US and splurge on a huge salad (and drink free water)!

Aren’t You Hot in That??? by Stefany M. Soltesz

After being in Sevilla for nearly two and a half months now, it still does not make sense to me how men and women travel to their professional jobs on a motorcycle while wearing suits, dress shoes, heels, and dresses. When I first arrived to Sevilla in August, I could not bear being in 100-degree weather even in shorts and a tank top. Each and every day, I would drink at least 6 bottles of water trying desperately to feel some type of cold. I was very impressed by these men and women in suits and dresses who would step off of their motorcycles still looking intact and ready for the day. I couldn’t help but imagine myself on the motorcycle with helmet hair, sweat dripping down my body, bugs flying in my face, and my nice dress flying in the wind and getting wrinkled. Seeing these men and women in the United States would be quite odd. Usually men on motorcycles wear casual attire such as jeans and a long sleeve t-shirt with sneakers. Typically, people going to work in a nice suit or dress would drive a car. Oftentimes, I do not see many women on motorcycles, especially alone. Usually if I do see a woman on a motorcycle, she is accompanied by a man. It is refreshing to see women riving motorcycles here. This is one aspect of the culture that I am still confused and intrigued by every day.

Crowded cervecerías

One of the most obvious aspects of Spanish culture that I have noticed is how late people of all ages stay out eating dinner on Thursday-Sunday nights. This doesn’t surprise me, but what does surprise me is how the young parents bring their children along with them and how dogs are common guests at the dinner table. Often times when I go out with my friends in Spain, I pass by cervecerías crowded with people. Here, I have noticed children kicking soccer balls, new born babies sitting along their parents in strollers, and dogs patiently waiting for spare crumbs to fall on the ground.

In the U.S, it is very uncommon to bring children out to dinner when young parents make plans to meet up with their friends. It is especially uncommon for children under the age of 5 to be allowed to stay awake past 8 pm. Typically you will find parents in the U.S calling a babysitter to watch the kids until they return. This makes me wonder if people in Spain do not rely on babysitters or if they have more tolerance for young children. In the U.S., a night out away from the kids is a stress reliever, but it does not seem like Spanish parents like to be away from their kids for very long. I am not sure if I agree or disagree with parents taking their kids to places like cevecerías late at night. On one hand, it gives them early exposure to seeing people drink which may make the idea of drinking less tempting, but on the other hand seeing it could make the children think that since their parents drink so casually, it is ok if they do the same at a young age.

What shocked me even more than the young children staying out late with their parents is the fact that pets are allowed at restaurants. In the U.S. , this is strictly prohibited. In fact, if you show up with your pet at a restaurant, even an outdoor restaurant, it is considered to be rude. This, I have noticed, is a very common practice in Spain. I like this idea personally because I do not think pets should be kept alone in a house all day by themselves. The pets are also extremely well behaved to the point where some of them do not even wear leashes. In the U.S. you will never see a pet owner walking their dog without a leash. Overall, the more I see these practices in the streets, the more used to it I get, and the more that I understand Spanish culture.

Culture Shock: Myth or Fact? by Marielee Colon

When we think about Europe we think about culture, history, weather, architecture, food, nightlife, and more. Do we think about nude beaches? Not usually. The 10th of September I went with We Love Spain on their Portugal beach trip to Carvoeiro. I knew what to expect. Nudity at beaches is common, its a part of their culture but to my surprise everyone was completely covered up. As the day went on the shade started to creep up on the area in which my friends and I were laying down. We wanted to tan so we decided to move. There was an open space big enough for all 5 of us so we moved there. As we’re putting our things down, I notice that the women in front of me is topless. I expected this so I shouldn’t have cared but it was weird. There are plenty of beaches that allow nudity in the US but I have never been to one. This was different.
She was in the company of two men and I was thrown off by the fact that the men she was with or anyone else for that matter wasn’t staring at her with googly eyes or making sexual comments. Which I knew wouldn’t happen because again it is a part of their culture but I still expected it. Well they sparked up a conversation the moment they heard us speak English. She began telling us that she’s from the UK and it was extremely awkward. Not because she’s from the UK but because I was laying on my stomach and had to look up at her as she spoke… she’s topless. I have never had a conversation with a topless women at a beach, well with a topless women in general but she was completely unbothered. She was in her element. She was free. She was confident. I loved it! If she doesn’t feel weird being topless than why should I feel weird for her? After a while I even forgot that she was topless. I adjusted quickly and it became natural to me even though its not very common in the states.

Encountering Gypsies in the form of musical groups By Natalie Garza

My second night in Sevilla I was able to start living the dream, drinking my first legal glass (pitcher) of sangria, and listening to a trio of singers out on a patio near the center of the city. I was enthralled with the "authentic" experience I was getting with this Spanish music to accent the beautiful cobble stone streets and old buildings around me. After enjoying a few songs and applauding the people kind enough to play for us, the trio came up to our group of clueless Americans and began forcefully asking for money. After saying no a few times, we gave in as we did listen to them and felt bad for not supporting a local artist. After the night ended I began thinking about this odd experience and realized that although I loved hearing the group play, I had not sat at the restaurant to listen to them, and in fact they placed themselves in front of us after we had sat down. This was not necessarily a desired outcome of sitting down for a glass of sangria, but instead, a decided outcome by the Gypsies.
Encountering Gypsies in the form of musical groups is now a frequented activity when in the street or more often sitting at a popular restaurant. This is something I have never experienced in the U.S. Aside from street performers I would say that it is almost unheard of for someone to place themselves in your view and decide that you owe them money afterwards.
Culturally I think there is a difference in personal space and bluntness between the United States and here in Spain, and this can be seen as an example through the Gypsies. In the U.S. I think it would come across as very rude to have someone intrude on a dinner, and it would anger restaurant owners to have someone begging for money in their establishment. The social expectations when having dinner or walking in the street seem to be more closed off in the U.S. and people prefer to be left alone, whereas here in Spain people may feel less violated if an interaction like that took place. This has been one of the more difficult lessons to learn here in Spain, because it feels very awkward and strange to say no to them, but one must realize that to a certain extent tourists are a target, and you cannot give money to everyone.

Please Stop Saying “Thank You” By Kenzie Mayer

When thinking of cultural differences and adjustments between the United States, and more specifically, my life growing up in the Bay Area in California, and Sevilla, Spain, I constantly notice a contrast between the use of “please,” “thank you,” and “you’re welcome.” I consider myself to have good manners, but I would never call myself overly polite nor would I think that saying “thank you” would ever be frowned upon. My first couple weeks in Spain at my first homestay, I was a little confused with how the mother of my host family cooked, served the meal, did the dishes, etc. and the rest of the family helped minimally and, more noticeably, never expressed gratitude. Having their lunch plate placed in front of them, eating a delicious meal, and getting their food cleared away was all met by silence. I’d often express my gratitude after a meal and mumble “thank you” when it was first served. I did it because I was accustomed to it back at home, and it took a couple days for me to understand why I felt so strange every time I did: no one else said anything!

After moving homestays, my new family called me out the first night. My use of “please” and “thank you” had reached the quota very quickly, and my host dad told me “tonight, you’re fine, but tomorrow, no more ‘pleases’ and ‘thank yous.’” Confused, I asked “why not?” Afterall, I was grateful for what they were doing, and my background had ingrained the importance of telling and showing people that you appreciate what they are doing for you. He said it was because we were family and it wasn’t necessary. I didn’t fully understand. I still said “please” and “thank you” to my family all the time back home. I had never thought of them as exhausted phrases.

Over the past month, I’ve realized the social roles, relationships, and manners that underlie the limited use of these “polite phrases” that are so much more common in the U.S. Gratitude does not need to be constantly vocalized, and I now know that I should limit saying “please” and “thank you” especially while out in public because it can come off as annoying. Calling Spaniards rude because of this difference would be a bit ignorant because I would be egocentrically using the U.S. as the base frame of comparison, but it is fair to say that I notice more casual, repeated manners in the U.S. than here.

Being completely honest, by Hailey Cowell

One thing that I have noticed while studying abroad in Sevilla is how blunt and unnecessarily honest (by American standards) that Andaluces are. Americans are all about euphemisms and sugar-coating their language so it doesn’t seem as mean. One example is that Americans use terms like “big—boned” to describe someone as overweight. All of my friends have some sort of experience with blunt statements. For example, one of my friend’s host mom said they were “gordita” which would be thought to be offensive in the United States. Andaluces are also seemingly very direct and don’t really take personal space into consideration. In the past five months I have encountered so many people in Andalucia that tell me that they like my hair and just grab it without asking. Sometimes people have just touched it on the metro and say nothing. This would be extremely offensive in the United States as well.
I think the idea of being completely honest with people about their feelings is a great attribute that Andaluces possess as well as the closeness that allows them to feel as if they are welcome in your personal space. I think that perhaps if I were Sevilla longer and could grow accustomed to these cultural differences that I would like them, however at this point I suppose I am still dealing with Culture shock because people touching me without permission is just traumatizing still because of my culture and upbringing. In my family you have to ask before you even hug someone so the idea that people hug and kiss their friends was very hard for me to understand in the beginning but I have slowly become okay with it throughout the duration of my stay here.
I’ve learned from studying abroad that even though cultures are so different and we may not like every aspect of them, that we should try and understand and maybe take the things we like with us when we leave.

No such thing as silence by Michaela Pringle

Something that I noticed on my very first night at dinner with my host family after I had spent over 24 hours traveling and had arrived at my host house, my host mother was bothered the first moment there was silence. She muttered "silencio" the first second that we all stopped talking, even though at the time my roommate and I were new to learning Spanish and doing the best that we could. This is a huge cultural difference between the United States and Spain. In America if you can sit in a room with a person be comfortable with silence, it is seen as a measure of being comfortable with the person. In Spain, people enjoy carrying on conversation at all times of being together and attend many social scenes to be involved in conversation. They stay at restaurants longer than normal just to engage in conversation, while in America it is typical to leave when you are done your meal. I enjoy this aspect of the Spanish culture because some of my best times with my friends here have been sitting together and talking over tapas and drinks, and this seems like it should be normal human behavior. Silence and alone time is a very cherished concept in the United States and this difference between Spain and the United States has been made clear to me since the very beginning of my study abroad journey

Why the Rush? by Olivia Corriveau

One thing that I noticed throughout my time in Spain is the way people go about life, with less rush and more relaxation. Particularly, I am referencing the way people walk on the sidewalks. Spaniards tend to walk slower than what I am used to. I am from the east coast in the US, which is very much business driven, focused on effectiveness and speed. People tend to walk very quickly, with a coffee in one hand, and many people get food to-go. In Sevilla, people take their time walking, usually conversing with friends or family with whom they are walking. It is very rare to see anyone with a coffee or food to-go because that is also usually consumed in cafes and bars. Therefore, these differences stood out to me when I got here. I’ll admit it; at the beginning of the semester, I became annoyed when I was behind people that were walking slow (especially if they took up the whole sidewalk) because I was holding onto my American culture and the thought that I have things to do and places to go. Also, I love coffee, and not being able to carry it to class or throughout the street was a struggle. However, now that I have spent five months in Sevilla, I conformed and adjusted my pace to that of Spaniards. Some of my fellow American friends even think that I walk slow. Someone told me this semester to not walk so fast so that life does not pass you by, and this gave me a new perspective on the Spanish culture, the culture in the United States, and on life in general. It is very true that you do not notice your own culture until you step out of it.

Restaurant: Rest or rush? by Megan Stevens

I remember when my friends and I went to our first restaurant in Spain. It was a fairly nice place located in the middle of city center of Seville. When we sat down, our waiter came over and took our drink order. A few minutes later he returned and asked what plate we'd each like to start with and we gave him our order. It all seemed pretty similar to visiting a typical American restaurant. That is, until we finished eating. We expected the waiter to come over with our check. We waited…and waited…and waited, but he never came over. We began to get irritated and wondered why he wasn’t doing his job by bringing the check over—we were obviously done eating. Finally, one of us got up and asked for the check—something that never happens in the United States.

Over the past few months, this restaurant experience has made more and more sense to me as I've learned more about the Spanish culture. My first thought at the restaurant was that the waiter didn't know how to properly do his job--I thought that he was lazy and forgetful. But no, the reason he behaved as he did--the reason he didn't bring over the check without being prompted--is because eating out in Spain is an activity that is separate from time. In fact, I've learned that any social activity in Spain isn't constrained by time. The purpose of socializing in Spain is to enjoy the time you have with one another without worrying where you're supposed to be or when you have to leave. That's why social activities-- like eating out--may take hours. Spaniards don't pay attention to how long it's been, and they don't worry about taking up table space even if they finished eating an hour before. The reason that this surprised me was because going out to eat at restaurants in the United States is a much different experience. The waiter or waitress is constantly checking up on the table--every ten minutes or so asking the customers questions like “Is everything all right?” or “Is there anything else I can get you?”.

And that's what we've come accept as good customer service. So when I first arrived in Spain it seemed like customer service was awful until I realized that good customer service in Spain is actually quite the opposite.

Are Americans too afraid of germs?, by Marina Parlapiano

People can tell you all about a culture but no one prepares you to actually be submerged in it. For the last four months that I have been living in Spain, I have grown to love this culture and lifestyle. Many things that I was not accustomed to that I noticed, I justified it by saying, “that’s how they were raised. ” I understand that life is different here and people do not do the same things. From things like personal space, walking pace, and restaurant practices, it really all makes sense to me and I try to adapt or understand these things when I experience them. One thing I cannot seem to adapt to, however, is the concept of health practices here. I can change the way I walk, the way I dress, my comfort with space, and the way I order at a restaurant but I cannot seem to forget the need to wash my hands, cover my mouth with my elbow, or forget how bad smoking cigarettes are. I am not judging the Spanish people, but I am fascinated and curious with what they learned in primary school and why germs or health are not as large of a concern like they are in the States. Are we all hypochondriacs in the States? Am I too worried about washing my hands? Is using your hand when sneezing really not as bad as I learned? Do they not learn the future consequences of smoking?

On my first day at UPO, after I used the bathroom and went to the sink only to realize there was no soap. I thought, “oh, it is the first day of school, maybe they forget to refill this bathroom.” Over the next four months I quickly realized that no soap was a trend. I observed people using the bathroom and not even going to the sink. If I did this in the States I would be given dirty looks. When people sneeze here, they often do it into their hand. I honestly thought sneezing into your elbow was a reaction and by being here I have realized that this is something that is taught to us. I remember in third grade when we were taught about germs and how they spread so easily. We were asked to do an activity where we washed our hands, touched some things with flour, and took a backlight to our hands to demonstrate the concept. Every year in health class throughout middle school I was taught how bad smoking was for you. I have never even taken a drag from one in my life. Smoking is a normal everyday thing here and people are not shamed for doing it. By no means do all Spanish people do these things, but enough for me to notice. This trend has caused me to realize that health practices are learned and not natural. It also causes me to question if health education was as large of a part of Spaniard’s elementary or middle school years like it was for me. Are Americans too afraid of germs?

Feria 2017, By Brianna Cervizzi

From the eyes of an outsider, Feria 2017 was a weeklong experience full of surprises and enchantment. Women dressed in flamenco attire from head to toe, trajes de flamenco, filled the numerous streets of the fairgrounds while the men accompanied them in suits of all colors. Peaking into the private casetas you could feel the passion couples had as they danced traditional sevillianas or enjoyed rebujito together—the famous drink of Feria. Although everyone knew it’s probably not proper treatment of animals, even the horses were adorned with special flowers and bells as they trotted down the streets with carriages in tow.
I was lucky enough to have my own authentic night of Feria complete with a handsome Spaniard and a bedtime of 7am. This guy I went on a few dates with throughout my time in Sevilla invited me to meet him at one of the casetas. After my friends got acquainted with him, he took me by the hand and led me in to where I was met with what seemed like endless young couples dancing and laughing. We joined the group on the dance floor and I spent the rest of the night learning how to dance sevillanas and sipping on rebujitos. I felt like I was in the right place at that moment.
While I did not pay mind to the actual fair side of Feria with the rides and crazy carnival games, the chocolate con churros and the buñelos were better than ever. I kept thinking how bizarre it was that the entire city essentially shuts down for the week. However, after attending for myself I feel so grateful that I got the opportunity to be a part of Feria and I can see why the natives here continue to love it year after year.

Traveling, by Katie Rebeil

I never realized how many problems one can encounter when traveling. When you travel in the United States or travel overseas with your family, it all seems so simple. However, this semester has shown me that everything is not as easy as it seems, or maybe things like this only happen to me. The first trip that was problematic for me was Switzerland. When my friend and I arrived to the airport, we noticed that our flight was delayed 30 minutes. Although it was annoying, we just wanted to make sure that we would land in time to catch our bus from Madrid to Sevilla. Therefore, we asked a flight attendant and she told us that the flight would be shorter than it actually was, but we didn’t know this at the time. When it was time to walk towards the gate, we noticed that boarding was also delayed. To our dismay, no one moved for a long time and we didn’t understand what was going on. Finally, a line began to form. However, it was moving extremely slow and we couldn’t comprehend why. By the time we reached the ticket counter, we realized that they were loading all of the passengers for a flight onto a bus. We were both surprised because we had never experienced anything like this. In awe, we asked the flight attendant what was going on and she told us that the plane wasn’t big enough to fit all of us, so we had to take a bus to a bigger plane. We finally sat down on the bus, but when we looked back, we noticed the line of people that were still waiting to get on a bus. In the end, our flight ended up being delayed two hours. Once we landed, I realized just how late our flight was and I told my friend that we were going to miss our bus. Nonetheless, we ran throughout the Madrid airport to try and make it on time. However, while we were running, my backpack somehow opened and all of my clothes went flying everywhere. I panicked and called out for my friend and she came back and we quickly threw as many clothes as we could back into my bag and we ran carrying the rest of it. Unfortunately, we missed our bus. At this point, we knew we had to look for another bus otherwise; we would be stuck in Madrid for the night. Luckily, there was another bus later that night and we were able to make it back home.

University Life, By Madison Trone

One of the major differences between my life in Spain compared to the United States is the activity and involvement in the university. In the U.S., I live on campus within walking distance to my classes, the dining halls, the gym, and any club or other activity I might be involved in. My life basically revolves around the on-campus social life and I usually don’t leave campus more than once a week. The students in the United States embrace the college and it is common for the majority of students to wear some sort of apparel with the college logo or sports team in order to show support and pride for the school. Picking where you will be attending college is a big decision, and is usually based on location and what schools are good for your major.

In contrast, many Spanish students view school as a place where they go to attend class, and then leave as soon as possible without participating in any other activities, such as sports or clubs. From what I have noticed, it seems as if most Spaniards attend the university that is the closest to their parent’s house so that they can continue to live with their family. Choice in university is simply by location, and there is not much school pride.

Dress code, by Cheyenne Grant

One of the first things I noticed about Spanish people is their insistence on dressing up every day. Don't get me wrong, it's nice to see people take pride in their appearance, but as a West-Coaster, it gets to be too much sometimes. Growing up in the United States you always hear talk about how college students can go to class in their pajamas and I participated in the tradition until I came here. Students dress like they're going out to dinner on a daily basis. Of course it could be that the United States is far more casual then the rest of the Western world, and while this is mostly true I can also say that other European countries don't set the bar quite as high as Spain. I spoke with a woman from my program and she explained that since the patriarchal influence is still strong, many women feel the need to dress up to impress men. While this explanation makes some sense, I like to think that these women dress up for themselves. A friend and I came to the conclusion that fashion reflects status more here as opposed to the US where the car you drive matters more than the label you wear.

Personal space, by Madi Beckley

In America, everyone loves his or her personal space. They feel as if there is a “bubble” around them into which others, especially strangers, should not enter. This is universally understood, and most people know to keep an appropriate distance between others. In Sevilla however, this idea of personal space in nonexistent.

While on the metro, someone can be pushed right up against you and think nothing of it. There is no putting your backpack on the seat next to you to create some distance. If you’re lucky enough to get a seat, your legs will most likely be touching the people’s legs who are sitting on either side of you. The people standing up will most likely be touching some part of your body as well, and sometimes if they’re holding a pole above you, their armpit will be pretty close your face. And if the metro takes a sharp jolt, others will definitely be rammed into you.

The lack of personal space is seen in all conversations as well. People tend to speak closer to each other, and talk louder to each other than is custom in the U.S. They also touch each other a lot more frequently. The first time meeting someone requires a kiss to each of his or her cheeks. This is much closer than a handshake. Sevillanos are known for touching arms or legs when trying to make a point during the conversation. One time, I was on a train sitting next to an older lady. I asked her, in Spanish, if she knew whether or not this train was direct or made stops. She leaned in, laid her hand on my arm, and answered my question. This still came as a surprise to me, even though I already knew about customary touching. Additionally, gesturing while speaking is more common, and Sevillanos are more expressive with their emotions both verbally and nonverbally.

To Sevillanos, having close proximity to someone, and using a lot of gestures and touch during conversations is the norm. For someone like me coming from the suburbs, this lack of personal space, especially on the metro, was at first extremely overwhelming. It took a while getting used to, and it is still something for me that will take some time to get fully adjusted to. My expected personal “bubble” has been popped and I’m still getting accustomed to the air out here.

A teaching assistant Sevilla, by Brittney Richards

My first experience as a teaching assistant began here in Sevilla approximately a month ago. I had been warned that the school system was slightly different than its American counterpart– especially regarding language classes – but I had not realized just how prevalent the Spanish culture was inside of the classroom until I was in it myself. Teachers show a level of adoration and concern for their students that would be seen as taboo in the United States. Today, even, I watched as one of the teachers I was helping comforted a distraught third-grader by hugging her and kissing her forehead multiple times. A hug can be quite common, but kisses are unheard of. American parents would have a fit if they thought their child was being coddled by someone other than them.

Another obvious difference deals with the students themselves. They are extremely eager to learn. Their smiling faces greet me every Monday morning, and when I explain what lessons we will be learning today, there is rarely a single groan in response. My past experiences of being in elementary school indicate that this is unique in comparison; normally, even the teacher walking in and sitting at her desk in the beginning of the class results in pouting faces and rolling eyes. Not at Rafael Alberti. This is a school where the children are eager to show off their English skills to anyone who will listen. I am thankful that I am able to be a part of this experience, which will ease me into professions in education while I grasp cultural differences between my home country and Spain.

But… What’s my Grade? by Lauren Janitzki

Welcome to college, some of the most anxiety inducing years of your life. The never-ending assignments and the ever-present deadlines are just a few reasons that college causes stress. A more personal reason that college causes stress is the self-notion that a certain grade determines your worth. As a kid, I was taught that anything less than a B is unacceptable. On the American grading scale, that meant I could not receive anything less than 80% on any assignment. To meet these expectations, I developed an unhealthy study pattern. On more than one occasion I would pull multiple consecutive all-nighters, just to complete a project or to study for a test. I was exhausted and sick all the time. This changed a bit my sophomore year in college when I decided to study abroad in Seville, Spain.

The first difference I noticed when I got to Seville was that assignments are graded on a 1-10 scale and not a 1-100 (like in the US). Quite frankly, this freaked me out a bit. Then I went to a seminar which discussed that when converting the Spanish grades to US grades for our transcripts. During this seminar the presenter said the most profound thing. They said in order to get a passing grade, I only had to get a 5. To meet the expectation of receiving a B, I only had to get a 7. This stunned me because a 7 in America would be a C. It took a while to get used to this, but once I did, I started to develop better sleep patterns, and I started to relax more. I have been able to go out with my friends and enjoy their company instead of barricading myself in a Library to study. I’ve been able to live and experience life more in this semester than in my previous college experience. I do not miss being stressed all the time, and when going back to the States, I am going to try to continue this life style.

Struggles of Living with a Host Family

In the short time I have been studying in Spain, I have realized just how different it is to live with a host family compared to living at home in the United States, where students either live in a dorm, an apartment or with their parents. What is accepted and unaccepted vary tremendously. While living with a host family it is expected that the host parent will do your laundry, cook your meals, clean your bedding, pack your lunches, etc. What is unaccepted is inviting friends to the house, leaving alcohol or food in your room, and not following the specific rules of what your host family expects of you. There are also things expected of the student by the host family, like letting them know when your leaving and going to arrive back, that you keep your room clean and tidy, that you are on time for the meals being prepared, and that you respect their rules. This is very different then back home where many of us are already living on our own and these tasks and expectations are based on what we decide or want, which makes living with a host family difficult since you are relying on someone else to clean your pile of dirty clothes before you run out of things to wear, or having to wait to eat until the food is prepared and ready. All of these things that are given and expected of students take time to get used to since one can’t just do it all on their own as one is used to. One experience I have had while living with my host family is the difficulty with communication and what is normal to them. It happens very often that our host mom asks us a question and we think we understand what she is asking and answer, however, later we find out we didn’t understand her question and therefore didn’t answer her correctly. An example of this was a few weeks back when our host mom asked if we had eaten dinner already. We hadn’t, but accidentally answered that we did, so that evening around the time we usually were called for dinner, we weren’t. Another instance was in communicating when we were leaving and arriving home from one of our trips. Apparently the time we said was misunderstood, so our host mom was expecting us to arrive home a day earlier than we did and was worried where we were so got up every hour to check and see if we were back. Normally in the United States these occurrences don’t happen because there isn’t a language barrier and you’re the one cooking and preparing your own meals on your own time. This is the same for the other example I gave up above, you rely on yourself to get things done and the rules are what you make them. Living with a host family at first may be a struggle, but in the end you will realize that it was a very unique opportunity that makes your experience of going abroad an amazing one.

The Night Owls

After hours of overnight traveling and exploring a small section of Seville upon arriving, my friend and I decide to take a nap. Not realizing how tired we were we end up waking up close to midnight. We look at each other in sadness as we think about our empty stomachs and how dinner most likely isn’t served at this hour. Yet, we decide to go out and see if anything is open. To our surprise, it seems like every Spaniard is eating dinner now. The streets are full of people and music while every restaurant we walk by is crowded. I think back to the United States and how most of our restaurants close by 11pm. Now that I have spent two months here I have noted why there is such a unique night life. One part is due to the times they eat their meals, which is almost three hours different then back home so everything is pushed forward. Bars and restaurants in America also cost much more than here so it is cheaper to just stay in and make a home cooked meal. Looking even further into the night, the streets are still crowded with people. This is being a large assortment of bars and clubs, such as Abril club, close at 6:30am! It seems crazy to me that while I can stay out until the sun comes up, people back home must leave the bars and clubs since they close around 3pm. I know not all Spaniards enjoy their night life in this way, but for the ones that do I am sure the daily siestas are put into good use

Sneakers in Spain

In the United States, it is not uncommon to see people in clothing ranging anywhere from pajamas to a suit, slippers to heels, every day on public transportation. People from all walks of life with every type of outfit all contained on one bus or train. In Seville, however, that is not the case. You know, the old phrase goes, "Europe came up with it first, America is just six months behind." Meaning, America hasn't caught up with the trends of Spain. However, in the case of footwear, I think Spain is a little behind. Spanish people are rarely seen wearing sneakers and if they are, they are not practical shoes. I don't understand how it can be comfortable for the Spanish to walk around in heels all day, especially since the main form of transportation in Seville is your feet. Everyday when boarding the metro, I examine people's shoes, of all ages to see if one day I am going to see a pair of moccasins or a pair of ugly (yet functional) pair of sneakers and so far, I have yet to see it. Spain is the first place where I have seen women on bicycles in heels! While I think the United States has a lot to learn from Spain, the Spanish should take our advice and leave the heels at home. 

How can you post here, by Samuel Arias

1) Choose a topic you want about your personal experience in Spain. You can reflect on anything you want.

2) Write at least 200 words and send it to "arias.sanchez.samuel@gmail.com"
3) Specify if you want to remain anonymous, if not, I will write your name at the end.
4) I will read every post. If there is nothing offensive or inappropriate, I will just copy and paste it as you sent it to me.