Is anyone else getting a little sentimental?

So, I'm very quickly wrapping up my almost four month stay in lovely Sevilla, Spain and I'm having mixed feelings about leaving. If you would have asked me last week how I was feeling about leaving, I probably would have said that I was fully ready to go back, but now that I'm in my last week...I'm not so sure. This week is full of exams, papers, and presentations to finish the semester, but all I want to do is be outside enjoying all the city has to offer. I mean, in a couple of days, I won't be living in Europe anymore...I won't have the chance to speak Spanish all the time. When I came here in January, I never thought that I would come to know and love this city so much. I mean, sure, there are things in Sevilla that I'm NOT going to miss, but that's to be expected. I know that I am ready to go because I really want to see all of my family, friends, and pets again, and of course, eat all of the food that I can't get here :-) But still, with all of the great things I have waiting for me at home, I can't help but get a little sad to think of all of the things I am leaving behind. Because of that, I am getting really sentimental with things. Who? Me, sentimental?!? No way! Hahahaha! I mean, I don't go around crying, but I definitely am appreciating things now that I didn't before.

I can already tell that I am not the same person now as I was when I stepped off the plane in January. This semester has taught me so much about myself, others, and God. I learned that I can do more than I ever thought was possible...I mean, I figured out everything here with minimal help! Also, I have learned all of the ins and outs of the Sevillan lifestyle. I learned that God is so much bigger than just the United States. I mean, I knew that before, but it's amazing to see how He is working in Spain too! This experience has been unforgettable and I know that a new chapter of my life starts when I get back, so I'm excited to see what the future holds :-)

Before I start studying for more exams, or packing up my MASSIVE suitcases (now that I am looking at the one that is ginormous, I'm like, what was I thinking when I brought this? It's as big as I am!!!), I'm going to take a few minutes to reflect on all of the things that I have been blessed to experience this semester (or, in other words, what I'm going to miss...but I don't want to think of it like that!). Thank you so much for all of your thoughts and prayers while I have been away! It's been so awesome to know that wherever I am, I have friends and family behind me, supporting me. I love you all and see you REALLY soon!!

•Speaking Spanish all the time (though it was quite difficult sometimes)
•Living with my family here
•My friends (whether it be from classes, Bible study, or just around)
•Watching Spanish tv shows with my host sister and host mom
•Being able to walk everywhere
•Traveling on the weekends
•Worshiping at my church
•Bible study (the lessons and the great people!)
•Eating ice cream every week after Bible Study
•Café con leche
•Salsa dancing (my new-found love)
•Paella and tortilla española (food)
•Learning new vocab everyday
•Sitting by the fountain in the park to study
•How Spaniards have an extremely difficult time saying my name
•Finding random plazas/new places in the city
•Singing along to Spanish music
•Running by the river
•Laying out on my roof
•Being in a store and hearing random, old english songs on the radio (how about Shania Twain)
•Finding new and creative ways to pass the time in history class (trying to pay attention…and when that fails, passing notes, eating, doodling, the dot game, drawing a group picture, sudoku from our phone, making a cootie catcher, etc.)
•Never knowing what I’m eating, and being okay with that
•Laughing with my Señora and the neighbor
•All of the cute nicknames my Señora calls me
•And so, so, sooooo much more!!! (If you really want to know, I can talk your ear off about it sometime!!!) Hahahah!

Bailamos!!

"Let the rythym take you over, bailamos!" Sorry, I get a little carried away sometimes! Hahahaha! The Enrique Iglesias song is so appropriate for this week's blog entry, because it's all about...DANCING!!! I am recently (as in, this past weekend)obsessed with the dancing here. It kind of started last weekend, during Feria, but it got stronger this weekend. Well, let's start with Feria. Feria is a week-long festival in Sevilla to celebrate Spring (I think?). Anyway, we didn't have classes all week, so I was gone to Italy for most of the festival, but I was here in Sevilla the last weekend of Feria. Friday, I was too tired to go to Feria, but a friend and I went and saw "Alicia en el pais de las Maravillas" (or, Alice in Wonderland) in 3D...in Spanish :-) It was really cool! It is surprising how much I can really understand too! I generally knew what they were saying. Saturday, my Senora told me that she would take me to Feria. Women usually wear Flamenco dresses, so my Senora insisted on me wearing one. The problem is though, that to buy one, they are extremely expensive, so I wasn't willing to pay for one. Fortunately, my neighbor here let me borrow one of her's to wear. Let me tell you, it's quite a process to dress up for Feria! Hahaha! You have to wear the long dress, heels, a shawl, big earrings, and a clip thing and a big flower in your hair. Anyway, after all of the prepping, my Senora and I, along with one of her friends, went to Feria. I would describe Feria as kind of a carnival. Basically, there are all of these tents set up (called casetas), where you can eat, drink, and dance, but most of them require invitations to enter. Though the government does provide a few public tents. Also, there are lots of rides (like a mini rollercoaster and a super speedy ferris wheel) and lots of food vendors. When we were in a private caseta (my Senora had an invitation), my Senora tried to teach me how to dance Sevillanas, which a Flamenco-style dance that is really popular during Feria. I am usually pretty good at picking up dances, but I was struggling because I couldn't see her feet, was trying not to trip on my dress, and had to do the opposite of everything that she was doing. I tried, but I really wished that I had been able to learn this very Sevillian dance. Overall, I had a pretty good time, but it was a super LATE night. For example, I got back to my house at 4:45 am...yeah. And I would say that when I left, there were still a lot of people still out at Feria and in the streets of Sevilla. I'm telling you, the people here are loco!! They never sleep!! Hahahaha! And, I have more in-depth stories from Feria, but I don't want to bore you with details, so if you want to know more, I can tell you when I get back :-)

I swear the weeks go by so quickly here. I stay really busy here and I'm usually out and about during the day. I mean, I do usually walk everywhere, so that takes time :-) Also, I spend my free time running by the river, going to bible study, shopping, studying in the park, or eating ice cream with friends. Thursday night, I went to a really funny play with one of my classes, so that was really enjoyable. Especially since the people in my class and my professor are really fun people to hang out with. Friday during the day, my friend and I spent practically the whole day wandering through the city, touring various tourist attractions in Sevilla and taking pictures...because we don't have very much time left here. Then, that night, we continue with the dancing theme. I went with some friends from bible study to a bar where you can salsa dance. I have learned the basic steps of salsa before, but I wasn't at all prepared for the REAL salsa dancing!! It was so fun though! We were dancing with Spaniards, who were being really patient with us while we were trying to learn, but it's hard because the guy just sort of leads the girl and she just follows. I had a great time dancing salsa (or at least trying to) and being with friends. But, it was another late night. Are you seeing the pattern here? It seems like nothing starts here until after midnight. Saturday, I spent a couple of hours soaking up the gorgeous sun on the roof of our apartment building :-) Later, I went with some friends to "La Carboneria," which is bar that features live flamenco dancing. Therefore, I had the chance to appreciate live flamenco. And Sunday too, involved dancing. After church, a couple of friends and I went to a salsa/bachata dance class to learn how to dance the 2 dances!!! It was free for me because it was my first time at the lesson, and it was 3 hours of dancing, but it was AWESOME!!!! I'm hoping that I can continue to practice/learn at home :-)


I was planning on traveling to Barcelona this past weekend, but I didn't end up going, which was for the best. As fun as traveling is and how awesome it is to be able to see new places, it is also exhausting. I was just tired this weekend. It was refreshing to be here in Sevilla and experiencing everything that SEVILLA has to offer. I mean, I am leaving in less than 2 weeks, so I have a lot of things to do before I leave :-)

Lesson: Many nights of staying out late definitely catches up with you. Trust me, I know firsthand...I have a lovely cold to prove it :-)

Lesson: Being a tourist in your own city is amazing, because it helps you discover all of the beautiful things that you take for granted every day!

Lesson: That even if Spain and the US have the same holiday, they most likely aren't on the same day. I guess I never gave it a thought before, but this past Saturday was Labor Day and Sunday was Mother's Day. Definitely NOT the same days as the US holidays. Weird, huh?