Final Blog Final Week :(

In the 21 years of my life I have never experienced such a welcoming, friendly, and interesting place as Seville and the Center for Cross-Cultural Study.  It is my final week here and I feel like I am leaving my home.  I have been here for seven months and in that time I have experienced and learned more than I have in most of my life.  Coming to Spain in particular through this program is an opportunity that anyone would be making a big mistake if they did not take advantage of it.

There is so much that I will miss about Seville that I do not even know where to start talking about what I am leaving behind.  To begin with the people are so warm everywhere I have been.  Even in the most unexpected places.  Where as in many parts of the States people on the streets are very passive in Seville every time I have asked for directions or needed help with something anyone I asked was so generous and helpful. Every time I went to a café for breakfast or a snack the people who worked there would talk to me and ask me where I was from and would converse with me instead of just trying to get me to eat and leave.

The city is also filled with gorgeous architecture and landscaping.  There is a river that runs through the middle of the city which for me is what really ties the scenery together.  The buildings that run along the river and deep into the city are all filled with history and interesting facts.  The details of each building are unbelievable.  I cannot imagine the time and effort that went into each and every little part of the city.  Even the streets are beautiful.  Many of the streets are made of tile, cobble stone, or brick.

I have talked in some of my previous blogs about many of the events, sites, foods, and more that make Seville such a unique place, but to be honest what really makes Seville a place that I will never forget is something that I can not put into words.  It has a feeling that I will remember all of my life, a feeling that is so wonderful that it is close to impossible for anyone to dislike it here.  Even while writing my final blog I am starting to tear up because it is going to be so hard to leave Seville, as I know it has been for many other students who I have seen come and go during my time here.

Fairytale Castles and Beaches with Stones

I have been to Granada twice now and it never fails to amaze me.  The main attraction is the Alhambra, which is a huge castle that was built in the 13^th century.  It stands on a giant hill and the castle is so big that there was once an entire city inside of it.  What is even more amazing is how in tact all of it remains.  When I walked through it I could see that it was still filled with life.  In fact there was so much that remains that I felt a bit overwhelmed by everything. The gardens are still maintained, all of the walls are perfectly standing and have all of their original detail, and there are running fountains which function by gravity and the slope of the mountain.  My favorite part about the Alhambra, however, was when we climbed the mountain across from Alhambra.  The walk seemed like a lot of work until I got to the top and saw how magnificent the view was.  At the top there is a perfect view of the Alhambra as well as the rest of the city.    From the view on the other side the whole scene looks like it is taken directly out of a fairytale because it is so incredible.

Although the Alhambra is the main attraction I also really enjoyed the city itself.  I found the town center had a lot of life and many friendly people.  The second night we were there, there was a small concert going on in the middle of the town.  Everyone was dancing including children, teenagers, young adults, older adults, and even senior citizens.  Anyone who wanted was able to join in or just stand to the side and listen to the music.  It was a great community event and really gave me a feeling for what the city is like; a very relaxed, happy, and community oriented ambiance.

Another part I loved about the trip was all of the beach escapades.  We went to two beaches during this trip.  One was just outside of Granada and the other one was in Malaga.  The beach outside of Granada is called Salobreña.  I have never seen a beach like this before.  Instead of sand it has stones, very round palm sized stones in white and grey.  When I first got there I was really shocked by this fact.  Although the stones were not the most comfortable it was such an interesting location that it didn’t matter.  Some of the students even made a stone castle instead of a sand castle.  It was not your average fine sand beach, but this is what made it such a fascinating location.

I continued to learn and see much more when we went to Malaga. Our first activity was a tour of the city as well as a tour of the Picasso Museum. Seeing the original Picasso work was amazing.  All of the paintings that I had seen so many times on postcards and puzzles and mugs and much more were all in their original frames in this museum.  His artwork ranges from small black and white sketches to magnificent and very large colorful paintings.  The museum has pieces that I would not have expected to be from Picasso and the tour guide was wonderful at explaining everything and anything that we did not understand.   

 The last stop in our adventures to Granada and Malaga was to the beach in Malaga.  The beach itself appears to stretch on for miles.  Even though it is a very popular vacation spot we all had plenty of space and it was very relaxing and enjoyable. Overall, the entire trip was a perfect combination between educational and cultural stimulating activities and fun and relaxing activities.

Delicious, Perfectly-Sized Food

Tortilla Española, Gazpacho, Croquetas, Montaditos, Solomillo con Salsa, Patatas Bravas, the list of delicious Spanish foods goes on and on. However, my favorite part of Spanish food is not one specific food, but a variety of food referred to as

Tapas Before coming to Spain I had never even heard of Tapas. They are now one of my favorite types of food. They are small portions of food and do not cost much, so you can get many during one meal.

One of my favorites and one of the most traditional Tapas is the Spanish Tortilla, otherwise referred to as Tortilla Española. The first time I got this meal I expected it to be similar if not exactly the same as a Mexican tortilla. I was very surprised when it turned out to be more similar to a mix between an omelet and a quiche. It is like a delicious savory slice of cake made out of eggs and milk with potatoes and sometimes onions or green peppers.

Another Tapa that I absolutely love is Montaditos. These are little sandwiches that are typically on a Spanish roll and vary with what is placed inside of them. They range from ham and cheese, to meet and tomato, to chocolate and almonds, and more. These are great because they are both simple and very flavorful.

The actual places that serve the Tapas are yet another addition to the experience. Many restaurants or cafes that serve Tapas have a very authentic ambiance. These are the kinds of places where I have found I feel most like I am getting a feel for the modern Spanish culture. They normally have a few stilted tables and seats, and sometimes a bar area. The floors often are covered in authentic Spanish Tile and the chairs and tables made of wood. I was surprised for the first time I got Tapas because the server came and asked for our orders directly after we had sat down. After the meal they did not ask us if we wanted a check or if we wanted anything else, they let us sit for a very long time until we were ready to go. This is how many restaurants are in Spain; they are much more relaxed and oriented around enjoying yourself and socializing rather than just eating and leaving.

After spending several months in Spain I have found that there is a lot of good food here. Tapas are one of my favorite because they are so versatile you can get as little or as much as you want and there is such a great variety.

Chanting In Unison: Soccer in Seville

Roaring crowds, chanting in sync, thousands of people dressed alike all in the same soccer stadium is one cultural experience I will never forget.  I have been to sporting events in the States, but never have I witnessed such unity, compassion, and cultural togetherness as in Seville.  I was here both during the regular soccer league, or fútbol, and I am at the moment also witnessing Spain climb the ladder in the World Cup, which they refer to here as El Mundial.

Before going to the Seville game during the Spring semester I did not know what to expect.  Many of the other students and I went as a big group.  We all painted our faces and dressed from head to toe in Seville fútbol team gear.  When we got into the stadium with our face paint and all of our attire we realized we fit right in.  I did not see a single person who wasn’t dressed in Seville colors in the Seville sections of the stadium.  When the game started it was easy to see the passion in the eyes of all the fans and the commitment that these followers make year after year as devoted citizens of Seville.  In the moment that Seville won the game I saw just how close the community within Seville is.

A few weeks later Seville ended up winning the entire championship that they had been playing for.  When this happened all of Seville came out into the streets to celebrate.  People literally lined the streets chanting the Seville fútbol song.  Everyone gathered in the center of the city and many continued to chant and be together in unison celebrating their victory.

Similarly to this cultural experience, is El Mundial which is still going on right now.  Every week Spain has little by little made its way to the end of the World Cup.  There is now one more game.  After every game the people of Spain line the streets again to celebrate together as a community of friends, neighbours, and family.  In fact for the final game they are showing the game on a huge screen so that hundreds of people can watch it together.  I do not know who will win the World Cup, but I do know no matter what happens Seville will still remain a great community where the people love to come together and share their culture with each other and who ever else is willing to take part in it.

Portugal: Egg-Steak, Beaches, and “The End of the World”

After about a four or five hour bus ride (with a beach break in between) we settled into a gorgeous hotel right next to the coast of Portugal. Each hotel room consisted of a balcony and an amazing view. From the hotel rooms you could see the great wide open sea and the cliffs the hotel stood right behind. When I looked farther out I could see another city across the water. The cliffs, the water, and the entire landscape were nothing like I had ever seen before. Below the cliffs that were near the hotel there was a small private beach that many people from the hotel took advantage of. I not being one to let opportunities pass me by went straight down to the little beach as soon as I had put my stuff in my hotel room. By the time I got down to the beach many of the other CC-CS students were already there. The beach was the perfect size. Just big enough so that you could run around and play games and take short beach walks, but it was also small enough so that it felt cozy and like the beach was our secret little hide-away.

After spending hours at the beach some of the other students and I decided to check out what the town center had to offer. It was about a ten minute walk that was quite enjoyable. The town has a very small town sentiment but also a modern feeling. We ended up settling on a small Portuguese restaurant in the center of town. I ordered a steak with an egg on it and French fries. At first it sounded a bit odd, but it was actually very good. All of the tastes blended together in a way that would be unexpected but also delicious.

The rest of the day consisted of more beach going and town exploring until the evening when we went on a field trip to a place that was once thought to be “The end of the world”. When we got there is was over cast and windy. This only added to the effect of the place. It was surrounded by the biggest cliffs I had ever seen, and when I looked out into the distance it was like I was looking out into a big huge abyss. All that was visible was the sea.

After an adventurous day of beaches, Portuguese food, and “The end of the world”, I headed for bed readying myself for the next day and more beaches and fun.

Sites You Will Never Forget in Seville

One of my favorite parts about Seville is how culturally rich the city is. It has so much history and so many incredible sites to see. While here I suggest taking full advantage of having all of these gorgeous areas to explore. CC-CS will guide you through several of the most historical and well- known sites, but from my own experience, there will be many sites you’ll want to visit on your own. The three most popular places, and the three that CC-CS will most definitely guide you through, are the Catedral, Itálica, and Alcázar.

The Catedral is right in the center of Seville. It is very large and incredibly beautiful with so many details. It is considered one of the biggest Cathedrals in the world. What makes it especially unique is the tower attached to it called the Giralda. The tower is extremely tall, and is a major landmark of the city. You can actually climb the Giralda to the top where there is one of the most breath taking views I have ever seen.

Itálica consists of ancient historical ruins. It originally belonged to the Romans and has been there since 206 AEC. One of the reasons it is so fascinating is because of how much of it is still in tact. There is still an entire theatre where they used to hold games similar to gladiators or bullfighting.

Alcázar is a castle which is directly next to the Catedral. It was originally built in the year 884 as a fort in order to protect Seville from outside invasion. It was made into a palace in 1284 by Santo Rey Fernando III. To this day it is still filled with fountains, gardens, unbelievable architecture, wonderful textile work, and murals. It is no longer lived in permanently, but when the royalty that still exists in Spain comes to visit Seville this is where they stay. When you see Alcázar you can imagine just what it must have been like when royalty walked through it during earlier centuries.

Outside of these three locations there are many other places to see in Seville. There are also many art museums, Flamenco museums, and many other interesting locations. When you come to Seville you will most certainly have some free time in which the best option is to see as much as you can. Many sites in Seville are spectacular and you will not find anything like them anywhere else in the world.

Life With a Host Family

June 14th, 2010

The host family is one of the best and most useful parts of studying abroad, especially in a foreign country. I have experienced both living with a family and also in the dorms during my time here in Spain. I would highly recommend staying with a family. Families can teach you so much about the culture and practices that can not be taught in a dorm.

You will meet your families the day after you arrive. Most if not all of the host families are very open and friendly and want you to treat them as your own family as you do in the United States. This being said, you also need to be respectful of them, and be aware of certain cultural differences that may offend them. For example, electricity is much more expensive in Spain than in the United States. You should try and conserve it and only use lights and such when needed. If you are wasting it and leaving on lights even when you are out, your home stay family will probably feel used and disrespected. They are willing to accommodate you in every way into their lives and in return it is best to be friendly and polite.

During your time with your host family it is a perfect place to improve your Spanish and also learn about their customs and traditions. I suggest asking your family about recipes you liked and family traditions. They will very much appreciate if you show that you are interested in Spanish culture and want to become more a part of the family, and it will greatly benefit you as well. I have heard little complaints about any of the home stays here in Seville, Spain, so I would not worry about this aspect of your trip. If you do end up having any issues with your home stay you can always talk with the CC-CS Housing Coordinator for advice and support.

Arrival/Orientation

June 4th, 2010

Hello everyone! My name is Robin O’Donnell and I am a student at Mount Holyoke College. I am currently a summer intern at CC-CS, but I was also here during the January and Spring terms as a student. Through out the summer I will be keeping a blog and will talk about the experiences that I have had through out my time here.

The most recent program here is the June group which began June 3rd. I not only attended my own orientation in January, but I also attended the orientation for the June session. After experiencing being both a student and a staff member these are my thoughts and suggestions about arrival and orientation in Seville, Spain:

First thing that I would suggest is to take a deep a breath because I know that going to a new country where they do not speak much English can be terrifying. It may seem scary, but this is a perfect opportunity to practice any Spanish that you do know, and also to learn more. If you are still a beginner and can not speak much Spanish there are always people willing to help you where ever you are during your travels.

This being said there are many little details that you may encounter that you may not expect. For example, if your flight gets delayed and you arrive in Spain later than you expected. In your packet that you will receive before coming to Spain, you should have a number for the CC-CS Center in Seville. You should make sure to have this with you so that if you do encounter any problems you can call the center to inform them. The staff at CC-CS is very helpful and will definitely be waiting for you when you do finally arrive.

As far as transportation goes, taxis are always the safest bet. There is a bus that goes straight from the airport to the center of Seville; however, I would not suggest using this until you become more familiar with the city. Thus, taxis are the way to go, so you should have at least 30 Euros on you when you arrive in Seville. When I came over I exchanged about one hundred dollars for Euros in the United States before getting to Spain.

Once you arrive in Seville and find the staff at CC-CS you will meet many new people and many like yourself who are very scared, but also very excited, because you will have a wonderful time in Seville. You will have many new opportunites in which you will learn about the culture and the people and will learn to be much more independent. They will tell you everything you need to know to start your adventure in Seville at orientation when you first arrive.