miércoles, 15 de mayo de 2019

My Experience in Sevilla, Spain

There are so many things that are culturally different in Spain than in the United States. First, meal times. Compared to the United States, where a typical lunch time is usually between 12pm and 2pm and a typical dinner time is anywhere from 6pm to 10pm, the meal times in Spain are super late. When I first arrived in Spain, not having lunch until 2pm or later and not having dinner until 9pm or later was a huge shock. Second, etiquette during a meal at a restaurant differs greatly between the United States and Spain. In contrast to the United States, one has to flag down waiters to order and get the check in Spain. Meals could last anywhere from 20 minutes to 2 hours because the wait staff does not rush you out in order to get more customers into the restaurant (which I think is very nice and enjoyable). Third, and what I found most different to my life at home in the States, is that there are almost no Jews in Spain (or at least Sevilla). I have always been surrounded by a Jewish community my whole life and finding out that there are around 100 Jews who live in Sevilla was crazy to me. It took me a while, but I did find the small community and was welcomed with open arms. I definitely have gained a lot of perspective that I did not have before when it comes to food and religious culture in Spain and I am grateful for everything that I have learned because it has made me grow as a person.

Grocery shopping, by Nitya Mulani

Something that I found very interesting is the difference in frequency of grocery shopping between Spaniards and Americans. From my experience most Americans do grocery shopping once a week. They usually do it on weekends since they have long work days during the week. Some people even try to plan out their grocery store visits so they only have to go once every two weeks. Additionally Americans buy groceries in bulk, or large quantities. For example, when my family goes out to get milk, we buy two gallons of milk. A Spaniard would find such a large quantity of milk absurd to purchase at once. However, Americans often buy gallons of milk on a regular basis. Spaniards do groceries every two or three days. I think this is because they like fresh bread and fresh fruits and also because it is easy to get fresh food. Whereas in the United States, a lot of our diet comes from processed food. I asked my host mom how often she goes to the grocery store. She told me two or three times a week to pick up fresh fruits and bread. She takes her little shopping cart and walks down the street, picks up groceries and brings it back. For people in suburban America, they have to drive to the grocery store as it not very close. The convenience, availability of fresh food, and relaxed schedules motivate Spaniards to go to the grocery store more frequently. Busy schedules, and availability of preserved foods in large quantities allow Americans to go grocery shopping less often.

It’s All Coming to an End, by Clarissa Higgins


  
There are 10 days left until I go home, and I am both excited and sad to leave. I’m excited because I get to go back home and see my friends, family, boyfriend, but most importantly my dog! Don’t get me wrong...I miss everyone but there’s nothing better than the unconditional love from your dog. I’m especially excited considering the fact that there are SO MANY dogs in Seville, but the amount of times I’ve seen a dog in the streets and the amount of times I’ve pet any of the dogs...let’s just say I can fit it all on one hand. It’s honestly such a tease. I’m sad to leave because I’m going to miss being able to go to a café, bringing a book with me and being able to stay there for hours without being kicked out. I’m going to miss the sunny weather (even if it’s going to be in the mid 90’s all week). Most importantly I’m going to miss the friends that I have made here because I definitely won’t be seeing them everyday like I do now and since I’m transferring schools, I won’t be seeing any of them ever again. I will never forget the memories that I’ve made here in Seville and hopefully I won’t forget the very little spanish that I can speak. Wish me luck on this new chapter that I am starting at my new school.

People just go up to babies, by Fayla Sutton


In Spain I have noticed that people are much more social, friendly, and relaxed than they are in the United States. At first this was really hard to get used to, because in the U.S. people have very strict personal space boundaries and like to stick to themselves or people they know. I have noticed that people in Spain sometimes talk to each other like they are friends even if they do not know each other. One of the biggest differences I noticed was that people will just go up to babies and touch them and talk to them, even if they don’t know them, and it seems totally normal. In the U.S. if a stranger was to go up to a baby it would be very strange, and most parents would not be okay with it. In Spain there are always people walking around and eating or getting drinks for long periods of time. Everything seems more relaxed; like no one is in a hurry. It is a nice change from the fast-paced nature of people in the United States. One of the biggest changes I noticed in the pace of life here is that the U.S. places a huge emphasis on food and coffee to-go, but here that doesn’t seem to be as common. I like that noting is rushed it gives you more time to enjoy things and get to know people.

Living with a Spanish Host Family, by Sarah Hamlin


 When I was getting ready to come so Sevilla, I was often asked if I was nervous or scared to go abroad, and if so, what I was most nervous about. The only thing that really gave me any nerves at all while preparing for my semester abroad was the fact that I would be living with a host family from Sevilla (that happens to speak no English at all!). Looking back, it is crazy to remember how nervous I was because living with a host family is, in my opinion, one of the best parts of this study abroad experience. From learning the Spanish language to learning the Spanish culture, my host family has taught me so much.
When I first moved into my host family house, I had not taken a Spanish class since Sophomore year of high school. Though I had taken Spanish for five years before this, I had lost a lot of my vocabulary and could not remember any tenses except for present. My first conversation with my host mom was mostly me nodding and smiling and understanding every other word she said. Though this was a struggle for a little while before my Spanish classes started, I got by with my rusty high school Spanish and my best friend at the time (Google Translate!). As the semester has progressed, I started to use Spanish more and more, speaking with my host mom and her family, learning Spanish in class, and interacting with people in the community. Living and breathing Spanish almost 24/7 has improved my knowledge and fluency of the language immensely.
In addition to learning the Spanish language, I also got to experience first-hand what it is like to live as an Andalusian in Sevilla. Everyday for every meal I get a piping hot Spanish meal straight from the kitchen made especially for me and my flat mates by my host mom (she even made us birthday cakes!). Some of my favorite dishes and conversations happened during these meals, sometimes lasting over an hour just because we have so much to talk about. Some of my favorite Spanish dishes that I have had while in Sevilla were made by my host mom and I would not have been able to experience this without the opportunity to live with a host family.
To conclude, living with a host family enhances the study abroad experience and your immersion into the culture so much more than if you were to live in a dorm or an apartment on your own. Personally, I love my host family and if I could go back and choose my living situation for the semester, I would choose my host family every time. If you ever study abroad, take a step out of your comfort zone and live with a host family, you will not regret it! (and if you’re lucky like me you might even have a host-puppy!)




(Solomillo al Whiskey {Pork Loin and Whiskey Sauce, a common tapa in Spain}
 made by my host mom)

Spanish Restaurant Service, by Catherine Vickery


I have observed many differences between Spanish and American culture while here in Sevilla.
However, one difference that really stands out to me is the service in restaurants. In the United
States, servers are highly attentive to the customers. They consistently ask if people need more
to drink or need anything else for their meal. As soon as someone sits down at a table, there is
a waiter there to ask if you are ready to order. However, here in Spain the waiters often do not
check on you at all. If you want more to eat or drink, you have to call the waiter to your table.
I’ve gotten used to this custom, but I do miss american food service. I enjoy someone coming
and asking if everything is okay. I prefer not to have to put in effort to find the server at a
restaurant. One benefit to the service in Spain is that you do not feel rushed to leave the table.
In the US, servers often want you to leave when you are done because they want new
customers so they can receive tips. This often results in you feeling rushed. In Spain, though,
you can sit at a table for a long time and the waiters do not typically mind. Although there are
benefits to both types of food service, I think I will be happy to be back in american restaurants.

European vs. American Restaurants, by Mikayla Pietkiewicz

As a waitress in America, I cannot help but take notice of the service that you receive in Spanish
restaurants. I get paid a low wage and the majority of my income is based on tips for good
service. However, this is not the case in Spain or even in Europe. Servers will get paid the same
wage here whether they give good or bad service. They have no motivation to accommodate their
guests above the average standard. You can see this anytime you need a waiter or waitress. They
will never approach you first unless you call them over to you. Most of the time this can be
pretty difficult because they are usually not around. In America, the server is very attentive, they
check on their tables every 10 – 15 minutes and go above and beyond to try and anticipate their
guest’s needs.
Another difference I have noticed in restaurants is that the bill is never separated, the server will
always present the entire bill to the table. Whereas in the states, it is customary to ask a group of
people if they would like to pay together or separately. Even if they do not ask beforehand, it can
always be done after the meal, no matter how much it might inconvenience the waiter. If you ask
a server in a European restaurant, more often than not, they will decline your request.

Dress code, by Jon Reagan

Coming abroad to Seville Spain, I️ had a lot of assumptions about the people and the culture. One in particular was about how people dressed. I️ heard that everyone in Europe in general, particularly in a traditional city in Seville had a certain way of dressing. This way of dressing I️ expected was muted colors, long pants, and very fancy clothing. I️ don’t want to say that their aren’t people that dress like that, especially the older generation. What I️ have seen especially from the younger generation is an “Americanized” way of dressing. This sounds very WEIRD I️ bet because I️ didn’t have much world view before coming to Seville. Younger people here wear a lot of what is popular in America. This includes sneakers, ripped jeans, shorts, colors, and tee shirts. I️ think this can be attributed to globalization. The way people dress is of course different everywhere you go, but there are definitely more similarities than I️ expected to the culture I️ come from. I️ think this is a positive thing because the way people dress brings people together. I️ think if you can relate to how someone looks, it is easier to be willing to interact with him. The photo I️ took was from the metro, where you can see I wide range of colors and attire.

martes, 14 de mayo de 2019

Why would the coffee shops need wifi? by Bridget Stephenson

I have loved my time here in Sevilla. I feel like I have been given the opportunity to take advantage of a slower lifestyle here, while really immersing myself in the present moment. Sitting at meals for hours on end, laying out by the river, and walking to every destination has encouraged me to focus on the people I am with and the conversations I am having, rather than being distracted by technology or other commitments. All of that being said, there have been times where I need to buckle down and get some work done. On some of the first weekends here, my roommate and I tested out a few different coffee shops to do homework at. We went to one called Torch, and found out that there was no wifi in the shop after we had ordered. To our surprise, most of the places we went did not have wifi. Coming from the US, where coffee shops are the main homework hub, this was very different for me. I would normally expect all coffee shops to provide wifi. If I think about this culturally, I understand why this is. When Spanish people eat together and are spending time together, I rarely, if ever, see any laptops on the table. Even at the UPO cafeteria on the lunch break, I haven’t seen a group of Spanish students on their laptops yet. To me, it seems like mealtimes are the Spaniards way of connecting and being in community. Meals are for talking, not for social media and technology. In American culture, many people are on their phones or using technology when they are with others. So if that is not part of the Spanish culture, why would the coffee shops need wifi if they are meant for community? I do like the idea of being present, but it also is nice to be able to do homework with friends in a coffee shop. But, there are shops that do have wifi, so I just know to choose these if I need to get work done, and to go to the others if I am with friends. Below is a picture of a great coffee shop that I went to with my friends family (without wifi!).


lunes, 13 de mayo de 2019

Balance between working and relaxing, by Katie Steeves


While there is a plethora of cultural differences that exist between the United States and Spain, one that stood out to me revolved around our differing ideas of taking time for ourselves to relax. In the United States, we have a very competitive environment which stresses success and accomplishments. There is a high sense of urgency to get things done, a feeling that there is never enough time to get everything done, and a feeling that if you relax for too long then in some way you will be left behind. However, in Spain, I feel that I am able to have a healthier balance between working and relaxing. There seems to be less of an emphasis on this idea that ‘there isn’t enough time’, and a larger emphasis on spending time with friends and family.

There are many examples that highlight this cultural difference for me, one of which is through take-out. In the United States, any restaurant you go to, there is always a ‘to go’ option where, if you don’t finish your meal or don’t have enough time to, you can take it home with you. There are also more restaurants in the United States like Panera and Chipotle that are quick and easy to grab on the go if you are in a rush. However, there are hardly any places in Spain that offer ‘take away’. In the United States, when we finish our meal, the waiter or waitress brings over the check and you leave. However, in Spain, the waiter or waitress won’t bring over the check until you request it, and you are able to stay however long you want. This promotes people spending more time hanging out with friends and family while grabbing a tapa or a cup of coffee without feeling the urgency to rush through a meal.

Another example that highlighted this difference for me revolved around our differing activities on Sunday. In the United States, we tend to experience ‘Sunday scaries’ before the week begins and will oftentimes use this day to catch up on work or errands. However, in Spain when I walk around, I see that everyone seems to be out on the street or at a restaurant socializing, instead of working. Many stores are closed and everyone seems to be spending quality time with their friends and family.

While in the United States, I do believe there is some type of balance between working and relaxing, I believe it is easy to get too wrapped up in the competitive work hard environment. I think Spaniards are more relaxed about time and prioritize spending time with loved ones. I personally believe this is one cultural difference that Spaniards may do better than Americans and something that we can work on

From “Weird” to “Normal”, byTaylor Congdon

I have traveled to many different places, but I have never actually lived and immersed myself in a new culture. When I was told of the differences in the culture of Spain such as the different eating times, I thought to myself how abnormal it seemed. In America, I eat dinner no later than 7 pm, and here, in Spain, I have to wait an extra 3 hours to eat dinner. One of my favorite things about Seville is how often people spend time outside. In America, many people invite other over to their houses, or they spend most of the day at home, where here in Seville, there are always people of all ages and health, walking around, eating tapas, and drinking just to be social. One thing that I still have not accustomed to is that in the middle of the day, many businesses and stores close from 3pm to around 5pm, for siesta. Although I know this is common in Spain, sometimes when I make plans to go shop or visit certain stores I catch myself forgetting that late afternoon they most likely will not be open. Another thing I really have enjoyed observing here in Seville is the people’s value of the family. I always see large families getting together for meals and parents and grandparents walking their children/ grandchildren around the city. I’ve also noticed how here in Seville, people dress for the season and not the weather. Although this winter, temperatures rose to almost 80 degrees Fahrenheit, I would walk around and still see people wearing giant coats and long pants, which is very different from people in the U.S. who dress based on what the forecast is that day. People here have a different concept of time than most people in the U.S., where in America “time is money” but in Seville, “time is golden.” I constantly find myself walking really fast, passing everyone, because I am rushing to get to my destination, where the majority of people walking along the streets are enjoying the stroll. Something I find so fascinating about Seville is how there is so much history around the city, and you could just be walking around and instantly run into an extravagant building built thousands of years ago, such as the Cathedral. One last thing I have noticed about my friends from Seville is that they are “on Spanish time” which means that majority of the time they will be late to meeting up at specific times, where I think in America majority of the people there are punctual and arrive on time (though I think I fit in more with the people “on Spanish time.”)Through actually living and acclimating to the Spanish culture here, I learned that there really is no “normal” way to live and do life. I have been adjusting my schedule and other ways of living to fit the culture of Spain, and I no longer see it as strange, I see it as another way to do life; a new version of reality.