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.

Will I ever get used to the restaurants here? by Xochiquetzali Aguirre

 It’s obvious that when I arrived in Sevilla, I would enter in the world of Tapas. You know the place where you could either sit or stand, and always share food from the same plate with good company. But I always wondered, will I ever go to a restaurant in Sevilla that will remind me of home where I order something and it’s all for me and not meant to be shared? I mean there is always those fast food restaurants but I’m not talking about those, I meant like a nice restaurant, and so far the answer has been no. I think that has been one of the most different things I’ve experienced, or for example when you go into a restaurant in America you go in the door and you wait to be seated then five minutes later a waiter comes and gives you a menu and you right away order a drink then right away you order your food, then the food comes out and five minutes later the waiter comes to ask how everything is going you say well and they move on and then the check they just bring it to you and you pay when you are ready. Here you enter a restaurant and you sit where ever you want, then wait for a waiter to notice you, this can take anywhere from a minute to 30 minutes in my case… then they ask you for your order drink and tapas, then after they bring you your drink and then later on your tapas, I should mention they never come to ask how you are doing, they just let you be. Then to get the check, that’s a whole other story, you have to get try to get the attention of the waiter again who is always way too busy with all the other customers who he barely noticed came in and getting their drinks and tapas. But although it all seem very different yes, I feel like I have gotten use to the restaurants here, it’s going to be difficult going back home and having waiters come to see how you are doing every five minutes and ten giving you the check when you aren’t even ready, and making you feel rushed

Are children disrespectful to their elders?, By Xochiquetzali Aguirre

I am of Mexican decent but I am American. Since I am of Mexican decent I was raised with the idea that one cannot be disrespectful to their elders. I say this because since I live with a host mom (an elderly one) her grandchildren come to visit quiet often, she has nine grandchildren and five are sure to come every week to spend all day with her. and although I find that amazing and truly beautiful, the one thing that I don’t is the way they sometimes speak to her, coming from a Mexican American family I was taught that I must speak to my elders with all the respect in the world, but here I hear the children talk to their grandmas and I’m not sure if its normal or if these children are plain disrespectful.  Something I have noticed is that in general the Spaniards are more upfront with how they think, in America we would say that people have no filter, but I was raised to have a filter with the elders, these children don’t. For example the grandchildren and my host mom where playing a board game and a child called my host mom dumb. I was appalled, but my host mom didn’t care, I was in shock, How could they just bluntly say “Grandma you are dumb” I would never say that to anyone older than me. Later in the day my host mom accused one of them for making a mess and the grandchild responded with “you are crazy “in English it doesn’t sound so bad but in Spanish, I was like oh lord… is that acceptable here? I’ve also heard many children say things like this to their parents and grandparents in the metro. So it got me thinking is this acceptable here to say exactly what you want to any age range? Because in every situation I’ve never heard someone scold them for doing that.  I was really appalled when one of them told their grandma to shut up, because she was giving the youngest one clues on how to win, so they said “Grandma, shut up” Once again if I were to ever do that in America I would be scolded and personally it doesn’t feel right to say it. So I’m still wondering are these children disrespectful or is it okay to say things like that to your elders

The check

Today, for about what feels like the one-hundredth time, I accidently walked out of a cafe yet again without paying. I had just gotten out the door and started walking toward the metro stop when I realized. I let out a gasp that was followed by me frantically turning around and running back into the café. A worker who did not even seem to notice greeted me, and I then paid for my coffee, and returned to the metro stop. This is a situation that has happened to me more times than I would like to admit and, although I always realize and return to the café/restaurant to pay for what I consumed very shortly after I walk out, it brings a cultural difference between the United States and Spain to the surface. That cultural difference is the service. In the United States, the waiters in café’s, restaurants, etc. greet you and seat you right when you walk in, they usually bring you water right away and ask if you would like anything else to drink, and then when they bring you those drinks, they take your order, and then bring you your food as soon as they can. In addition to this, as you are eating your food, they check in with you usually 1 to 3 times asking how you are doing and if you need/would like anything else. They then bring you your check when you appear to be finished eating. In Spain, the service is very different. Usually I have to approach a waiter in the restaurants and ask them where I should sit, and usually it takes them a long time to come up to me and ask me what I would like to drink/eat. They then do not bring the check to you automatically, but instead, they wait until you ask them for it. This difference has taken a lot of getting used to, and at first it was frustrating to just want to order my food, or to just want to order the check, and have to wait until I can get someone’s attention. Apparently, I am still not used to it completely after all this time, because I still leave café’s without paying by accident because nobody bothers me for the check! I believe that this ties back into the food culture in Spain and the pace of life of Spain. In Spain, people, in general, are not in as much of a rush as people in America, and they take their time to complete most of their tasks, including eating. They also place a lot of importance on food, and they consider meals more than just times to eat, but instead times to socialize with other people and enjoy the company of others. 

The final blog post

Well, I figured to day is as good a day as any to write my final blog post, being that I have not felt so American in the 9 weeks that I have been here as I do today. And that is truly saying something considering people still stare and catcall at us as we walk down the streets. I have had so many people tell me I look Irish it's not even fun anymore to tell them I'm American. I am currently sitting at the Puerta de Jerez metro station with a venti pumpkin spice latte on ice in yoga pants and a tank top sweating bullets because even though it is October 28th it's still hot as all get out here. Needless to say I still don't feel entirely comfortable here. I have gotten used to life and the day to day way that this city and its people function. It has brought me some fun memories, like my friends and I having drinks and gummy candy at the Festival de Las Naciones, and some hard memories that I will never forget, like the crushing homesickness of knowing that I won't hug my family for close to four months or a man not taking I'm not interested for an answer. I know that my time here has changed me, even only halfway through, and I know it's not done with me yet. As I sit here in the shade and reflect I know that I am improving in my Spanish, if only marginally, and am satisfied with how my grant is progressing even if no one is emailing me back. These were my major contract goals going into this experience. But they are one single drop in the entire darn bucket of this experience. I have made more progress learning about myself here in 2 months than in 20 years in the states. The stares of others don't phase me as they did, I don't care if that man walking next to me thinks I am being too loud or that others on the metro laugh at my laugh. I will tell off that creep that catcalls me, or worse, makes my friends feel uncomfortable walking in their own neighborhood. 

And to that guy who openly stared at me as I was writing this yes I know I don't look like your friends, your family, your teachers, bosses, etc. I know my hair is strange and no one wears these pants. Thank you for staring and have a great day. 

Ariel in the Breeze

                Coming here in September I already knew that clothes dryers were not very common in Seville, because of the weather and the cost of electricity.  I had no problem with the idea; my family uses a clothesline for our clothing as well.  I knew it was a good thing because my jeans and yoga pants wouldn’t shrink and my clothes wouldn’t get stretched out.  But I didn’t know that I would experience a feeling like shock the first time I saw my clothing on that line out in our apartment’s courtyard. 

                I was sitting and doing homework or reading and went to open my window on a very hot day, only to see outside my room, a very full clothesline.  On this clothes line were at least three pairs of my underwear and my Little Mermaid nightshirt.  Fantastic.  I could not believe that now all of our neighbors knew what I wear when I am sleeping and what kind of underwear I prefer.  I could not figure out why this was so shocking.  I had been putting my clothing on a line for years and never felt this before. 

                I think maybe I felt this way because at home it’s no one’s business what I wear when I want to be comfortable, or what my panties look like, because they are the most personal items of clothing that a person owns.  At home my clothes are on a private clothesline that is shared by my family.  Here, in our apartment complex, each floor has a separate clothesline hanging in a shared courtyard, where everyone including me, hangs our clothing.  Now everyone knows that a twenty year old woman, who wears mostly black, has bright purple underwear and an Ariel and Flounder nightshirt.  There is no true idea of private here, and not necessarily in a bad way.  Windows to kitchens bathrooms and bedrooms all open up into one acoustically appealing space for everyone to hear, whether that is an intense phone conversation or a concert in the shower happening two stories up. 

                I think this is a good way to open up our, or at least my, comfort zone.  I am not one to share feelings, thoughts, or much of anything else.  This is a way that I feel I have opened up to my neighbors, and they to me, in a way that is kind of intimate, but also very innocent.  At the very least it was an eye-opener and a very funny story back home!

Cursing

In my three-months living in Sevilla, Spain I have noticed that many Spaniards have a very colorful vocabulary. Upon my arrival I quickly learned that the word “joder” can be heard in conversation almost as often as the word “vale.” Not only will you hear adults using curse words, but you can often hear them come out of the mouths of children and professors in the classroom! Many Spaniards seem to lack a filter when it comes to using curse words in formal, professional or everyday contexts. 

The use of curse words is much more of a taboo in the United States. If an individual were to use a curse word as frequently as Spaniards do, that person would be seen as uneducated or vulgar because they cannot seem to find a better word to use. Moreover, if a person were to swear in a professional or formal setting they would receive an adverse reaction from others. Although not all Americans would agree that swearing is so taboo, there is often an innate desire for curse words to be censored and avoided in certain contexts. 

Although many American students are taken aback by the colorful language of the Spaniards, it is admirable that they have the freedom to say whatever they want when they want to.

Spanish Youth vs. American Youth

In my three-month home stay in Seville, I have observed many interesting things about family dynamics and social norms. During my semester here, I have been living with a middle-age couple and their nineteen year-old daughter. In the household, the mother and father fully support the daughter financially, don’t require her to do household chores and allow her to do whatever she pleases. Over time, I learned that all of my friends staying with host families had similar experiences and it is common for young people to continue these practices until they get married or move-out of their parents’ house when they are in their mid to late twenties. 

Conversely, in America there is a pressure for young people to get a part-time job, help pay for college, and often support themselves from the age of eighteen, sometimes even younger. Many American parents have the expectation that their child will move out of the house once they attend or graduate from college.

Initially, I was very jealous of Spanish youth because it seemed as though they did not have to worry about any financial responsibilities or household duties. After discussing the cultural differences between American and Spanish family dynamics with my host father, I learned that although Spanish youth may seem spoiled or malcriado is because social and economic circumstances often prevent them from branching out. The poor economy, lack of job opportunities and strong familial ties all contribute to Spanish youth living at home much later than youth of other cultures. 

Although there are many differences in family dynamics between Spanish and American cultures, it is simply not possible to compare the two societies. The differences in upbringings create individuals with distinct experiences, values and beliefs which ultimately make each culture unique. 

Gun control, by Danielle Curry

The topic of gun control is one of the more meaningful differences between Spain and the US. We know guns are legal, and often easily accessible, in the US while gun ownership in Spain is restrictive and not a right.[1] However, we may not know just how prevalent gun violence is in the US compared to other “rich western countries,” as visualized in the graph below.[2]

Having been asked to comment on this topic, I didn’t know where to start. Gun control can be a heated one, especially in conservative hometowns like mine, so I’ve really avoided it all together. In my research, I found visualizations like the one above, showing us just how far away the US is in gun violence from our peers. It’s seems like a joke. I then think of the mass shootings we hear about over the years, carried out even by high school students. Many factors go into these shootings, but often it seems the mere availability of guns to the shooters is what facilitates and enables their actions.

If guns are so dangerous to have around the house[3], why do so many Americans cling to them? I wanted to understand what it’s like to be a steadfast defender of the 2^nd Amendment. Looking into the average gun defender’s mind, I see that protection, recreation, and social-cultural pressures are their strongest motives, conscious of it or not.[4] For those who want easy gun access, shooting is simply fun. In addition, it allows the user to feel strong, and masculine, and integrated in their local or regional culture. I believe both of these reasons are completely unacceptable for use in the gun control debate, when we keep in mind the accidental and intentional harm currently resulting from guns. Reading about these reminds me of my own friends from home who have mentioned their gun control views, which I didn’t consider before.

Instead, I am concerned with the gun advocate’s perception of safety.  It’s ironic how here I argue that gun restriction will make us safer, and gun advocates firmly believe the exact opposite. They seem to perceive a world in which the only person who can surely protect you and your family is yourself, not any government or police.  Either way, we are not safe, but what we can do to make both sides see the same picture of a safe country, state, town?

I’ve heard dads of friends talking about their guns in the garage much like their car or boat – a shiny toy to be proud of. I’ve also watched a male family member, who was intentionally shot, in turn purchase his own gun for future protection. Maybe if the unstable person who shot him hadn’t had a gun around in the first place, it would have never happened. Maybe it wouldn’t have advanced the cycle of perceived need for gun ownership.

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[1] https://www.loc.gov/law/help/firearms-control/spain.php

[2] http://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/14/upshot/compare-these-gun-death-rates-the-us-is-in-a-different-world.html?_r=0

[3] https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/psych-unseen/201510/the-psychology-guns

[4] https://www.theguardian.com/science/brain-flapping/2015/oct/07/gun-demanding-control-firearms-psychology

Homeless in Sevilla

I grew up in Los Angeles, where there is a large population of homeless, but also a growing amount of resources for this group. I have had a lot of experience interacting with homeless in the States as my family and I annually participate in an organization which packs duffle bags of survival goods and hand-delivers them to the homeless. In addition, experience is inevitable because the homeless, especially in Santa Monica, are very interactive, many with mental illnesses and have no fear screaming at you, getting in your face, even touching you. Only a few months ago, a homeless man fatally stabbed a woman outside a Starbucks a few blocks from my home. I found that the homeless in Seville are also interactive but they are not as physically and verbally aggressive, and their begging-tactics differ. Many try to sell small items such as tissues or rosemary/herbs. I have also seen that there are less incidences of substance abuse with the homeless in Sevilla than in the States- I distinctly recall one instance in LA when a homeless person knocked on my door, begging, and my mom made him an elaborate lunch whilst he waited outside. Upon receiving it, he said “actually, I really just want a beer.” I feel this would not have been a reaction among the Sevillan homeless. One striking difference between the homeless here and in the US is their presence in restaurants and other establishments. In the states, homeless rarely enter restaurants and cafés to beg, and are immediately kicked out upon doing so. In Sevilla, I have found that the homeless enter and beg in hotels, restaurants, and cafes often without being kicked out. Just yesterday, I had an interesting experience in a nice coffee shop right by Puerta de Herez. I had a small glass pitcher of coffee with cup, and a homeless man went up to me with a plastic cup asking for some of my coffee. I said no, sorry, and went back to studying, but he stayed and proceeded to take my pitcher and pour my coffee in his cup. The entire cafe stared in shock as the owner yelled at him whilst he was in the act, with him protesting “why not? it’s not a big deal!” (in Spanish), and only leaving when the owner, who was female, began physically pushing him out of the cafe. This interaction really got me thinking about homeless here and how rates differ from the US and how their resources may differ.

My time here in Spain is almost over

I honestly cannot believe that my time here in Spain is almost over. Yes, I am so excited to go back home to see my family and celebrate the holidays with them. But I am also sad to leave this place that I made my home for a short four months. Abroad was an experience for me that was once of a lifetime. My goal for abroad was to see as much as possible, and I really believe I met that goal. In these months I traveled to almost ten different countries while seeing different parts of Spain. School was something that I did not focus as much on. I know I was “studying” abroad but I felt that I could learn more with the more I experienced. I loved every experience that I encountered and I want to thank all my family, my friends in Seville, my host family and Europe for making all of this possible.

As sad as it is to leave, I am so excited to go back to the United States. I am excited to know the language, because I am so bad at Spanish. I am excited to see my family and celebrate the holidays and tell them about my experience. I am excited to eat my mom’s home cooked meals and have more vegetables and fruits. I’m just really excited to get back to my normal life because my time here abroad, has really been a dream.

Spanish and American eating customs

In American culture breakfast is said to be the most important meal of the day, but in Spain, breakfast is the least important. Many Spaniards skip breakfast, but if they do have breakfast it will be something small. It usually consists of a tostada and a cup of coffee or freshly squeezed zumo. In American, our breakfast portions are a lot bigger. There are restaurants that are known for their “traditional” American breakfasts, which include lots of eggs, a side of more protein (bacon, sausage, ham), hash browns, cheese and a stack of pancakes or french toast. In Spain lunch is the most important meal of the day. It consists of several courses starting with soup, followed by something heavier like paella or meat, then desert and bread is always on the table. Lunch is a social event that takes up a lot of time and may be followed by a siesta. In America, lunch is usually on the go. We have fast food and drive-thru’s even in coffee shops that cater to our faster paced lifestyles. Spaniards also have dinner a lot later than Americans do. This could be because Spain is a collectivistic culture, and a later dinner could be so that all the family members are home to eat together. Based on my experiences, a lot of American families don't have a set dinner time or even sit down for dinner together. 

Drinking in Sevilla

I’ve noticed that in Spain drinking is a social thing. It seems that Spanish people are always drinking, but drinking in Spain is to socialize, not to get drunk. Spaniards often meet at bars to talk with friends and family and drink less over a longer period of time. They get "happier", feel more relaxed, and may get tipsy if they take it too far. They try to avoid getting drunk, since it is looked frowned on in the culture. In America, the goal is to get drunk fast. It usually starts with “pregaming” with your friends at home before moving to bar or club where you’ll continue to drink. Americans encourage each other to drink more and more until they blackout and wake up the next day without any memory of how they ended up back home. You don't have to drink like its a competition to have fun. Spaniards do enjoy going out and having a drink, but during my whole time in Sevilla I can’t remember a single time I saw a Spaniard stumbling around drunk and making a scene on the street. As for Americans, there are countless times

The Pace of Life in Sevilla, by Maxine Sachar

            One thing that I have really come to appreciate about Sevilla throughout my time here is the slowed down pace of life. I, personally, feel that, in America, life is “go go go” all the time. One example is that, in America, it is expected that the majority of people will go to school until they are eighteen, and then right after school they will move out of their house and go to college, and then right after college they will either go to grad school or get a job. This is the lifestyle I was brought into, and I have never second-guessed it. I have just assumed that that is how my life will play out because that is how it has for nearly everyone I grew up with. I have noticed that here in Spain it is different. In my homestay, my host parents have two sons, both my age, both in college, who still live at home. I have heard the same from the majority of other people who also live in homestays. From what I have gathered, it is much more common here in Spain for people my age to live at home while in college that in the United States. This is a big difference that I have noticed, and it ties into the pace of life here, because there are not in nearly as much of a rush to move out their houses than people are in the United States. I have also noticed the slower pace of life here in less significant observations. When I go out to eat at a restaurant with my host mom, we always stay there for at least two hours, continuing to talk while ordering more tapas and more drinks. When I am walking down the street, I very rarely see people carrying coffee or to-go cups with drinks in them. These things I have noticed are very different from the United States, where almost everybody takes their coffee to go, and usually when I eat at a restaurant with family and friends, we spend no more than an hour there. In general, I have noticed that, here in Spain, people take their time and they are not in such a rush when it comes to the smaller things such as eating and drinking coffee, and the more significant things such as moving out their houses to start their lives.

Smiling at strangers, by Shea Geary

As I entered Seville in early September with a bus full of American students our program director spoke with us about some cultural norms we may very soon become aware of. These norms included things such as eating times and wearing shoes in our homestay when were are not in our rooms which are two that seemed easy enough to adjust to, but then she began talking about some of the norms of body language we may face, especially in social settings such as at restaurants/bars. The director said that something she loves about our American culture is how much we smile, on the streets, at strangers, in our daily life overall, but she said we needed to be aware of how smiling can be interpreted differently in Spain because it is less common to smile at a stranger and we had to be careful to not give someone “the wrong idea.” This came as a huge surprise to me especially because I already knew Spanish culture was overall much more affectionate than American culture, I assumed smiling fell into that same category.  As I walked around Seville during my first weeks abroad I noticed a huge lack of people smiling at strangers. I may be an especially friendly person in that I will often smile at someone on the street even when I don't know them. Of course there is no right and wrong way to act around strangers, I simply have found that in Seville it is different, people are more likely to hug or kiss when they greet each rather than smile. This is a piece of culture they may be affecting me because it is clear that I am not Spanish, resulting in people being less friendly. This is an observation that myself and many of my peers have made and find to be a big difference from what we are used to experiencing at home. I also have noticed that not smiling doesn't mean someone feels negatively towards you, it just means they don’t feel strongly enough to smile. 

Hand-sanitizer

So I realized that people here are not as concerned with the daily germs we face through out the day as people are back in the United States. A good example I have is that I do not see a single person with the mini hand-sanitizers on their purses or book bags. That is something that is so common to see when you are out and about in the city, at least in my city of Boston. I was sitting at a bar with my sister and I had my hand-sanitizer hanging from my book bag. I went to use the bathroom and there was no soap for me to wash my hands so I went to my seat and used it right away. And to my surprise the man sitting next to me actually asked me what it was. He was very surprised when I told him what it was and he thought I had a phobia of germs because I carried it with me. But in reality I do not carry it because I have a phobia but because it is just common to have one back home. That little encounter made me think twice about owning it afterwards to be honest. If a whole other group of people can live with out it then I should be able to too I guess.

Tap Water please

Water is a resource that people need to live, right? So why when we live in a country that has tap water that is drinkable do we not get free water at restaurants? This is something that has really surprised me and sort of angered me. When I try to ask for “agua del grifo” to a waiter or waitress, they say that they do not have it. It just constantly surprises me because in the United States it is a right not a privilege to receive water at a restaurant and it comes right away when we first sit down. I wonder if it is just a Spanish thing because when traveling to Barcelona, Madrid, Toledo and other places I have received bottled water when ordering water; but in Sweden I received free tap water. I understand that giving an actually bottle of water seems more “high class” or “fancy” which going out to a dinner can be considered, but I think if one asks specifically for a tap water they should receive it. 

I do not want to be the environmentalist here as well, but the extra use of plastic bottles due to this issue is also harming our environment. This is something that I have become more aware of because of global warming and I want save our earth. So this is something that bothers because of the amount of plastic that gets into the oceans or is not thrown away properly. Therefore, I think this issue of not getting tap water at meals is an annoying issue that is present here in Spain.

The tall red tower by Danielle Curry

During my time in Sevilla, it’s been difficult not to notice the city’s tallest building, Cajasol Tower. I remember seeing it for the first time. At midday, the colored frame appeared to be terracotta with teal blue windows, perfect color wheel opposites . It has a circular base and seemed like a modern reference to the Tower of Pisa. I remember being blown away. I found this building so intentional and stunningly beautiful, I couldn’t stop looking at it.

Loving the building as much as I do, imagine my surprise to hear my host mom say she absolutely hates it. But WHY? How could you hate a building, especially one that’s so cool and makes your city look great?  I asked a Spanish friend the next week. Same thing. Complete hatred. Gut reactions brought me to question: do Sevillanos have an aversion to modernity or progress? I figured maybe they are obsessed with their past and uninterested in their future.

I started asking everyone. Up to this point in my semester, I haven't found one Sevillano who enjoys the tower. What I have found is that Sevillanos identify strongly with the cathedral.  When they look at a painting or a movie, or as they drive into Sevilla, they see their home city upon view of the Giralda. To them, a modern glass and iron building doubling the Giralda’s size reshapes their city, possibly leading a future of buildings that hide the Giralda, or the true Sevilla.

Speaking the Language, by Sarah Newhall

Upon coming to Spain, I was very excited to develop my Spanish speaking skills by talking to the locals but it didn’t go quite as planned. More times than I can count, I have made an effort to speak in Spanish to the locals and they don’t understand me no matter how hard I try so I resort to speaking English which they end up understanding more than they did my Spanish. In a way, this has turned into learned helplessness and taught me that sometimes, it’s better to just speak in English instead of making the effort. Initially, I thought this was because I was saying the wrong words or pronouncing them in a strange way but when I would go home and look it up, everything I said was right. Something else that happens a lot is when I speak Spanish to people, they understand me but respond in English. When this happens, we both end up talking in our nonnative languages and the conversations stay more surface level. I’m assuming that people’s responses to my Spanish speaking are an attempt to help me or make it easier but because of it, I worry that I am not learning as much. Despite this, I have still been trying to learn a lot and have had many successful conversations with Spanish speaking people and I hope to continue to learn more Spanish.

“the regular”, by Sarah Newhall

Building off the person who talked about “the regular” in restaurant settings here, I have another observation about dining out that I have noticed while being abroad. Although I have noticed this more in Sevilla and in other places in Spain than in other places around Europe, I don’t know if this is a coincidence or if it is actually culturally specific to life in Spain. When I go out to eat, it seems as if many of the waiters and waitresses have a general disinterest in whether or not you are happy with the service or the food. It is often difficult to even get their attention when you want to order, need the check, or want another drink because they aren’t looking around the room to see if anyone needs anything. Once I manage to get their attention to ask a question, often times, the servers generally seem very bothered and put out to take the time to talk to me. This more often than not, results in them walking away from me mid-answer so that if I ever did have a follow up question or even wanted to say thank you, that wouldn’t be an option. At least twice when I have inquired about how big a portion was or what the dish came with, the server answered in such a rude way that it discouraged me from asking them anything again. Often, even when I have to ask for silverware or a napkin, I feel like I am putting them out and they are annoyed. Normally, I would feel that because I am making a purchase, paying for the food and service, then I should be able to ask for what I need but since being in Spain, I have become much more timid whenever I am in a dining situation due to the attitudes of the servers. This is not to say that I haven’t had great experiences eating out and that I haven’t had servers who were very attentive and interested in making sure I was happy. The negative experiences here just seem to be building up more here than they do in the United States. I would be interested in whether this is a cultural thing, a reaction to something I am doing, or just a series of unlucky encounters.

Taking it for Granted

This weekend I had two friends studying abroad come visit me here in Seville, one from Prague and the other from Florence. I was so excited to show them my little study abroad world here in Seville but also a little nervous. I wondered, “Will they like it as much as I do?” “Will they be able to see the culture and traditional values?” “Will they think it’s as fun and exciting to be here as I do?” So many questions ran though my head and now that they are both on flights out of Seville, I can say I had one of the best weekends of my trip because I was able to see Seville through the same lens I had upon arrival. My friends were constantly commenting on how lively and engaging the locals are as well as the employees of tapas bars and restaurants who loved to strike up conversations with us. I realize these last few weeks of being here I have taken for granted all the amazing things Seville has to offer. I’ve been too Plaza de España plenty of times but this time I actually took a moment to just sit and take in its beauty. We strolled through Parque de Maria Luisa and admired how lush and green it is in there amongst fellow travelers as well as locals spending quality time with family and friends. I usually don’t eat out because I have a host mom but I know some of some great tapas bars and traditional Spanish restaurants. When I took my friends to these places they were amazed at how easy it was to find local places that served traditional food as opposed to fast food or more modernized restaurants. Overall I had a great weekend showing them around and it was the wake up call I needed to remind me that I am so lucky to get to spend this time living in such an amazing place and as the trip quickly comes to an end I want to be more present and aware of my surroundings, because here in Seville they are truly amazing.

Halloween Experience in Sevilla

I didn’t expect to celebrate Halloween in Spain, especially with Spaniards, as it is a major holiday in the US brought by the Irish, and not a traditional holiday for Spain, but there I was, at a Botellón in the Alameda surrounded by hundreds of locals in costume. As expected, I found that Halloween is celebrated quite differently here, though this perhaps could be attributed to the fact that there aren't as many suburban parts of Sevilla where there are homes that provide an easy way to trick-or-treat. I saw that in general, more young children dress up than do adults and adolescents, which is largely the same in the US. However, I was surprised that the costumes worn by those who were adults or young adults, for both genders, were much scarier than the majority of costumes worn by the same age group in the US. In fact, as I was leaving my apartment building, there was a young-appearing man who was wearing a very creepy mask that covered the mouth and nose, who proceeded to chase me and my friend to scare us for entertainment until the point where we were screaming so loudly that my all of my neighbors in my apartment came outside to see what was going on. There was one older woman who was calmly staring at the ordeal as we continued to scream for the masked man to stop, and then after about 5 minutes when he stopped, she walked over to us, revealed that it was her 13 year old son and then had him apologize. I found it so bizarre that she didn't do anything whilst he was in the act, but I digress.

 Any who, in my experience, in the States there is a huge emphasis on “sexy” costumes for women and especially university students, but the “sexy” costumes I saw worn on halloween were worn by transgender and gay youths who I actually spoke to at the botellón (who told me of their sexual orientation without me asking, I wasn’t just assuming). This group I spoke to shared with me that a large majority of young adults who were dressed up at the alameda either identified as gay or transgender or were part of a group that is accepting of those individuals, which is both surprising and interesting. Overall, the night was a memorable cultural learning experience and it was fun to see how the American halloween culture is assimilated here and who is most influenced by it. 

The Locals

From the moment I arrived to Sevilla in September, I noticed the welcoming nature of the people. Interestingly, I am not referring to the regular passerby on the street or to my homestay family who has taken me in these past months.  I am most referring to the nature of the seemingly large young population of Sevilla that, in my mind, is the most accepting of American students. Throughout this semester, my friends and I have had the privilege to meet a variety of locals in the restaurants, cafes, and bars in Sevilla. All are around our age, and they all instantly invite us out with them and their friends, get our numbers, and actually follow through in texting us to meet up and go out together. We speak with them in Spanish, and almost as intercambios, they challenge us to say knew phrases and learn new words as we go back and forth throughout the night in communication. Oftentimes, I am struck by their extent of friendliness. I imagine myself in their shoes in the states, and I know that I would never extend the same amount of friendliness to a foreign student in my own city of Chicago. I might interact with them in the bars or restaurants and ask how their time is while travelling abroad, however, I know for a fact that I would never think to invite them out with my friends and I so that I could play hostess for a night. The concept is so new to me in fact, that whenever I do meet another local who wants to go out or receive a text from one who is trying to coordinate plans I never want to take it for granted. I love this aspect of the culture, and I think it is so special to see people my age—who have no responsibility or tie to me—being so welcoming and engaging. I think it is one of the best aspects of Sevilla.

The "regular"

Something that I’ve noticed with almost every tapa’s bar I’ve visited in Seville is the “regular” customer priority. At first I didn’t understand what was going on. I would be waiting on a list to be seated and other people would walk up and be immediately seated. Other times I would be waiting for food for what seemed like forever and I would see a person or group that arrived much later than me happily eating away. Thinking somewhat ethnocentrically, I thought they must dislike tourists here or treat the locals with much better service. After a lesson in my pop culture class, I realized that these bars and restaurants were simply taking care of their long-time regular customers, which is a very novel concept for an American. When an employee sees a customer that they have served many times before they are inclined to seat them first or treat them exceptionally well because the Spanish people are very big on maintaining relationships. In the states you would hardly ever see this behavior because employees are very concerned with tips from each and every customer so everyone is treated the same. Although I think both styles of interacting with customers have their pros and cons, I have enjoyed attempting to become a regular at certain places in Seville to enjoy this unique custom. 

The most important meal of the day, Landon Feuerstein

When I first arrived in Spain, I was traveling with my abroad program for about a week. We were constantly on the move and never really had time for breakfast. By the time I had gotten to Sevilla, I was very ready to finally have a nice sit down breakfast. At first, my host mother would just serve me toast with some olive oil on it. After about a week of this, I started to get worried. How long would this go on for? Would I ever get to eat a real breakfast in Sevilla? The answer to the former: Yes, it is still going on. I guess being brought up in the united states we are constantly told “breakfast is the most important meal of the day” and so we eat accordingly. It is basically seen as eating enough food to “fuel” your body the rest of the day. I figured the rest of the world felt this way as well. I am now on month 3 in Sevilla and have realized I was very wrong (and naive) when I thought the rest of the world valued breakfast as much as us Americans do. I have finally become accustomed to the toast and olive oil for breakfast, however, that doesn't mean I don't crave a nice breakfast burrito with bacon, egg, and cheese…daily.

The slower pace, by Landon Feuerstein

Another aspect of Sevilla i had to become (i am still not fully) accustomed to is the slower pace. Coming from New York City, nobody even has time to breathe. When i decided that I’d be coming to Sevilla, one of the most popular cities in the world, i thought the pace be around the same as it is in Manhattan. Again, i was very wrong. While there are parts of the city and certain people that move very quickly, there seems to be an underlying la-dee-da type of mentality. Punctuality isn't nearly as big here as it is in New York, most people don't seem to be in a rush to go anywhere, and its almost as if everyone is on their own clock— yet somehow it manages to work. I find myself walking in the streets much faster than everyone else, constantly passing people. I find myself being early to meetings while other people casually show up 10-15 minutes late as if nothing happened. I find myself rapidly completing tasks in order to move on to the next one, just like every other New Yorker. But thats not how it is here, the Spanish value down time and value a slower lifestyle much more than anyone else i know.

Bull Fighting: Views from an American Outsider by Zack Abu-shanab

On September 25^th I attended the Bullfight in Seville. I personally do not agree with the practice, but I felt it necessary to participate to understand the culture. After 3 hours, 6 dead bulls, and a lot of images that were hard to stomach, I found myself disgusted and confused. How could these people cheer as these animals were slaughtered for a sport? How could a culture support this type of practice? It made no sense, yet I looked towards America and made connections to Dog Fighting. It is not man vs dog like the bull fighting is, but it is a type of sport that puts two beings against together to the death. In my opinion it is horrible, yet in the eyes of some people it’s a great sport. Another thing that I acknowledged was that not everyone enjoyed the sport in itself. People seemed to be split in their reviews. My homestay, for example, dislikes the sport and was horrified when I mentioned that I was going to the event. Others, predominately the older generations, seemed to like it and even cheered the loudest during the event. In the future I see this type of practice dying or maybe adapting in a way that the bull doesn’t die. I recognized the cultural difference, thus the reason why I can’t be too critical of it. 

City of Seville vs City of Chicago, by Zack Abu-shanab

   Chicago and Seville are very different in the ways that they carry out their daily lives. In Seville, I have found a “home” so to speak. The people in Seville are warm and often are happy to talk to you. The traffic, though a bit hectic at first, is the only place in the world in which I found works so well. In some work of a miracle, horse drawn tours, trains, taxis, buses, cars, bikes, and pedestrians all somehow share the same streets and very little accidents. These characteristics are not found in Chicago. In Chicago, the people are a lot more aggressive, I rarely have the opportunity to strike up a conversation because everyone is rushing everywhere. In my time I spend using transportation in Chicago, I have never felt comfortable driving because of the amount of people that drive like maniacs. The pedestrians are constantly running and screaming at each other. Now imagine trying to jam horse drawn tours and a train that was run in the middle in the road instead of being elevated. It would be impossible. And taking into the factor that the roads in the states are a lot wider, letting up to 4-5 lanes at times. Here in Spain, some of the roads are so tight, I am amazed in how some of the vehicles are fitting in. In the end, the cultures are very different for the better of their cultures. One thing is for sure, I am going to miss the type of lifestyle here in Seville.

the way people approach life in Seville, by Juliana Hudson

I’d just like to share a few aspects of my experience abroad in Sevilla so far. To begin with, I really enjoy the way people approach life here. For the most part, the people really like to enjoy things and take their time doing it. Meals here are valuable moments for the family to get together and just chat. They last a longer time and there’s never a hurry to move on to the next item on the agenda. It’s crazy to think of the difference between how people eat lunch here and in America where my mom sometimes eats lunch at her desk at work because they don’t have enough time to really eat.

I love the way people dress here. Everyone makes a conscious effort to look great in the morning. I can’t stop looking at girl’s clothes and just admiring. In my university back in Miami, while we’re known to always look good, the students there sometimes dress sloppily and it’s not appealing to be surrounded by people who don’t care enough to look a little bit nice. I believe it’s important to wake up and do our best to feel good and look good because it affects your confidence for the rest of the day.

I’m halfway through my experience abroad and I’m starting to feel it slip away. There’s still so much I feel I haven’t experienced to the fullest but I will continue to try it. Although, one thing I can say for sure is that Sevilla is a great city to spend a semester abroad because while it’s beautiful and super manageable it is also so friendly and welcoming. It’s easy to walk the streets and discover new things. I feel like Spanish culture agrees with my view on life. 

Linguistic Soup, by Carly Meador

            An interesting concept to me, is the acquisition of language through the lens of cultural psychology, social psychology, and developmental psychology. Travelling around various places in Europe, I feel as though I am swimming in language soup, and that it is always changing around me, I can never seem to adapt. I travel from Spain to Germany and I try to speak Spanish to everyone that I know cannot speak English to me, but speaking Spanish to them is a less successful means of communication. I go to France and pick up the term “merci” for thank you, and I cant seem to fit the context to the language so now I interchange, “thank you”, “gracias”, “merci”, and German “Danke”. It seems my mind is always shifting gears and I perceive my Spanish is getting worse because of it. In a cultural mishmosh I am acquiring a strange accent from who knows where. So my question is, what is the psychology of a brain shifting gears in language. How do those that speak fluently multiple languages jump around in this pool of confusion and manage to use the correct terms? What language do they think in? How do the languages run together into a sort of Spanglish, or germanch (german-french), or for the sake of cultural language soup (spanglishermanch)? Spanglishermanch is what I hear in my head and I cant even seem to make sense of my own thoughts as all these unrecognizable sounds buzz around my head. Foreign vowels, harsh constant sounds, differing gestures and body language. The struggle of communication! It is interesting to me that I have been able to deduce a person’s origin or native language based on their body language from meters away without hearing the sounds. I can see how widely they open their mouths, pick up what vowel sounds seem to be accented and formed by their lips, and although I don’t understand them or hear them, at least I can deduce an origin that’s something right? The last thing that I find quite interesting is the acquisition of language in children. Blank canvases learning from immersion in the language for their entire lives. I can see how their accents are formed in how they learn to produce each of the sounds by shaping their mouths. It is so different in every place and I am so utterly impressed by their ability to say words that I could never dream of pronouncing. Impressed by their ability to speak multiple languages already at such a young age. They’ve grown up in the cultural-lingua-mishmosh that I am finding myself in now. I would be extremely interested to see how the gears turn inside their little heads when switching between languages. Is this a simple task inert to those who learn the skill very young? Do they think in multiple languages? Is thought intrinsically linguistic or are thoughts merely ideas without a linguistic form? All questions of a budding cultural psychologist.

Difference in Hygiene: hypersensitive or under-sanitary?, by Carly Meador

In coming to Sevilla, I have observed major differences in the concept of hygiene as compared to the United States, particularly in schools. In the US, hygiene is a major concern particularly in public places in order to prevent illness. In schools, there are signs posted all over the restrooms that advise kids to wash their hands and take sanitary precautions in order to avoid catching the flu, or a common cold. In Sevilla, schools don’t provide soap, or toilet paper in the public restrooms. I have observed this in the University but also in the elementary school that I volunteered in for younger kids. Young kids playing in the park are allowed to use the street as the toilet because this is deemed as more hygienic for the children than using a public restroom might be. It would be an interesting study to compare the amount of children who get the flu in the United States versus a city like Sevilla, to analyze which method is better for our health. This is particularly interesting to me, because I have gotten very sick the past few days due to differences in hygiene and diet, but its possible that I am hypersensitive.

            Is it possible, that by exposing kids at all ages to more bacteria and “germs”, that kids build up stronger immune systems and are less likely to get sick during flu season than more sheltered children? Or do children who take better care of their hygiene (ex washing hands more frequently), generally get sick less than the children who don’t practice such rigorous hygiene routines? So the question remains, are American students “sheltered” and “hypersensitive”? Have we been cultured to need our “personal bubble” in order to maintain our health? Or is this sheltering good for our the maintenance of our health? Is there a “right” way, Or have we just been conditioned?