La vida sevillana

After being here for about 2 weeks, I am finally starting to feel a little less like a guest and more like a Sevillano (citizen of Sevilla). Although my hair is a stark indicator of my foreignness, the population of Sevilla has definitely diversified and maybe (someday) people will actually think I am Sevillano. I think a definite part of that process is getting to know the people of Sevilla. The other night I met a couple who have a little baby who are interested in learning English... I have their number so hopefully my first private tutorial will begin this Thursday. I would absolutely love to get to know a Spanish family... and their baby is que mono (very cute)!

This past friday night Samara, Jenny, Maryanne and I (the roommates) went out for tapas, a traditional Sevillan dinner at a cute little restaurant about 10 minutes from our apartment. Because Sevillans eat huge lunches, they eat tapas, or snacks for dinner. Jenny, my roommate, and I split espinacas (spinach), papas ali oli (potato salad) and pollo al bechamel (chicken in sauce). It was absolutely delicious, we only paid 5 euro each and we made friends with our waiter (Luis).... we all decided that we are definitely going to be regulars at that restaurant!

I will post pictures of our apartment, as soon as we get everything together and it actually looks like a home! Our neighborhood is so Spanish, we are literally the only foreigners and yesterday it was a religious holiday and we watched a paso (parade) pass by from our balcony, which was pretty reminiscient of Semana Santa.

I miss you all greatly girlfriends and I hope you are enjoying reading my blog!

Mi Primer Entrada!

Hi Everyone! This is pretty exciting, it is my first entry as a blogger, ever, so it might take me a few entries to get fully accustomed to this. I have been in Sevilla for about a week and a half and am already settled in an apartment with 3 other American girls, 2 of them studied in Sevilla the same semester that I studied (Spring 2006). It is a two bedroom apartment, completely furnished. There seem to be an incredible amount of geckos here, I have already had an incident (my roommate and I cut off a gecko's tail, possibly paralyzed it, and released it back into the wild), and as many of you know I am not the best with little creepy crawlers.

It is soo wonderful to be back in Sevilla, most everything has stayed the same except for the number of tourists have increased exponentially, a new rail system is about to start running and mis chicas de Calle Redes aren't here =(.

Today was my first day at the school where I am teaching, CEIP Sor Angela de la Cruz, escuela primaria. I will be teaching 3-5 year olds (infantil) Tuesdays & Fridays from 9-2 with my bilingual coordinator (my boss) and Wednesdays from 9-11:45 (7-10 year olds). The 7-10 year olds were not very well behaved but were entranced by a rubia extranjera (blond foreigner). I can't wait to make learning English fun and begin this cultural exchange of languages.... I will be learning English as well because British English is taught in the Spanish schools. For example, dodgems is an English word for bumper cars (ahem Tyler, Katrina?).

I haven't met too many Sevillanos (citizens of Sevilla), a few possible intercambios, but we are living in an all Spanish neighborhood so we can't wait to get to know our neighbors. I will keep you updated on my adventures and pictures will come soon.

hasta luego, besitos a todos,
Lauren