The Traditional Bullfight, by Ericka Boeger

Going to a bullfight was the most memorable event I have attended in Sevilla. I was nervous before going because I did not know what to expect. All I knew was that it was a "very cultural" event and that the bull died in the end. I didn't truly understand how the bull died or why the Spaniards I had spoken to called it beautiful.
The beauty started outside in the Plaza de Toros. Everyone was very elegantly dressed – women in skirts or dresses and men in suits. Children were dressed up in collared shirts and nice pants. There were also many families in attendance.
We went to our seats, which were right next to the band. The music was playing very loudly and cheerfully. The people around us were eating sunflower seeds and drinking beers.
During certain moments of the match, the crowd would chant in unison or "boo" at the same time. I assumed the chanting occurred when the bullfighter got the bull to dance properly or when the bull made close contact with the bullfighter. One of the most memorable moments was when one of the bulls finally collapsed to the ground, everyone in the stadium was standing, cheering, and waving white handkerchiefs in the air. We assumed that the waving of this white handkerchief was to honor the bull. At first, I was very sad for the bull; however, I could realize the pride the Spaniards had from the event. I could tell that the crowd favored this bullfighter because he walked around the ring for 10 minutes after the fight had ended – the fans were cheering, chanting, and throwing flowers into the ring. He was even blowing kisses to people in the crowd – definitely a fan favorite.
One of the most fascinating parts of the bullfight was when the bullfighter cut the ear off of the bull after its death and threw it into the crowd. Everyone wanted this bloody bull ear... and to this day I still do not understand why.
Sitting in the crowd and watching, I could tell how important this meant to everyone in attendance and could understand the strong Spanish tradition. I could feel the intense emotions of exhilaration and honor of those sitting near me.
I love how they honored the bull after every fight. I appreciated this more than the slaughterhouses of the United States.

Relax in Seville

As my time ends in Spain, nearly a month before I go home, I have started reflecting and investigating how this city and experience has affected my own emotions. The first thing that comes to mind is the relaxed lifestyle of Spain but specifically in Seville. What really intrigues me, is the life I am living, may be seen on the outside as busy and no time to relax. Traveling every weekend, meeting new people and experiencing new cultures. On the contrary, this has done quite the opposite. At home in the United States I would say that I am an anxious person. Although I am working on it, it is a part of my everyday life. Coming here I did not know how I would respond. If I have learned one thing, it is to know how to relax, and I believe the southern Andalusian culture taught me this. Noticing how the streets are quiet until 2pm, how relaxed people are throughout the day. For example, not bringing a check immediately after you are done eating at a restaurant. In America, life is busy rushed, and often the people I surround myself with seem much more anxious than the individuals I have surrounded myself with here. I know once I return home, more realizations will come. As of now, I am so appreciative of what I hardly can put into words. Seville has brought me a sense of clarity and I feel as it has allowed me to “relax”.

Fútbol: More Than Just a Sport, by Emilia Chapa

One unforgettable experience in Spain was going to the Betis vs. Sevilla fútbol game this past Sunday. The game was unlike anything I have ever experienced. I went to the game with three of my American friends. We all decided that we were Betis fans prior to the game, and for that, I am very thankful because Sevilla fans at the stadium were far from liked. The game was at the Betis stadium, so everyone was covered in the Betis colors of green and white, while only a small section of people supported Sevilla. This was surprising to me because in the United States usually fans from each team are equally represented, especially when both teams are from the same city. However, this game was very different. I learned that it is very common here for people to only attend the games when their team is hosting. The stadium itself was also different than most stadiums I have been to. There were no TV screens to watch the game, all of the focus was solely on the field. I loved this aspect of the stadium because I feel that in the USA it is very easy to stay at the concession stand for 30 minutes and watch the game on the TV screens. Having all of the attention on the field emphasizes the connection and passion Spaniards have for the game and allows you to never disconnect from the live action.

Throughout the game, my favorite thing to do was to observe the fans. When Betis scored the excitement was beyond dramatic; people would jump up in the air, hug one another, and occasionally do the sign of the cross. When Sevilla scored, the Betis fans looked absolutely defeated. I saw many grown men crying, something I have never seen at a game in the United States. This expression of emotion is something we talked about in class on Monday and seeing the cultural differences of reactions when comparing the USA and Spain I was shocked to see such a difference. This is because in many ways our culture regarding expression of emotion especially when looking at gender roles seems similar at the surface level. I think the extreme emotion showed the importance of fútbol in Sevilla and represented how it is more than just a sport in Spain. Betis from my understanding rarely wins, yet the stadium was full of fans hopeful and invested in their team. This experience was unforgettable, and it helped me understand the importance of fútbol in Spain. 

A Different kind of Sunday night Football

There is something about sports that regardless of what culture you are in, they bring people together. Whether it’s the group chants or the shared feeling of joy when your team scores, sports allows people to put away differences to watch their favorite teams play. One thing I miss back home is being able to watch American football every Sunday, and although it is a minute absence, it is still a bit of a culture shock. I was able to forget about some of what I was missing when I went to the game Sunday night because whether I’m watching a football game in the US or a fútbol game in Spain, it’s an exciting environment. Being there allowed me to feel comfort, which is why sports are special. There are always the overaggressive fans that sometimes forget to hold their tongue, or the little kids excited to see their favorite player. That being said there were some differences I noticed while at the game. One of the big things was the arena itself. It was very different from back home, where you are able to find your seat easily and safely. Here the numbers were confusing to me, and there is little room for you to walk and get to your seat. Also, back in my state sports means having a beer in your hand, but in this arena, they did not serve alcohol. I figured this out when I saw an American ask if they served beer and the vendor looked shocked. This shows a difference in culture and how the environment we grow up in influences our actions and norms, like having a beer at a sports event. At the end of the day, even with the differences, I am glad I got to experience a new type of sporting event in a different culture.

Drinking Water in Spain, by Olivia Eastwood

Within days of arriving to Spain I picked up on a major cultural difference… it seems that no one here drinks water! And the Spaniards that do are likely not carrying around a giant reusable bottle. I found myself constantly thirsty when I first arrived because having to pay for water at every restaurant and during every outing was hurting my bank account. At many restaurants a glass of wine is even cheaper than a bottle of water! The cultural norm in Spain is to drink more wine, and to just buy a water if necessary, rather than lugging around a reusable one all day. In the U.S. you are in some ways shamed for using plastic water bottles, as using a reusable bottle is more environmentally friendly and a signal of health.
This shows a difference in cultural values. In Spain, people value alcohol and convenience more, whereas in the U.S. people almost always use water bottles as a status symbol. The more expensive the water bottle, the “cooler” and “healthier” you are. However, here in Spain it is not considered trendy to carry around a water bottle. I found this very interesting because I am constantly thirsty here, especially with all the dehydrating coffee and alcohol I have been consuming! To me, and my culture, it is so much easier and healthier to constantly have my reusable water bottle, but in Spain it makes me stick out like a sore thumb because very few people here carry them around.

Reverse Culture Shock, by Savannah Vanduyn

I have been in Sevilla for just over 2 months now. The actions that seemed alien to me 10 weeks ago are now part of my everyday experience. When I first arrived in Spain, I didn’t recognize a huge culture shock on my part. I had been briefed by friends and family on what to expect and, in many ways, I had already prepared myself for life in Spain. There were, of course, things that I still had to get used to. Like waiving down servers, taking the metro every day, or even being surrounded by Spanish everywhere I went. Now that I recognize that my time in Spain is coming to an end quicker than I would like, I am starting to compare what I have become accustomed to in Sevilla to what I will return to in the U.S. Instead of walking to the store or hopping on a metro, I will drive. Even if the store is a 2 minute drive, I will drive there out of convenience, to save time in the busy life I live in the states. When I sit down to eat a meal in a restaurant I will feel as if I am being interrupted and hurried out so that the server can make a living wage. I will probably never have the opportunity to speak this much Spanish again unless I travel abroad. And while I felt prepared to enter the new Sevillan culture, I do not feel prepared to return back to my American culture.

In class, we have discussed how it is hard to analyze a culture without first stepping out of it. I didn’t truly understand the cultural differences in the United States until I came to Sevilla. The longer I stay in Spain and visit other European countries and cultures, the more I realize how much the U.S. is lacking in health initiatives. Our public transportation system is terrible, our health care system is non-existent compared to Europe, and our individualist thinking has led to a competitive atmosphere in the workplace and school. We could invest in public transportation or carpooling alternatives. A truly universal health care system would decrease stress in a lot of Americans. Taking a step back and realizing that there is more to life than work is something that many Americans will never get the luxury of doing. Because in America work equals money and money is what everyone needs to survive. My experience abroad has opened my eyes to different programs to help the health and happiness of both people and the environment.

Processions / Parades, by Elizabeth Strong

The processions from the churches that go around the blocks with "pasos" and bands are incredible and completely different than anything I've seen before. They are decorated with great care, treasures, and love. The flowers and candles are stable and strapped down which is helpful so when the processions move it is not too unstable. They are always dedicated to a saint, virgin, or Jesus Christ and occur for religious and national holidays.

People are underneath the pasos that carry them on their shoulders, this is very physically taxing and the processions are very long, often a few hours. The people swap out who carries and who rests but this is something your whole day is devoted to. I learned in class people who do this are part of the congregation of the church that is hosting the procession and they do it to ask for forgiveness for their sins and to be a part of something worshiping their lord. This is a dedication to God, the church, and the community to be a part of this event.

In the United States processions are usually in the form of floats pulled by trucks and other large vehicles. It is not hard work it is just something for fun and celebration, people don't typically take pride or feel humbled when participating. The biggest difference is there are never parades for religion, they are for national holidays like the fourth of July or local holidays like High School homecoming. The floats are not decorated with gold, silver, or flowers but instead painted posters, flags, and often people ride them to throw candy to the audience.

This cultural difference really surprised me as here parades are more like processions, people feel spiritually uplifted when they see or participate in them. In the United States, people feel an uplifting sense of community instead of spirituality, the concept for hosting these are completely different. We use the same types of celebratory events to express excitement for different types of holidays. When you think about it it's pretty cool, we aren't so different from each other!

Ears pierced, by Makenna Goodrich

It is said that a child develops the culture in which it is submerged in and by exiting the United States it has become more prevalent to me, the differences in parenting styles when comparing Spain and the US. Walking around the streets of Seville you can see children playing recklessly in the streets with minimal supervision. This, however, is viewed as a normal occurrence as the streets are not only viewed as a passageway for cars, but also a huge playground. I remember when I had first arrived in Seville, I was walking around at midnight and I noticed that children were still walking around the streets with their parents and babies were being pushed in their elaborate prams at such a late hour. This shocked me because when I was a child we had a set bedtime of 10:00. Spanish children are definitely granted more freedom than American children. For example, one time I saw a child running all by himself in front of a store and I wondered where the parent was. Then, all of a sudden the mother came running as the child had decided to use the bathroom on a nearby tree. The mother was fuming as the little boy had just pulled down his pants and relieved himself on the tree. Resultantly, the mother spanked the little boy and he cried. Last week, our host sister gave birth to a new baby, her name is Gabriella and she is the most adorable and pudgy baby I have ever laid eyes on. I was very surprised when I came home from London after she was born to see that a two-day-old infant already had her ears pierced! Evidently, it is an option for the mother to have the baby's ears pierced when they are first born so that they won’t have to experience the pain of getting their ears pierced later on. Nonetheless, while Spanish children are granted more independence and freedom, Spanish parents still love and want the best for their children, as all parents do.

Stereotypes all over Europe, by Meghan Nuti

I am about halfway done with my program here in Seville, and have learned more than I probably ever would have at home. Not only have I seen how cultures differ from the preconceived stereotypes I have of them, I have also noticed how different the US is from what people outside of it think of it as. It really is true when they say, you learn a lot more about the United States from being outside of it abroad.

After traveling to many places in Europe on weekend trips, there are two times when stereotypes of the United States have really stood out to me. About two weeks ago, I was in Amsterdam with two of my good friends from Santa Clara University. We decided to go on a canal cruise in order to see the city. When we first got onto the boat, we were asked to go around the boat and say where we were from. There were people from all over Europe, from London to Italy to Norway. Towards the end of the boat ride, a man from Norway turned to my friends and I, and said something along the lines of, “You girls are too quiet to be from California”. It shocked me because I had never known that being loud and crazy was a stereotype of California girls. Maybe he got this idea from the song by Katy Perry, but I couldn’t think of any other connection. It is amazing to see the different things that people think and/or say about countries that they know nothing about at all. It just shows that people make assumptions based on what they hear from other people who have experienced the culture.

Following that weekend, I was in Barcelona, again with a few of my friends. We were sitting at a rooftop bar and when the waiter came to our table, he naturally asked where we were from. He looked surprised when we said we were from California, and not just the United States. When we asked him why this was surprising he explained that most people who are from other states in the US, will reply by saying they are from the United States, and then go on to say which state they are from when asked. However, he said that whenever he asks someone who is from California where they are from, they naturally just say California. To quote him, he said, “There is no need for a Californian to say the United States”. This really caught me off guard because my whole life I have been used to saying I’m from California- and that’s it. I never realized that this would be different for people in other states. I am not sure how true this actually is, but from his observations, it's a recurring trend. It is really interesting to see that people have such different conceptions of the 50 states in the US. They may know what California is but get confused when we get into the midwest states, as explained by the waiter and other teachers of mine at UPO. The US is often defined as the west-coast, California, and the east coast, New York City, with nothing in between.

Both of these experiences have simply reminded me that it takes an actual experience to somewhat understand a culture. We can’t keep judging cultures based on our preconceived stereotypes. I am really thankful for both of these experiences, as they act as a reminder to keep an open mind when meeting people from all over the world in Europe.