Messing Up

Don't ever let someone try to tell you otherwise- learning a foreign language is HARD. I've been here about two months now and you would think that at this point I would have everything down, no problems. Unfortunately to say, I do not. Far from it.

No matter how much I learn, I still feel like I speak like a five year old when I'm talking to someone. I still get confused by words I don't know. At times, I still have to think about what I'm saying before I say it. Don't get me wrong, I have improved my Spanish ten fold since being here, and I am much more confident and quick in my Spanish than before, but it's definitely no cake walk.

Sometimes I get utterly frustrated with Spanish. If I don't practice my Spanish all the time, there is no way to get better. On the other hand, when I do practice it often, I get frustrated when I feel like I can't properly express myself to someone. It's a bit of a vicious cycle. In the end, no matter how frustrating it can be, I know that the only way to improve is if I speak it as often as possible.

So I do. With my American friends, we have "Spanish only" conversations where we can't speak any English to each other. I make plans with my Spanish friends as often as possible. I ask questions about the news when I watch it with my host parents. I talk to people on the streets and ask questions when I have them. I do my best to put myself in tough situations because in the end, it doesn't matter. Even if I make a fool of myself, I will probably never see that person again. And even if I do, whatever, they know I'm learning.

But it's taken me a while to get to this point. It's hard to be okay with looking like a fool to someone. And there are times when I get down on myself. There are times when I doubt my abilities. And there are times when I never want to speak Spanish again. But I've learned that no matter how hard I try, bad things will happen. Mistakes will occur. Things won't go exactly as planned. I will get lost walking somewhere. I will say or do the wrong thing in a situation. It's not about preventing these things from happening, it's about how I react to what has happened. Will I give up? Or will I accept that I can't know everything and try to learn something from the experience? It's impossible to have control over everything when you are living in a foreign place; it's impossible to have all the answers. I can only hope that I will have the courage to continue not knowing the answers and accepting that this is the only way I can learn.

My program center has these really funny and clever posters hung all over the building. All of them have something to do with speaking in Spanish. While we're in the center, we are expected to be speaking Spanish at all times. Of course, this doesn't end up happening. People revert to English once they get out of class all the time. I admit that I'm guilty of it. But the other day I noticed a poster that I would have to say is my favorite one in the whole center. It's located in the computer lab where I print papers daily and yet I hadn't noticed it until recently: 

It says, "Have you come here to spend the whole day speaking in English?" This poster says it all. Have I come all this way to speak in English? Of course not. So even though it's incredibly hard and even though I find a way to say or do something stupid daily, that's the whole point of being here. To mess up. I am consistently placed in uncomfortable situations, but I now feel like I have the power to get through them. I used to be much more hesitant to put myself in difficult situations but being here has given me a confidence I didn't have before. Don't be afraid. And know that it will all work out in the end.

Until next time, hasta luego!

Being Present

As anyone who knows me well can tell you, I love to eat. I would say most people share this sentiment so I don't think I can be blamed when I say all I want to do is eat EVERYTHING I see.

Exhibit A:

If you can resist these delicious sandwiches (called "bocadillos"), you are a stronger human than I. Naturally, with eating a lot, comes gaining weight. I don't think I've actually gained weight since coming here (although I don't have a scale in order to say for sure) because my pants are actually looser than they used to be. I think it's all the walking and exercising. I walk ten times more here than I do at home, since my college campus is quite small and this city is quite large. Not to mention I have workouts that I do for soccer daily. However, somehow I FEEL like I'm gaining weight, and I think it's because of the amount of bread that I consume, as well as the alcoholic beverages. Sevillans eat bread with everything. They eat bread with bread. Bread is like a utensil, you use it to eat everything else. So naturally, carbo-loading would never be a problem for those of you who are looking to start a carb diet. Come on over to Seville. And as far as alcoholic beverages, it's normal to have one with every meal. The stigma around alcohol in the United States is very different from what drinking is like in Europe. It's not strange to stop somewhere to have a drink in the middle of the day and it's also not strange for kids to drink. But it's also a very different kind of drinking. They drink slow, enjoy the company, and just relax. It's simply another part of life. How it should be.

However, as you can imagine, this kind of lifestyle isn't best for the figure. Not that I'm concerned, but then, I am also an athlete. It's important for me to eat well, not to mention I like eating well. But here's the thing: I'm only here for a short time. I mean realistically, I only have just over two months left... which is terrifying to think about. And I realized something the other day. Studying in another country is about being present in the moment. Honestly, doing anything is about living in the moment. It doesn't mean your life has to be an adventure 24/7, or that you should try everything all the time, but spend more time appreciating what you are doing and who you are doing it with, because no matter what it is, it is unique to you and your life and the experience won't come again.

I'm going to switch gears a little bit, but I promise it relates... I don't have an iPhone. I would say the majority of people have one but that would be an exaggeration... the majority of AMERICANS in my program have an iPhone. Sometimes I am jealous of people, here and in the States, who can easily whip out their phone to snap pics or check Facebook at a cafe or can contact a friend using WhatsApp. But I also notice something else about iPhones that I really dislike. It keeps people from being in the moment and enjoying where they are. I have friends who consistently say they wish they were somewhere else NO MATTER WHERE THEY ARE. Excuse me but do you not have fun anywhere? You have really limited your options for "fun times" to nowhere on the planet. It's hard to watch a friend while they check their iPhone and I just sit with nothing to check. But they are also thinking about where they could be instead of where they are. When I'm on my laptop, I admit that it's nearly impossible to not check my email, Facebook, whatever. But it's these things that keep us from making real connections with people.

The other day was by far my favorite day in Seville. And it's going to sound extremely cliche but it's true nonetheless. I was meeting a friend at Telepizza, a pizza restaurant. We had never been and weren't very hungry but we wanted to talk inside where it was warm because it was 11pm and cold outside. So we ordered pizza and started chatting, decided the pizza was quite literally the worst thing we had ever tasted, and then we called our Spanish friend to come join us. The three of us sat there and talked for almost two hours... the employees had nearly cleaned the whole restaurant by the time we left. I hadn't laughed that hard in a long time. And as we were walking home together I realized that this, this exact moment, was why I was in Seville. I could visit the cathedral a million times and still be incredibly impressed and in awe, but it does not compare to how I felt with them, just talking and laughing and eating shitty pizza. I felt loved, I felt at home, and I didn't want to leave. That's not something you can experience with a phone.

So enjoy every moment, because it only happens once. Walk along the bridge named "Fuenteheridos" (meaning "Injured Bridge") for adventure, say yes to a study break to get coffee, enjoy getting soaked in a monsoon walking home, appreciate that you have the opportunity to attend school and therefore have a mountain of homework to finish, and most importantly, you EAT those carbs. Because life is too short not to.

Until next time, hasta luego!

The Universal Language

Well quite a bit has happened since I last blogged, including a huge garbage strike! About a week ago there was a large garbage strike by sanitation workers in Sevilla that just ended this week... I must say that the normal fresh (slightly orange-y from the thousands of orange trees) smell in this city quickly changed to a dirty fish smell within one week. It was quite disgusting, not to mention quite aesthetically displeasing. Thankfully, the strike is over and the streets are cleared. Unfortunately I didn't get a picture of the garbage before it cleared but here is an article about it if you want to learn more!

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2013/02/08/spain-garbage-strike/1901451/

Aside from the garbage excitement, one of the things that is exciting me most is the sense of family I am beginning to feel here: with my friends and with my host family. Recently, my host family (consisting of my host mother and father) had some of their family over for lunch. Don't be deceived. "Lunch" does not mean a turkey sandwich. Lunch is like having what North Americans would consider a large dinner. And it was wonderful!

My host dad has three daughters from a previous marriage and so all of them and their significant others came over. One of his daughters is living in France right now so she made us a French dish of vegetables and duck. I can't say duck has ever been my favorite meal- I've had it once in a Chinese restaurant and it was okay but nothing that enticing to me. However, this duck was AMAZING. Absolutely delicious. But it wasn't the duck that I enjoyed most, it was their company. Going into the afternoon I was nervous. I didn't know what they would think of me, I was nervous about being surrounded by a lot of people I didn't know, and mostly nervous about not understanding what was going on.

I had nothing to worry about because it was an absolute blast. I walked in and (naturally) received a million kisses and hugs and was welcomed by greetings and loud chatter. On the one hand, I was extremely overwhelmed. I had just gotten out of an exam and was tired from thinking so much in Spanish. On the other, I could not have loved that first get together more. It was my family, but in Spain. Everyone was yelling and discussing the latest gossip and playing with the baby (one of his daughters has a baby who's not even 1 year old yet... adorable!) and hugging and kissing each other... it was madness and I loved every second of it. At one point, my host mom asked me if I understood what was going on. I said yes, but only about half of it. It is much harder to understand a language when people are all talking at once and extremely fast. But I told her that it was just like my family at home: loud and loving. She continued to ask me throughout the afternoon if I wanted to go up to my room for a nap or to relax and I had to keep telling her that I was fine staying with them. I was having way too much fun being with the family and watching them interact. The amount of joy it brought me to just sit at the table and watch and feel the love they have for each other was incredible. I didn't feel out of place even though I only said a few words here and there. I felt like I was home. And there is something so comforting and wonderful about that. No matter where you go, you can find family and people who love each other. Love is a universal language. Sometimes it is hard to feel like I fit in here because it's so different from my home. Even though I love everything about being here, there are moments when I am reminded that I am a foreigner. It can be hard in these moments to feel as though I belong or have something to offer to the people here. But with family, you can always feel like you belong. Whether family means your parents, siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, significant other, friends, or host family, they are there for you and they love you with a love that is difficult to explain in words. And love is what reminds me that although we are all very different with different cultures, beliefs, languages, and lifestyles, there is one love that transcends all.

Unfortunately, I didn't think to get a picture of everyone while we were all together but I know I'll see them soon so pictures will come eventually! Also, here's my address if you want to write me. I can't receive packages but cards or letters are always appreciated!


Elizabeth Riggio
CIEE Study Center in Seville
Calle Muñoz y Pabón, 9
41004 – Sevilla, SPAIN

Until next time, hasta luego!

Slowing Down

Well now that I have been here for three weeks, I truly feel like I have a handle on the main things I need to know while living here. I know how to navigate the city, where the important buildings are, how to use the public transportation, where the soccer fields are (obviously the most important). These past few weeks have been all about meeting new people, getting lost, and enjoying Sevilla's beauty. I just finished the two week intensive grammar session and today is my first day of the regular session of classes. Can't wait!!

Transportation here is one of the most fascinating aspects of the city to me. Firstly, most people drive mopeds, which are little motorcycle-like bikes. These fit down the little narrow cobblestone streets, so they are quite practical for Sevilla where there are only a few "main" roads that are like our big city streets. Cars are very small. I have yet to see what we would consider a "regular" midsized car in the United States. And people park WHEREVER they want. Literally. On the curb, in the middle of a walking path, on the rounded corner of a street, it's quite interesting. As far as public transportation, there is a large tram in the middle of the city that goes around the center of the city, there are buses, and there are bikes. I love the idea of the public bike system. There are bikes parked all over the city in a bike rack and all you need to do is buy a pass or you can pay for an individual ride (much more expensive) and you can ride from one point in the city to another! It's genius. Great exercise and anyone can use it. After you arrive at your destination, you park the bike in the rack and someone else can use it next! Also, people here loveeee to rollerblade... as transportation and as recreation. There is always someone zooming past on rollerblades and it's a lot of fun to watch people doing tricks in the main plaza! But for me, the best mode of transportation is to walk. I enjoy the long walk to class and the atmosphere. And really, there aren't very many places in Sevilla that are difficult to get to by foot.

Right now, the big news in Sevilla is REBAJAS, or sales. There are two times during the year when there are sales in stores here: January/February and July/August. These sales are ginormous. Every store has sales and it's fantastic, as well as dangerous. All I want to do is buy everything I see! Anything from shoes, clothing, purses, household items, you name it, it's on sale. I bought a sweater the other day for 3 euros which translates to approximately $4. MADNESS.

Other than figuring out transportation and enjoying rebajas, I have been exploring the city. Las setas (a big mushroom-like structure near the shopping center), Bar Rinconcillo (built in 1670 and one of the oldest bars still running. It was often frequented back in the day by writers and poets! That's MY kind of place.), Plaza de Espana (words literally do not do it justice), the Cathedral and La Giralda, just to name a few. Last Sunday I left Sevilla for the first time since I've been here to go on a hike at Sierra de Aracena in Huelva. It's a small town outside of Sevilla and it is beautiful for hiking. It was fun to pass through a small town along the way and watch some kids play soccer. I love that I see soccer everywhere in this country!

Learning about this city and its people is my favorite part thus far about life in Sevilla. There is always something new at each turn. I am constantly in awe of the beautiful old buildings and plazas. When I talk to my Spanish friends, they all say how much they want to visit New York City to see skyscrapers... Why??? Look at boring buildings that are identical or buildings with their own unique character? Seems like an easy choice to me. But I guess their interest in New York City is like my interest in Sevilla. It's new, it's different, it's something they've never experienced before. But sometimes I just cannot believe that I am walking amongst buildings that have been here for YEARS. People like Lope de Vega, Cervantes, and Ernest Hemingway were here! Maybe it's the English major in me that is so fascinated by it, but this beautiful city never ceases to amaze me.

But it's not just learning about the city that fascinates me. The other day, my American friend and I were out with two of our Spanish friends. We were walking in the center of the city, looking for some fried fish tapas for dinner. All of a sudden, one of my Spanish friends stops us and says, in Spanish of course, "Why are we walking so fast??" Me and my American friend look at each other a little confused. We didn't think we were walking that fast. But he continued by saying that we need to learn to slow down and enjoy everything that is around us. He said that in America, it seems like everyone is in a rush to get somewhere, but Sevillans know how to relax and enjoy the walk. After he told me this, I really noticed how much faster I walk than the natives. Although I'm a fast walker by nature, I took his advice and have slowed down and learned to enjoy every moment of the day. Whether it be a visit to Plaza de Espana, meeting a friend for a drink, or simply the walk to class.

Until next time... Hasta luego!

First Impressions

It has almost been two weeks since I first arrived in Spain, which is crazy to believe. On the one hand, it feels as though I just arrived. And on the other, I feel like I've been here for months. Sometimes I think about how much I have learned in the past two weeks and it boggles my mind. What a huge learning curve! As much as Spain is not that different from the U.S. in some respects, it is very different in others. For example, there's no central heating. It is fairly cold everyday in the house even though the temperature outside is in the 50s or so. I definitely took for granted being warm once I got out of the shower back home! There is also no such thing as unlimited phone plans in Spain, which means everyone goes out to see each other. You don't often visit someone at their house, you meet them at a bar or cafe. Much of the culture of going out to see people is a combination of the fact that no one wants to spend hours talking on the phone to someone because it's expensive, and also because the houses are cold. It's wonderful! So many people are out all the time. Especially at night. Spaniards eat late, like 9 or 10pm so around this time is when everyone is out and about: getting tapas, having sangria, a coffee. It's so nice to go and see someone and be with people out in the streets instead of calling or texting them. I have very rarely used my phone here, and if I do, it's to "dar un toque" which is when you call someone and hang up after one ring. This is to let the person know that you have arrived at the meeting point without getting charged for a call. Brilliant!

My first week here was all orientation. The program I am in, CIEE Liberal Arts, has over 200 students... it's BIG. But my orientation group was made up of about 10 students and we had a guide who is a student at the University of Sevilla and works for CIEE. He was absolutely fantastic. It's always fun experiencing a new place with someone who loves where they live and is excited to tell you about it. He is probably the most animated individual I have ever met in my life, and my group loved having him as our orientation leader. He showed us where to go if we are sick, need groceries, need to buy "saldo," or minutes, for our phones, where the best tapas are, the best clubs and bars, how to use the public bike system, basically anything we would need to know!

Unfortunately, orientation eventually has to end and classes must start! Right now all the students are required to take an intensive course that's two weeks long before the regular session of classes starts. As exciting as it sounds to take intensive grammar for two weeks, I'm ready to start our regular session classes after one week. However it has been extremely helpful in improving my Spanish and the best part about it is when I leave the classroom and actually getting to practice what I've learned!

Here are some of my favorite points in the city that I pass on my 30 minute walk to and from class everyday:

This is one of my favorite areas. On the left where all the people are standing is a bar where people come at all hours of the day to have drinks and stand and talk outside. It's exciting at night!

The narrow passage to CIEE! That doorway to the left of the car is the entrance to the center where I have my classes.

The bridge I cross that separates el centro (the center of the city) and the barrio (neighborhood) where I live, Triana.

I love passing this on my runs! And who knew palm trees existed in Spain??

My favorite part thus far about being here is learning something new all the time. And I don't just mean learning how to get somewhere or what the name of a building is. My mind is constantly stimulated. Things are too easy in the States. I take for granted being able to have a conversation with someone in which both parties completely understand the other. I am constantly trying to figure out how to do something. If I can't contact my friend because she's out of saldo, how will I know if she's still meeting me at the plaza or if she's arrived? How do I say "softcover book" in Spanish because I don't want a hardcover one? How will I get to that market if I only know the general area it's located in and don't have a map or any other way to figure out how to get there? It's a constant adventure and as much as it can be frustrating, I love it. I love constantly having new challenges to face and knowing that once I get out of them, it's a funny story for later. After all, I have some sort of misunderstanding at least once a day, gotta learn to laugh about it! 

That's all for now! Until next time, hasta luego!

Hello Europe!

So although it's a bit cliche to create a travel blog, I figured this is a good way to not only document what I'm doing but also to reflect. I have always wanted to travel since I was young and I couldn't be more thrilled that my dream is a reality! Currently I am studying abroad in Sevilla, Spain and it is absolutely gorgeous. Everything is old and has such a wonderful character. Sometimes it is strange to think that I'm here... every morning I wake up and remind myself that it's the real thing, I'm doing what I've wanted to do all my life. It will definitely be a journey and I hope you enjoy following me on my adventures for the next four months!