It's the strangest thing to watch the sun set and rise within the same 8 hour plane ride... like the plane is racing the sun to the horizon on opposite sides of the earth. It's even stranger to look out the window into the night and see the big dipper directly in front of you, like a picture on the wall, rather than up in the sky where you expect it to be. You are up in the sky with it. You are among the stars.
When I arrived in Barcelona, I had not slept yet. I then had a 6 hour layover in the airport, so I ended up sitting around at an empty gate, eating fruit, and struggling with my rudimentary Spanish. Listening was much easier than I thought it would be, but I quickly discovered that my speaking skills were in serious need of improvement. I basically suck.
While waiting for my flight, I sat in one of the empty gates and listened to my iPod and played Spider Solitaire on my computer for awhile. And then a guy sat down across from me, but not close enough that I felt uncomfortable. So I just continued to make faces at my game and tap my foot to the music. After about a half hour, he comes up to me and begins speaking in Spanish.
"Is that your computer? Do you have a lot of battery life left on it?"
I did NOT know where he was going with this. But I said Yes.
"Do you mind if I plug in my iPod to your computer? I have my cable and everything, my next flight is really long!"
I size him up. He looks nice, friendly, doesn't give up any creeper vibe. He has a Brasil jersey on. I say, "Of course!"
"Do you speak English?" he asks. I say yes, so we switch to English. One of the many amazing things about people abroad... switching the languages in which you communicate, as well as their generally outgoing attitudes towards others. We ended up talking for about 2 hours, near the end of which my sleepless night caught up to me and I began to get dizzy, so we walk around for a while and I discover how expensive the Euro actually is... All I can afford is fruit!
Eventually we say goodbye and I head off to my gate, where I meet about 5 people who are also part of the CIEE program. By the time we arrive in Seville, take the bus to the hotel, shower and attend the Welcome session put on by our program, it's 7:45 and time for cocktails that the hotel has arranged for us. I finally get to eat something other than fruit, and quickly begin to make friends with the people around me, who are all at various stages in the jet lag continuum. I, for one, felt like I was on a boat and about to tip over, so my night was very short as I babbled to the other participants about how loopy I was and how I had been awake for 30 hours, then somehow made my way up to my bed.
Even though it's now Thursday and I arrived here on Monday, I am still seriously suffering from this jet lag, as the second night I was here I couldn't fall asleep, and last night I was out late!
But on to Sevilla. Sevilla is absolutely beautiful. Whenever we walk around, I can't help but think, "I'm actually here. This is real. I feel like I'm in a movie!" Some of the streets are so narrow that only pedestrians can make it through them, and sometimes places you wouldn't think cars could fit somehow make their way through without becoming scraps of metal. There are shutters on some of the windows, plants hanging out of others, all the buildings are painted different colors, the streets are made of stones... there is an amazing and HUGE church that has some of the most intricate designs on it, and it's size and beauty are shocking in the best way. We have ordered tapas (small appetizer-like dishes that you usually get with drinks, costing around 1-2 Euros) several times now, and all I can say is that the Spaniards love their mayonnaise, potatoes, ham and bread... the staple foods of their diet, or at least this is what I have experienced so far.
We went to a flamenco show last night, and this dance seems to reflect Spain and it's unique culture.. it's fierce, sensual and beautiful. The best way I can describe it is as a mix of belly-dancing, clogging/tap-dancing, snapping and sharp movements... I was exhausted when we got to the show, but as soon as it started I was enthralled and wide awake. I couldn't stop watching their feet... I was going to try to take a flamenco class but now I'm a little intimidated by it! By the time the show was over, it was 11:30but I had no desire to go back to the hotel, as I was all pumped up from the show, so a couple of the participants and I went and had a bottle of wine.
The orientation classes have been really helpful, but I'm ready to get going! They told us that we should have about 1-2 token American friends that we can go to when we get homesick or just want some American time, but in general, if we want our Spanish to improve we should stick to hanging out with Spanish people. I feel like I have made that friend, and I'm glad I have someone who I can go to if I feel that I need help or just want to travel to another city and need someone to go with. Her name is also Ashley and she also is from Oregon, so we have a lot in common!
I dont know if you can tell by my writing (I certainly can), but I'm still absolutely exhausted and dead on my feet (Estoy hecha polvo, in Spanish). Tomorrow I leave for my town at 7:30 in the morning, so I assume that I will once again be stumbling through the fog that is sleeplessness, at least for one more day. I'm excited for this weekend because I will get to sleep AS LONG AS I WANT, and maybe be able to skype my family for the first time since I arrived, and of course explore my new home!
Well, I'm off to walk another half an hour into the Centro to have dinner for the last time with the great people I've met here. Hopefully I dont pass out into an ice cream stand before I get there. Hasta luego!
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