Head in the Clouds by Natalie Martin

As I did my usual walk to the gym this morning, I again took in my surroundings, surroundings which still awe me. I could hear the birds chirping with the hope that today Spring will finally begin to show. As I experience this little bit of peace, something creeps in to take it all away, the smell of a cigarette being smoked on the street. At home, in the States, I used to hold my breath each time I had to walk past someone who was smoking. Not only did the smell make me feel nauseous, but I had been conditioned from years of DARE and health classes, that while smoking was bad so was second hand smoke. As I walk down the streets of Seville, I can not go one minute without seeing someone smoking a cigarette. At first it baffled me, but I have grown more and more accustomed to this particular part of Spanish culture, with each passing day that this city becomes my home. If I can become somewhat accustomed to walking past people who are smoking, without having the urge to hold my breath and walk faster, in just two short months, then how is it for those who grow up in this culture? Is smoking just a modern day normal? Are they not conditioned the same way in which we are in the United States?

The most effective weapon to slow down life in Andalusia by Berit Wiebel

There is one thing Andalusian life is not made for: rain. When it started raining two weeks ago, streets started to be empty all of the sudden. Walking through the streets at 10 a.m. on day of Andalusia in Sevilla was strange. There were barely any people on the streets… Arriving in Ronda, it was the same. Only unlucky tourists were on the streets that were flooded: rivers were flowing down the hills and even a little waterfall poured on the street below. There was nothing to do in Ronda that was not outside except drinking coffee, so we did.

Back in Sevilla in the evening there were still very few people in the else so lively city center. I already started missing the people having a great time on the streets walking slowly and talking loudly. Even more, I missed the musicians and artists on the side of the street. They have stopped working due to the rain until today. Hence, an essential part of Sevillan city life, I fell in love with, is still missing. I am just hoping the rain is going to stop soon, so Sevillan life can go back to normal.

Sadly, there is not much to do in Sevilla inside. People love to be on the streets in Andalusia. There are many cafés only owning outdoor space. It must be a disaster for them. In addition, one professor told us in the first days of rain that we should stay inside and have fun watching movies. Over a week has passed since then. But let’s be honest: no-one can watch movies for a week!

At some point I started wondering if this weather is normal for Sevilla, so I asked one of my Spanish flat mates. He told me it is very unusual, just the wind that is going along with the rain is normal. This supported my thesis that it must be a hard time for all Sevillans, perhaps for all Andalusians. Without a gigantic umbrella they cannot leave the house and even having a coffee is difficult because you just do not leave the house when it is raining if you do not have to. Sevillans take good weather and a lot of sun for granted because rain is unusual! No-one would have predicted that this period of rain will hit Sevilla so hard…

So please… let out the sun and “Make Sevilla great again”!