Background.

So when I created this blog I wanted it to look pretty authentic. One of the templates blogger.com gave me was for there to be a picture behind the blog. I liked that idea and one of the picture options (because I could not upload one myself) was the current picture that you see--a bull fighting ring. I thought this was appropriate because I was going to be going to Spain.



A picture of the bull fighting stadium from Giralda..

Well, this weekend I went to the top of Giralda, the large church bell tower at the center of town (more on this in a later blog). While at the top I looked to the west and saw the main bull fighting stadium in Sevilla. I thought that looked familiar. I came home and did some research and sure enough, the background picture of this blog is of the bull fighting stadium here in Sevilla.


A picture from the inside of the bull fighting stadium with Giralda in the background.

I thought that was pretty cool and thought I would share it.

Techy.

Most of you know that I spent 6 months teaching at a bilingual school in Honduras earlier this year. I had an incredible time there working with the kids and being around the family I stayed with in the small mountain community of Villa Verde. One thing amazed me about Honduras though—the technology. I remember landing in Honduras and being picked up by Mr. Rodrigo and Mr. Bran and riding in the back of Mr. Rodrigo’s truck from San Pedro to Gracias looking out the window wondering what the next 6 months would be like. As I looked out the window I saw things I’d only seen in the movies and pictures—poor homes made out of everything and anything possible. Trash all over. Stray dogs running around with kids who were wearing clothes two sizes too small, or two sizes too big. Seeing what I considered to be, and is, a developing country. However, the closer I looked the more I began to realize that the technology bubble was in full force even in Honduras. One, it was extremely common to see a “shack” of a houseand sitting on the tin roof there be a satellite dish. Even the family that I lived with in Villa Verde had a satellite (two of them actually). Two, almost everyone who was sitting outside of their homes with their satellite dish strapped to the roof had a cell phone (although I’d later call this the “ownership” of a cell phone because even if you owned one, and most Hondurans did, not everyone could afford to put “saldo” (prepaid minutes) on it and actually use it). The third thing was the fact that the other American girls that lived up in the small community with me had Internet wired into their house and a wireless router. Halfway up a mountain at 4,000 feet in rural Honduras I could check my email on my iTouch.


They're "in" the computer?

Fast forward to this week. I was reading an article in the New York Times about Apple’s new revamped iPod lineup. For those of you who don’t know the iTouch now has a built in camera which can also take HD video, just like the new iPhone 4 (minus the phone part. And for those of you interested the new Nano has a mini-touch screen now too.) With that new and very predictable addition the iTouch now has the ability to video chat through WiFi. This means I could be sitting at a café here in Sevilla with my video iTouch (Christmas present anyone?) and free WiFi, video chatting with Rachel (my lovely girlfriend) back home in the United States for free. How awesome is that?


We are becoming like Star Trek: the first iPad...

Along with the awesomeness of the new iTouch, one of the other teachers that I’ve gotten to know here purchased a flip camera before he came. Last week we walked through El Real Alcázar de Sevilla and he took several short video clips of our tour, which added up to be about 30 minutes total. He then took the flip camera, plugged it into his computer, and within 15 minutes the software he’d installed that came with his camera created a 2-minute video combining parts of all the clips he’d recorded.


The video...

As someone who loves technology and continues to drool daily over his housemate’s iPad (yes, Steven has a 64GB iPad) I am constantly amazed at the direction technology is going, not to mention the speed. From widespread use of cell phones, Internet and satellite television in developing countries, to new phones and camera’s that allow you to see others live in a handheld device when you could be halfway around the world from each other, technology is just simply awesome.

So why am I telling you all this? It’s simple—it makes being so far away from the friends and family that you love so much easier. My mom asked me the other day, while I was calling her for free using Google’s new Voice program, if I was homesick at all. I thought about the question for a short second, and responded with a rather confident “No.” Now don’t get me wrong, I love my family and I miss them, along with all my friends. But I have the ability to video chat and call them for free through my computer when I am 6 hours a head of them and an ocean away. Yes, I am in Spain, but in the new world of technology I might as well be right next-door.

Is this the only beach in Spain?

I grew up a 2-minute drive to Lake Michigan, and even before I could drive it was a 10-minute bike ride (when I was in good shape at the age of 14…). Thus, I grew up at the beach swimming and doing all the other awesome and spectacular things that go along with being so close to the beach. And if there are any doubters out there saying “Oh, Lake Michigan is a lake, not that cool or a beach (which I have heard from several East and West Coasters…)” check out these pictures:

A

B

C


Which one is Lake Michigan A, B or C? The other two are of the Atlantic and the Pacific. I can't tell either; long live Lake Michigan and its un-saltiness...

Anyway, I digress. What I am saying is that I’ve spent much time on the beach growing up dealing with crowds and fighting for towel space. That’s why I have moved towards going to smaller county and township beaches at home in West Michigan—to avoid the crowds. Well, I wished I were at one of my small township beaches this past weekend (in regards to crowds…).

After spending all day Saturday sweating in my room getting organized at my Senora’s house, me and about 10 other CIEE teachers (and two other European language students from Germany and France) decided that we were going to take the train to Cadiz and spend all day Sunday at the beach. We had been warned by multiple people that the entire city of Sevilla does this—migrates to the beach on Sundays, but we wanted to get out of the Sevilla heat.


View Larger Map
Note: We took a train, this is the path by car


At 10 o’clock Sunday morning we met at the train station, bought our tickets (round trip was 22.20 Euros) and were off by 11:15 AM. We arrived in Cadiz around 1 and made our way west from the train station where we met this:


Click on the picture for a better view of umbrella land.

I have never seen so many beach umbrellas in my life. Not only that, but the beach umbrellas went off into the horizon. We weren’t fazed—we snapped some photographs with the Atlantic behind us and trotted down towards the beach where we found some room to put down our towels. The beach itself was sandy, but from all the beach goers it was pretty dirty—from cigarettes, to plastic bottles, to random pieces of paper. This went for the water as well. However, we were all too hot to worry about that and I was the first one diving into the water.

After sitting on the beach for about an hour and half we headed up towards town where we found a pizzeria for lunch. After stuffing ourselves on a 2 for 1 deal (two 3-topping mediums for the price of 1) we headed back down to the beach, but in a different spot. Here we hung out for the next 4 hours. We walked down the beach, played Frisbee, and explored a small rock jetty near where we were sitting. This jetty gave some spectacular views of the Cadiz coastline. Enjoy.




We eventually made our way back to the train station, which left at 8:15, and we arrived back in Sevilla shortly after 10.

Consider the day seized.

Note: I want to thank my house roommate Steven Mote for the above pictures of Cadiz. I blanked and forgot my camera. Oops.

So you think you can dance?

Flamenco–noun
1. A style of dancing, characteristic of the Andalusian Gypsies, that is strongly rhythmic and involves vigorous actions, as clapping the hands and stamping the feet.
2. A style of instrumental or vocal music originating in southern Spain and typically of an intensely rhythmic, improvisatory character, performed by itself or as an accompaniment to flamenco dancing.
Source: www.dictionary.com


I have always been a Zorro fan. In fact, my mom made me a Zorro costume when I was little and I wore it for numerous Halloweens. With that said, I am a big fan of the movie The Mask of Zorro. There is a specific scene in that movie where Catherine Zeta-Jones does a flamenco dance as everyone looks upon her. Last Wednesday I was able to experience what all those spectators witnessed on the set as they watched Jones—the flamenco (relatively speaking in regards to Jones’ performance, not to take anything away from her performance that is...)

We first separated into groups to go out for tapas, basically what Spaniards call appetizers. This night in particular I had some of the best non-fish tapas I have had here in Spain (I say non-fish because many of the tapas I had up to this point were fish, and even though I wasn’t a big fish fan before I came to Spain, I am gradually expanding my taste pallets to include a few different types). We tried several different tapas at this restaurant, but there were two that blew me away—“pollo con tomate” and “queso frito.” Those are pretty easy to translate but for those of you who don’t know those are “chicken with tomatoes” (more of a stew) and “fried cheese.” Deliciousness.

After enjoying a few different plates (including calamari which I am gradually becoming a fan of) we made our way to the center of town and hung out in front of the cathedral to take pictures. We had about 30 minutes before we had to head towards the cultural center where we would be watching the flamenco.


Eventually we made our way there, stood in line, received are tickets, and shuffled into the dim lighted center courtyard of an old Spanish home where the flamenco would take place. There were five acts: (Note: the audience was only allowed to take pictures during the fifth act)

Act 1: Classical Guitar and Singing
Two men sat on the state with one playing classical guitar well the other clapped and sang. Very cool with some spectacular guitar playing and basic clap flamenco.

Act 2: Classical guitar, singing, and male dancer
The guitar player and the singer moved their chairs off stage, and were also joined by a woman. Within a couple of minutes of them playing the male flamenco dancer came on stage. It was incredible. It was a mix of crazy tap-dancing and movement of the body. Pair that with the guitar and singing in the background and it was an awesome experience.

Act 3: Classical guitar
The classical guitarist played for about 7-8 minutes. This was some incredible guitar playing that I know my brother would of really enjoyed (my brother is a big guitar player and can play a little classical guitar himself).

Act 4: Classical guitar, singing, and female dancer
The male dancer switched roles with the female dancer for this act and it was her time to shine. Again, it was an incredible performance by everyone.

Act 5: Classical guitar, singing, and both female and male dancers
This act contained more of what I traditionally though a flamenco dance would look like. The couple danced on the stage for only a few minutes while the crowd snapped pictures but it was something you may have seen Catherina Zeta-Jones and Antonio Banderas do in The Mask of Zorro.



All in all it was an incredible and entertaining night. I wish I could further explain what the flamenco was like, but it was so unique and indescribable that you would have to see it for yourself. That was the first flamenco show I have ever been to, but it will definitely not be my last here in Spain.

Hot. Very, Very Hot.

I lived in Dallas, Texas for a couple of months last year. I moved there in the middle of August and there is one thing I learned very quickly—it is hot there. Almost a year later I have moved to Spain and will be studying in Sevilla for the next 4-weeks. Again, I have learned something very quickly—it is hot.


That's me walking around Sevilla.

Since arriving here in Sevilla last week the day temperature has not been less then 100 degrees Fahrenheit. This was okay last week when I was being put up in an air-conditioned hotel by CIEE. However, I have now moved to my host Senora who does not have air conditioning and I have rapidly needed to adjust to living in a room whose temperature does not drop below 85 degrees (that is a low guess…)


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My specific location in Sevilla -- c/ Feria 150, 2


Speaking of my host Senora—I am officially moved in to where I will be living during my 4-week Spanish class. I am placed with a woman, who I guess, is in her 60s—Concepcion. I am also not the only CIEE teacher placed with her. Steven, a recent graduate of Alabama, resides in a room just down the hall from me and together we have had a great time with our Senora over the last couple of days. However, as mentioned, it’s been difficult for both of us to adjust to the heat and lack of air-conditioning, from waking up in the morning sweating to being outside in extreme heat and walking into extreme heat once we enter our house. However, we have both decided we are going to make the best of it and are really looking forward to the next 4-weeks.






Along with Steven there is also a girl from Germany living in our long hallway. Alex arrived Saturday night and will also be studying Spanish over the next 4-weeks . She speaks not only German, but pretty good English and Spanish and is hoping to start Italian at her university this fall. I put her on the list of Europeans I know who can speak multiple languages and at least two fluently. This continues to be the one thing that amazes me about the Europeans and I feel lingual-inferior (not sure if that works but its true…) because of my monolingual background. Hopefully that changes in the next 4 weeks…

I have a lot to write about over the next couple of days. From spending all day yesterday in Cadiz at the beach to the Flamenco show we went to last week during orientation. Check back tomorrow.

History Geek. Take 2.

What a whirlwind of a week. I apologize for not getting a post or two up this week but CIEE had quite the itinerary planned for us with little down time (most days we even had stuff planned during the Spanish siesta time). Let me catch you up.


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Monday my uncle brought me up to Sevilla and dropped me off at the hotel where CIEE was putting us up all week. It was about a two hour drive from Algeciras. When we arrived at the hotel I checked in and made my way up to the room. I figured I’d have a roommate and sure enough I found out I was actually in a triple. I opened the door and the lights were out—both of them were out cold. They had arrived that day and like me the week before, jet lag was winning. At 7 that night we had our welcome meeting and shortly after that we had a welcome cocktail where all of us doing the 4-week Spanish class intermingled and got to know each other. Overall it was a solid group of people from all over the country. It was going to be a fun week.
I don’t want to bore you with all of the orientation meetings we had, but in short, we had 5 hours of meetings broken up by a 30-minute coffee break on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. We went through some very useful information. After each meeting we had lunch and then had a little bit of free time. But that free time often meant we were walking around the town with a CIEE staff person showing us the city of Sevilla.



The city is absolutely incredible. It is the third or fourth largest in Spain (depending on how you determine city size…) and dates back to the Roman Empire. Most notably it became one of the capitols during the Moorish Empire and became the first capital of Christian Spain after the Moors were defeated. The churches and government buildings here are incredible and easily trump anything I saw in Honduras and Guatemala. It is amazing to think that those churches and buildings I saw in Central America are modeled after what I am seeing here in Spain—with Spain being the origin of most of the common architecture in Central America.

On Tuesday afternoon, in 100-degree heat, we had the opportunity to check out an incredible fort that dated back to the Moors. The Alcaza was a fort built by the Moors over one-thousand years ago but when the Christians defeated the Moors in Sevilla in the 15th Century they took over the fort and first tore a lot of it down (there are still two rooms and a large portion of wall that date back to the original Moorish complex) before rebuilding much of it using Moorish style architecture. It became the royal palace and capital for Spain and thrived even more when Columbus discovered the New World in 1492.

Speaking of Columbus, he spent much of his time in Sevilla before and in between trips to the New World. After his successful discovery Sevilla became his headquarters and within the Alcaza was Columbus’ first office. That was an awesome moment for me as a history geek—standing in a room that Christopher Columbus stood in over 500 years ago.

The palace itself is incredible. Like many of the buildings around Sevilla the intricacy is incredible. These pictures do not do it justice, but they try.






I apologize if you feel like you are reading a history textbook, but being around all this history makes me pretty giddy.

Anyway, its time to unpack at my home stay house, I just arrived here today and am going to settle in before I get a post up about my living conditions for the next 4 weeks.

History Geek.

I am a history teacher. Yes, I also have a Social Studies certification, but history is my first love. Having the opportunity to live in Europe is exciting for many reasons, but one of the major reasons was the opportunity I have to see a lot of historical places. So far I have not been disappointed.

On Sunday I went to a smaller coastal down on the Atlantic with my uncle and his family. Over 2000 years ago the Romans had established a town in this very place which thrived (because of tuna migration from the Mediterranean to the Atlantic) for several centuries. Many of these ruins still exist and there is a nice museum, as well as walking tour, of the ruins. After walking around the ruins for an hour I had another one of those "wow, I am really here" moments. We were having lunch overlooking the Atlantic and within 50 yards were those 2000 year old Roman ruins we had just been walking through.




I have much more to talk about but it will have to wait. I am actually in Seville now and just finished my first full day of my program orientation. But it is past midnight here and I need to wake up at 7 so it is bed time.