Two weeks.

I got back from Granada this evening. It is in Southeast Spain with an amazingly important history that I loved hearing more about -For those of you who don’t know, I did research this fall regarding convivencia in Spain, when Jews, Christians and Muslims lived in relative peace. Sevilla is a crucial location to the work I did, but Granada and Cordoba (a trip coming up!) are also so very important!    Granada has views of the Sierra Nevada mountain range, whose peaks were covered in snow, and cacti.   I found this hysterical. I wish I could’ve gotten a good shot to show this hysterical juxtaposition. Oh well, this will have to do. ;]

The walls of La Alhambra, with the Sierra Nevada mountains in the back.

Wow, right? How about this?  Inside La Alhambra, of which you will have to google the history, not because I don’t know and love it, but because we all know I need my beauty sleep -

I remember thinking that it looks a little like CA last time I was here – 5 years ago!

Stunning Moorish architecture

Me and Annie!

No words!

I love the fish in this photo!

How grandiose!

Also – TWO WEEKS?! Wow, sometimes it feels like I’ve only been here for a few days, other times I feel as though I’ve been here for months already.  I’m still okay with both! I love this “honeymoon” phase of falling absolutely in love with this city and country, and I love that is immediately felt like home.  There is something so very comfortable about this country.  Maybe its the heaters that are under the tables we eat at in these pisos, maybe its the holas, luegos, lisps and bread that is just so comforting. Anyways, I’m not complaining.

 

When your walk to class is an hour and a half round-trip,

you LIVE for siestas.

A Perfect Sunday

My goal for today was to not put shoes on.

I was successful.

 

¡Vale!

Vale, vale vale.  Everything is okay.  Everything is MORE than okay. (Now that my luggage came?)  Everything is amazing.

My señora, Esperanza, is absolutely fantastic.  I live HERE, in Los Remedios.  I have an American host sister from Connecticut, and goes to Clark.  We are in the same orientation group. She is quite fantastic.  It’s just the three of us here.  Esperanza has 5 daughters, three in the US (two in Philadelphia and one in Virginia) one in Barcelona and another the floor under us!  There is also a grandson, maybe 4 years old, who comes up, so so so precious!

I am all moved in, and just waiting for the day that I have nothing to do.   Right now we are just doing silly orientations on when we will be oriented for something else. Pues, no pasa nada.

This city is beautiful – It has been around 60 the past two days.  Everyone is always in the street, and even in the apartment, people are coming and going, stopping by to say hi.  So different – In the US I think we hide from each other. Que pena. Also, I love that everyone is on bikes.  Theres a bike path on every road and sidewalk and the tourists (NOT ME, DUH!) always walk in trouble, the bike bells are always ringing.  There is always music on the street, people sitting outside talking, it’s simply magical.

This life is such a dream.  An amazing, amazing dream.  I hope I never have to wake up.

HE LLEGADO.

I HAVE ARRIVED!

If you are reading this post, it is because I have made it safely to Sevilla! Orientation starts now and goes for the next few days, so don’t expect to hear too much from me now. The trip here was fine, despite  my passport becoming valid in February and not having a return flight. HOWEVER, about 30 of us (yes, Annie and I ending up on the same flight with about 50 or 60 other study abroad students. OY) lost our checked luggage. So that should be arriving tonight. Pues, vamos a ver.

Melissa and I just got back from wandering the city – our hotel is RIGHT in front of La Plaza de Espana. (Photos to come)  We spent quite a bit of time there and in a few gardens in the area, AH can’t wait for it to get warmer out! (Although it’s not that cold here, quizas 45?)

CANNOT WAIT TO SLEEP TONIGHT, but I’m making Melissa and I stay up until this evening. Oye. This should be fun.

It’s nice to finally be here but I really just cannot wait to move into my homestay ( I think this info is given to us tonight – at least I HOPE!) I hope you all are doing well – please comment, email, facebook message, skype – I don’t just want you know how I am doing, but how you are as well!!

Nos vemos pronto, see you all soon.

Kati xx

Buenas!

Hey all!  Thanks for joining me on this journey!

I cannot believe this dream will become a reality in a two short weeks. (Actually, a little less than that!)  It’s really crazy to think about – to think about what this is.

 A spring semester. Spain. Me, myself and I.

Learning, growing, speaking spanish. 

Traveling. Reading. Breathing it all in.

The time has almost come and getting ready is both thrilling and nerve-wracking at the same time.  Right now my days consist of working and finishing up loose ends.  My work schedule barely gives me time to think about the trip – not sure if this is good or bad.  Yesterday, I finally got the pre-departure jitters. You all should know that my main concern right now is how all of my clothes and shoes will fit into one plane, let alone one suitcase.  I will take a photo of the result – hopefully you will be pleasantly surprised.

I’m going to leave a brief itinerary of my first few days in Sevilla here, because I highly doubt that I will be posting in the first 48 hours, other than saying I’ve made it.

JFK-MAD 6p-7:10a MAD-SVQ 9a-10a

A driver provided by the program will take us HERE, where we will be staying for orientation.  On the 18th, we move into our homestays (!!!), orientation continues until the 21st. From the 23rd – Feb 3, we take intensive language courses, and finally, on Feb. 6, classes start!

Insanity! I am so lucky!

(I will also be tweeting this trip – like I’ve done for the past few: Follow me!)

Also, please note that there is a 6 hour time difference between me and you if you are reading this in the States. If it is noon for you, it’s 6p for me! Skyping, at first, might be a little difficult, but, my dear family and friends, I’m sure in the first few weeks we can come up with something that will work for the both of us!

I don’t just want this blog to be me talking AT you, so talk back! Let me know how you are, don’t just listen to how I am!

Just thinking about it, I miss you all already.

Nos vems, SEE YA!

Kati xx