Islantilla and Despedidas

If you looked at my "iCal" calender on my computer, you would see that my days from 8 AM to 8 PM are entirely blank, except for the occasional note at the top indicating, "Final Paper due". No class, no planned excursion, no meetings, no program sponsored events, nothing. You'd probably think I was spending my last few days here in Spain sitting around in the sun's brutal rays trying to soak up every little minute I have left. In reality though, I have been extremely busy this past week and a half. Every day last week, I spent at least 5 to 6 hours in our program center, studying for my exams and writing my 56 pages worth of work for the end of the semester. I have never been assigned so many essay assignments in my life other than here in Spain. As much as I like to complain about the work, I know I shouldn't, because it is honestly helping my in my Spanish language skills. I have learned so much about writing style and word selection in Spanish, that I feel like I could write a Spanish paper now in the same amount of time it would take me to write an English paper. I am pretty proud of myself for being able to write so fluently in Spanish and fill 10+ pages on a completely arbitrary subject.

Upon the completion of my final essay last week, it was time to start studying for the exams I have been taking this week. To be honest, I was really burned out on school at that point, and I really had no interest in reviewing my notes starting from all the way back in February. I guess I found the time and energy somehow though, because today is already June 15 and I only have one exam left until I am entirely done with the academic semester. So far, I have taken my exams for "Historia de Iberoamérica Contemporánea" and "Historia de la Ciudad Hispanoamericana", both of which went relatively well for being a foreign student, and only beginning my studying the weekend before. On top of all these exams, I have been trying to maintain an equally busy social life. I just can't stand the fact that I will be leaving this beautiful city behind, so I try my hardest to take advantage of every opportunity to go out into the city, look around and explore.

Last Saturday, my intercambio and I got together in the Centro (downtown Sevilla) since we hadn't seen each other since the beginning of May. He brought a friend, and the three of us hung out for about three and a half hours. There is a new structure in downtown Sevilla that was finished just a few weeks ago that allows you to go up and get a panoramic view of the city. In my opinion, it kind of looks like a giant mushroom. It reminds me a little bit of the structure by Calder stage in downtown Grand Rapids (only a lot bigger). It's called the "zeta" and in my opinion, doesn't really fit the character of the city. It looks more like something that belongs in a modern city like Barcelona instead of a historical center like Sevilla. Regardless, the three of us decided to go up it and get a panoramic view of the city. It was actually a really pretty view, but I think I liked the one from the Giralda better. Armando then invited me to his beach house for the entire next day (Sunday). I was pretty hesitant at first because of my three exams and two papers due this week, but he convinced me and I figured I would appreciate the experience of going to the beach with 4 Spaniards and speaking spanish all day much more than sitting in a hot underground library studying.

His house is located in Huelva, Spain and the beach we went to was called Islantilla. The neighborhood he lives in is actually really beautiful. Technically there aren't really houses because everyone here lives in apartment buildings, but it was still a very cool "residencia" as the Spaniards like to call it. Actually, it kind of reminded me of a resort in Florida or Arizona because there are various apartment buildings that are separated by large lawns and narrow pavement pathways. Everyone in the residencia shares a pool too, which was really cool. The view from his porch was amazing. I couldn't gauge the fact I was looking over the Mediterranean sea from such a beautiful perspective. We ate lunch at his house and then made our way to the beach. Armando brought his skim board and forced me to try it. I only successively did it once, but watching him and his friends do it was amazing. They definitely grew up on the beach, because they were doing amazing tricks on the skim board, and they also all know how to surf. His friend brought a rugby ball too, so the five of us played that for a while. I think I prefer a football or frisbee on the beach, two concepts that are entirely foreign the Spanish guys. I really did get lucky with my intercambios for my semester abroad. I am so appreciative of both Elia and Armando. They really made my experience that much more amazing, I only wish I could repay them by showing them how we live at the University of Michigan (something they are CONSTANTLY asking about...)

Then, on Monday night, a group of five of us decided to go to a Flamenco bar called "Carbonería" which is also located in the downtown center. We got really lost on the way there because the center is filled with winding streets and deadends (back from when the Muslims had control of Sevilla in the 12th and 13th centuries). The frustration of not being able to find this place was quickly forgotten though when we got there. The Flamenco dancer was just as amazing as I remembered her and the singing was unbelievable. I am so happy I got the chance to see it again right before I left as a reminder of how cool the Spanish culture truly is. And of course, once we were already out, we decided to continue on with the night by showing off our own dancing skills. Who would have known you can find discos that are open till 3:30 in the morning on a Monday night? Only here in Sevilla.

So I guess you could say I have been balancing school work and social life pretty well. (Or let's hope so.. I haven't gotten any grades back yet). It's been pretty exhausting at times, but it is entirely worth it. Only 2 more full days left in Sevilla and then it is off to Amsterdam with Justin and our friend Becky from University of Pennsylvania. I'm getting to the point where I am ready to come home. I feel like I have made the absolute most of this experience and I really can't ask the city for any more. Of course I'd love for it to continue, but I know I'll be back. It's a new home: East Grand Rapids, Ann Arbor, and now Sevilla.

Note: I realized I didn't have any good pictures of the Cathedral so I decided to take some on my walk home from the University one day. The third to last picture is me and Armando at the beach. Second to last is the five of us outside of la Carbonería Flamenco bar and the last photo is our friend Wial who is one of the nicest guys our group of friends have met since being here in Sevilla.