Trip To Jerez and Cadiz

Hi :)                                                                                                          September 17th, 2012

So on Friday the 14th.. our ICS school had a field trip to Jerez and Cadiz. I was so excited to go, and it was of course an AMAZING TIME! Jerez and Cadiz are two cities close to Sevilla it took like an hour and a half to get there, not too bad - plus we were riding in style.. coach bus! ;-)

First stop was Jerez and there we were going to a Bodega - winery :) A famous winery nonetheless! Called Tio Pepe - Gonzalez Bypass. It was SO awesome, we got an entire tour of the vineyards, different warehouses where they store the barrels and grow some of the grapes. We got to watch a movie about the history of the winery and how it has become world wide and supplies to over 130 different countries! 

Barrels with all different flags of the countries the winery is afflicted with

 Some of the vineyards :) 

 The "Tio Pepe" logo! Have you ever seen this before? 

And of course, the best part of the field trip was trying the wine at the end. Although I'm not a big wine fan.. it was fun to try all the different types, we tried a Tio Pepe brand and that wine was more bitter, but then we tried Croft which was a lot sweeter, I liked that one surprisingly! 

 Wine tasting at Tio Pepe with friends Dylan and Natalia!

After we finished at the Bodega we were off to Cadiz, a city right on the beach.. so you know what that means, time to soak up the sun :-). The beaches here are BEAUTIFUL!! There was a gorgeous view of the entire city from the shore line I literally was speechless. The water was warm, not hott nor freezing, but I only dipped my feet in, unfortunately there was seaweed at the break of the waves, but once you got pass that it was nothing but paradise!

 The city of Cadiz from the shoreline of the beach, talk about stunning or what!!! 

(Not to mention this is my FAVORITE picture!)

We didn't really have any specific plans, but just hang out, drink, and relax. I mean.. no one was complaining! One thing about beaches in Spain is that well, it's normal to be topless. All the time, haha so I saw quite a lot of topless women it was uncomfortable, especially old grandmas.. if you catch my drift. But, hey you know what when in Spain do as the Spaniards do.. except I didn't this time around! Lol, but it's completely normal here so, any takers? No need for skinny dipping in Spain. Aye! 

 Hotels and buildings all throughout Cadiz! 

Me and Dylan :) 

It was an awesome field trip, all included of course, so I can't complain! 

Xoxo 

Fun facts :)

Hey everyone!                                                                                          September 17th, 2012

I figured I'd just update everyone on life here in Sevilla, nothing too crazy has been happening, but of course without doubt, it is much different then the standard US living. 

There are some things that are just so different here! Ready for some fun facts?!

-Dessert here is always fresh fruit, always you will hardly see anything else. It's very uncommon to snack here, it's 3 meals and then tapas later after dinner if you wish to do so!
-During meals it's normal to watch the news, spanish people LOVE to be in the loop about whats going on in their country, or others.
-Their main supermarket here that is a chain is called "Supersol"
-A bank that is common here in Spain is called "Caja Rural"
-Una cerveza (a beer) is only 1 euro! This is good and bad... haha ;-)
-The main park here in Sevilla is called Maria Luisa and it kinda reminds me of central park, of course MUCH smaller, but theres people walking, running, playing sports, reading, do anything and everything! Very lively place at all hours of the day!
-It's uncommon for girls to play futbol (soccer) here because it's a boy sport, so when I tell people I play they look at me really weird.. haha
-All cars here are stick shift, it's RARE that you drive an automatic car!
-Kermit the frog here is called "La Rana Gustaba" isn't that funny? The same shows and cartoons, but just have completely different names!
-They read/write dates as "Day, Month, Year" 
-The phones here are only 9 digits as opposed to 10
-OMG the calendars here start on Monday, not Sunday.. so I keep messing up things in my planner.. annoying hahahaha
-Drink at age 18.. anywhere, anytime haha it's crazy (although I've def seen some 14 year olds at the bars.. oh well)
-It's normal to live with your parents until you're married, even if you're 30.
-Pandora and Netflix don't exist in Spain.. really though, when I tried it said "sorry this website hasn't made it to this part of the country yet" Sooooo.. yeah
-ALOT of people smoke here, yuck!

Alright.. well I think that's enough fun facts for now, I'm sure I'll have tons more in a couple weeks!


Xo  

School - ICS :)

Howdy everyone!!                                                                                 September 12th, 2012

So yesterday I started classes at ICS! (International College of Seville). I only had two classes yesterday and they were Three Cultures - a class about Jews, Christians, and Mulisms and how they came about in Spain and were affected. My other class is the Art of Spain.. well I guess that self explanatory. It seems interesting, and we'll be going on field trips to museums all around Sevilla so see the actual art we're talking about, which I'm super excited for.

My Three Cultures professor is from.. well guess where, eh, beaut, mate!? AUSTRALIA!!! Haha, she is SO cool. I like her, and she seems to want to get know us and likes to have group discussions as opposed to just lecturing! (Let's hope this lasts!)

My Art of Spain professor haha, shes a wack-a-doo, but she's great! Born and raised in the US in California, she studied abroad in Sevilla when she was around our age and fell in LOVE with it and knew she had to come back, in which she did and has been here teaching here in Sevilla for over 20+ years.

I only have class Tuesday and Thursday from 10:30-12:00 then 12:00-1:30pm, and I'm done for the day!! (Before all you people even wake up in the states)

I'm also taking classes at the University of Sevilla - we had to take a placement test to see if we could be placed into those classes and it worked out for me! Woohoo :-)

Classes at the University don't start until September 24th.. So I've been having plenty of time to just hang out and relax and explore the city!!!!

I'll be taking 3 classes at the University.. all in spanish, I'm a little nervous, but more excited. I hope I understand the class and will be able to learn and improve my spanish tremendous amounts! I'm taking a spanish literature class, spanish for english speakers, and cooking literature class. All my classes will be on Monday and Wednesday. The classes I'm enrolled in are only for international students so that'll be really cool.. once I start there I'll let  you all know!

It works out nice because I'll be able to ride my bike to ICS Tuesday and Thursday using the Sevici system, and take the bus to the University on Monday and Wednesday! I'm better making my schedule here then at Monmouth, woopsies! 

Boring entry I know.. but school is well, school

ADIO :) 

^(here they don't say ADIOS they only say ADIO! So there you go)

First Night Out!

Woohoo,                                                                                                Sept 10th, 2012 

First night really like out out in Spain was on Saturday night (not counting the night when I got here with my brother or the time I went out with my sister... she's just crazy in a good way though!!!) Haha, this time it was with all the students in the same program! 

We met outside the ICS (International College of Seville) building at 11 and had to be dressed all fancy, it was fun! We made our way to the party vendors place where we had some sangria and just hung out! 

Me, Dylan, and Emily!

After we walked lots and lots - (note: night out in Spain in heels + walking + cobble stone = BAD IDEA!!!!) Haha, but we made it to Hotel EME. This hotel has a whole bar and restaurant on the roof of it where you can see a BEAUTIFUL view of the Cathedral lit up at night, it was SOOOO beautiful, and the hotel is located right in the center of town! 

We got in for free too hehe yay.. it was so funny though, it was like 30 Americans crowding the roof top meanwhile all these Spaniards were trying to enjoy their romantic night out drinking and googily-eyeing their lovers hahahaha.. seriously us dang Americans.

 El Cathedral en el noche con la luz! and a little video showing you what I saw!

On the other side of the restaurant they had a whole pool side and lounge area... I don't know about you guys, but we need one of these ASAP! Hehe :)

Me in front of the Cathedral at Hotel EME!

It was an awesome night, although my feet killed it was worth it! Can't wait to go to a discoteca :)

XOXO 

La Plaza de España

Howdy :)                                                                                                                  Sept 10th, 2012 

So on Saturday I went exploring with a couple girls on my program and we went to Maria Luisa and just walked around.. can't do much else when it's 95+ degrees out!! It's insane! Inside Maria Luisa park, well as you keep walking you happen to run into

 LA PLAZA DA ESPANA!!

And trust me you CANNOT miss it! It is beyond beautiful, holy smoly! My jaw dropped.. it's different seeing something in pictures and then seeing something in person. It was HUGE, and the details in each inch of the building, the fountain in the center with people walking with their feet in the water, and soaking up the beauty that stood in front of us.

This was my peak of tourism.. you know a bunch of selfies in front of every building at every angle! But hey, I'm allowed hehe :) 

History:

El Plaza de Espana was originally designed and built as the ultimate symbol and the most ambitious project of the 1929 Ibero-American Exposition World's Fair. 

There is a series of 48 tiled alcoves or benches, each representing a Spanish province, think in terms of a state in the US (it's similar to that!) Each one has the name, coat of arms, map and some historical facts. Cool, right?!

(There's tons more.. but this is good for now hehe)

Hasta Pronto! 

The Where - Sevilla :)

Buenas Dias!                                                                                                    Sept 10th, 2012 

Dios mios! La ciudad de Sevilla es muy bonita, me encanta todo!

Sevilla is the capital of Andalucia, but the city is split into 2 by the Guadalquivir River, which divides the city into two halves: Sevilla and Triana.

Seville is most known for the beauty of the city, which of course lives up to any expectation you would EVER have and more. The people here are SO friendly, it's overwhelming but I couldn't ask for a better place to be! 
In "el centro" the center of town is where La Universidad de Sevilla is located, as well as the Cathedral, Tower de Oro, Giralda, Alcazar, La Plaza de Espana and more! (Some places I haven't seen yet!!! But that's okay because I have a lot of time to explore!)

There is TONS and TONS to do here day and night. There are always people out and about, usually walking, biking, or rollerblading believe or not. Unlike the states, you see people walking to and from the grocery store, school, or just to the bar because that's the norm here - anything 30 minutes or under is do-able and usually expected. On the sidewalks there are green paths strictly for BIKERS! If you are walking on the bike path and a cop sees you and wants to be an a-hole you can get fined up to 90 euros!! So, don't do that! There are cross walk everywhere and jay-walking is frowned upon, unlike NYC where anyone walks whenever, and wherever hahaha, not so much here!

So my neighborhood - "el barrio" en espanol is about 30 minutes from my school, it's up on a street called Calle de Palmero! That's their like "main street" I guess you could say, it's wide and has palm trees on both sides.. YES! Palm trees, haha this is not a drill! Anyways, yeah so it's about a 30 minute walk.. in 97* WEATHER!!!!! Oh, that's something else they use Celsius here.. so it's about 42*C haha, SO for all you MONMOUTH STUDENTS complaining about the walk to bey hall... that is like a blessing compared to my 30 minute hike! But, it's a beautiful walk and good exercise so I can't complain!  

Mi Barrio!

There is also a bike system here called Sevici! You buy a card and rent a bike, so there are these bike ares every couple block throughout the city and you unlock a bike by swiping your card and use it until you reach your destination but need to return it at another Sevici spot. So you share bikes with other people, but it's normal here you just I guess "sign out" a bike and then "sign in" another! :)

Systema Sevici !!

There is also the bus (TUSSAM they call it here), metro, and train for means of transpiration, well as well as cars-- but public transportation is big here.

So.. not too far from my house about a 20ish minute walk is the famous Maria Luisa Park!!! And my goodness, it is absolutely amazing. It is gorgeous, it simply takes me breath away and the fact that it's SO close to me is unreal. I get to walk to through it to get to the international school building - I couldn't be luckier. Tons of people just explore through the park, take pictures, nap, run, sleep, read, have a picnic, similar to central park I guess you could say - but ALOT smaller! And prettier of course :)

 

Pictures of Maria Luisa Park! 

Hasta Pronto a todo

The Where - Mi Casa :)

Hola :)                                                                                                             Sept 10th, 2012

So.. when we received our housing assignments back in July I was SOOOO excited because my house was beautiful (I knew this because I googled it on google maps.. duh hehe sorry not sorry!) And when I  arrived in Sevilla airport, we got greeted by ICS (International College of Seville - the program I'm on) and my program had a different address on it, and I asked and they said sometimes your home gets switched.. so I was like alright, and went to the address on the paper.

I showed up, and ring the bell go inside speaking spanish through the bell saying "Hola yo soy tu estudiante por este semestre" awkward or what? So I meet my house mother and am so excited, but I'm sweating bullets because I'm in yogas and a sweatshirt meanwhile it's a ZILLION degrees here. My house mom starts telling me how she usually has boys and I wasn't completely understanding her, granted my jet lag, and heat was at a peak right now hahahaha -- so she said she usually hosts boys on the program never girls, and I told her that my address changed and that we should - so we did. And BINGO! I was at the wrong address! Lol... this would ONLY happen to me! Seriously though. Sooooo off I go into the next taxi LMAO ugh my life, oh well! The women Carmin who was my supposed house mom said I have to come back over for dinner when the boys get there! LOL, she was so sweet!

Now, when I FINALLY arrived at my home.. my beautiful house (compared to where I first was) I live in the town called Heliopolis - it's like the "rich" area of Sevilla, really though. Anytime I've said it someone where they kinda just look at you like oh, and people in this neighborhood always say that theres a standard to live up to.. because even though Sevilla is a huge city, people talk! Haha, I guess things are the same in Spain as in the states.

A beautiful 3 story villa, surrounded by flowers, and gated area awaits my home for the next 4 months and I honestly couldn't be more blessed or lucky to had been given this home and opportunity!!!!

MI CASA!!

Anyways, I live upstairs on the 2nd floor and share a spacious double with my roommate Ayanna! She's really nice and we get along so it's great :) We also have a bathroom that we share, which is right across the hall. We got our own set of keys.. it feels so real like this is my home, I love it <3

My house is also right next to the soccer stadium - Betis. Sevilla has 2 soccer teams, Sevilla club futbol and also Betis. I want to go to a game!! Hopefully I get to, because the stadium is literally like my backyard!! Lol

The Who - La Familia :)

Hi :)                                                                                                                 Sept 10th, 2012 

So alright, time to get down to business and let's talk about SEVILLA!

You know before everyone leaves to go abroad people are very nervous and anxious about feeling culture shock? Personally I didn't feel it at all, don't get me wrong haha I did have a little bit of nerves, but I was definitely more excited then anything! I guess it depends on where you go, coming to Spain it's hard because there is a huge language barrier but I feel comfortable with my knowledge of the language and it has been working just fine.. so that has definitely helped me easy into their culture and country easily.

So the who! My family! My family is beyond perfect. My mom is Charo, my dad is Pepe, I have 2 siblings a sister Lucia who is 26 and my brother Jose Enrique who is 29. My dads mom also lives with us, mi abuela, Antonia. My dads sister also lives in and out of here with her husband (whoms name I don't recall.. but he's from Pakistan!!! but speaks fluent spanish haha aye) They also have a cat, his name is dukkey! He's a cutie!

So my brother and sister are going to Italy later this month to go study for school for 9 months, how crazy is that? Lucia is going to Milan and Jose Enrique is going to Rome.. JEALOUS! I am sad they're leaving though, I love them already! They are sooooo super fun, and I adore Lucia she's literally a goof ball and so funny.. it's fun because I never had a sister before so it's kinda like that :) 

My mom and dad went to Segovia this weekend (it's a town near Madrid) to pick up my mom's mom, my other abuela she comes and lives with Charo (my mom) for the winter. So it's gonna be a FULL house! Until Lucia and Jose Enrique leave :( 

My mom doesn't know any english, neither does my abuela. But my brother and sister know a little not a lot, but from housing other Americans they've picked up on some words so little things like basic. Imagine what you know in spanish just from hearing people say it all the time.

My family owns a bar in town it's called Martin Blanco! (because my moms last name is Martin, and my dads is Blanco! -- clever right? ;-)) 

Anywhos, I adore them all so much already. The second I walked into my home on the first day my house mother was SO welcoming and I felt like I fit right in, she of course, had lunch ready and I STUFFED my face! Haha, exactly what I ate.. I can't tell you.. and for me! That's crazy because I am very picky. But, since the second I walked in the door it's been nothing but spanish (except for when I'm with my roommate!) It's been such great practice and really seeing how much I know, or don't and what I'm doing to learn it's insane! Soooo grateful for this opportunity, that's all I keep saying to myself!

That's all on my family.. hopefully I get to take pictures with them when we're out and I'll get to post them here!

XOXO 

I Made It!

Hola a todos,                                                                                                  Sept. 5th, 2012


Yo lo hice!! Llegué en Sevilla, España a las dos de la tarde. Ay dios mios, fue un largo día de viaje, pero vale la pena!!! Yo salí mi casa a las cinco de la mañana ayer y salí para JFK a las nueve del noche y llegó a Madrid a las diez de la tarde, después con un conexión de vuelo a Sevilla, por lo tanto llegué en Sevilla!

Cuando llegué a mi casa por este semestre yo estoy muy emocionada!!! La casa de mi madre es muy bonita y grande, me encanta mucho. Mi madre nombre es Charo y su esposo nombre es Pepe. Ellos tienen dos niños, una hija se llama Lucia y tiene veinte seis años y hijo Jose, tiene veinte nueve años. También la madre de Pepe vive con ellos, ella nombre es Antonia. Jose tiene un gato también.. "Dukkkkkkey" es como se dice, jajajaja! Yo corre en la cocina grite "DUKKKKEY" y el gato corre muy rápido.

Mi madre cocina mucho comida hoy, para almuerzo yo comí tres platos de comida, ay eso es una problema!!! Pero, la gente aquí usualmente caminar a todos los lugares. Por ejemplo, cuando yo conozco mi hermano Jose.. nosotros fuimos a la tienda, y cafe. Caminamos por diez minutos! Yo hizo mi primero taza de tea negro con leche!! Muy deliciosa, pero próxima vez quiero un cafe! 

Jajajajaja, sobre nosotros hablamos sobre vida, el dice a mi "necesito tener un su primera cerveza en España" y entonces, él compré una cerveza! Sh ;-).  También caminado para los calles y toque los fotos. 

Yo comparto una habitación con mi compañero se llama Ayanna. Me gusta ella mucho, ella estudia en La Universidad de Lincoln en Pennsylvania en los Estados Unidos. 

Eso es mi habitación

Estoy muy cansada, necesito dormir por muchas horas!! 


Eso es todo por ahora! 
Ayla 

Pre-Spain Packing

Hello everyone,                                                                                                                   9.2.12

I only have 1 word for this entry and that is .. PACKING!

Who said it was okay to have to pack my life away in a suitcase for FOUR months?! This is impossible. My room is filled with clothes, bags, shoes, and toiletries.. it's EVEYWHERE! I had to sleep on the couch last night because I couldn't even get into my room, let alone my bed! 

See what I mean!!!

See.. what I think is the real problem is that I THINK I'm bringing everything in my room, but realistically I'll be bringing 1/4 of what I have out!! (It's gonna take some self control not to pack those cute pair of boots and heels!!!)

But, I have to take into consideration the weather while I'm over there, because in September it's still 80's hott like our summer is, but then it gets chiller into November, and December. Worse case scenario I buy things over in Spain, because they have everything we have here.. just a different name at a different store.

Anyways, as the crazy person I am I of course have my color coded lists and "to-do" post-its everywhere. It's surreal that I'll be leaving the country in just 2 DAYS! And still have all of this to pack.. but it's not my fault my mother didn't do my laundry yet! (Yes.. she still does my laundry :))

I found this online and it was helpful, of course not as good as mine! But take a look-see :) 

Plus! I can't have my luggage over 50lbs.. Uh oh, is right! But I'll be bringing a backpack and pocketbook as well.. so I should be just fine!!

Looks like it's time to start packing instead of just talking about it! 

Hasta ahora! 

Ay