La Vida Loca

This is the bridge I walk across everyday to get to "El Centro" from Triana. Its Isabel II or more commonly referred to as the Triana Bridge. I love the view from it...especially at night.

Lets talk about how schoolwork is so much harder to just sit down and do when it isnt constantly there. At Trinity, anyone will tell you that I am always in the library or stressed about school. I have found myself literally having to force myself and finding it almost painful to do what little homework I have. Although I say that if I had more constant assignments it would be easier to do work, I'll be honest here and say that no matter how much work I get here, I'll probably complain. I would much rather be out wandering the streets and talking to Spaniards.

Because all my classes are on Monday and Wednesday, from 9-9 it makes for a really long day. I am absolutely in love though with my first two classes - Spanish Cinema an Women Writers. Spanish Cinema is giving me a lot of historical background while Women Writers is providing me with a lot of social background information about society. Let me start this off by saying that I feel so completely incompetent in regards history. I knew absolutely nothing about Franco. Reality check #1 = Franco's official rule ended in 1975, but the consequences are lasting. I had no idea the extent of the oppression during that time, much less how recently it was. Therefore, I have been crash coursing myself on Franco via the internet and talking to my Señora and professors and friends. Because Franco was so recent, many of the effects and attitudes are very fresh here. For example: the idea of machismo (men being superior to women) is due in fact to Franco. As is the extreme differing opinions in regards to the Catholic Church. I am realizing very fast that I have a lot to learn about history in general. I also went on a tour of Museo de Bellas Artes - the second most comprehensive art museum in Spain last week - and of course, loved every second of it. The tour guide was Alejandro (he has an art history degree) and he is employed as a tour guide by CIEE for the different city excursions that they provide and pay for. We spent 2 hours touring the museum but I could have spent all day there. Its so much more fulfilling to know the significance behind what exactly what I am experiencing. I am at the stage of study abroad where I am like a sponge. I want to know about everything and everyone and why things are the way that they are. Its almost frustrating to realize that there are not enough hours in a day.

I sat down to plan out the rest of my time here which is about two months and got so incredibly sad. 1) I cannot believe that I have been here almost 2 months and that means I have only two left. I almost kinda wish I had looked into a whole year, but I know that to graduate on time, thats impossible. 2) I still have so much I want to do and have decided to literally not only map out what to do in the rest of my weekends by my days in Sevilla as well before it gets to be the end and I have a bunch of stuff I havent done. 3) I feel an attachment with the people around me

Speaking of, Maria and I have had amazing talks recently. During lunch we watch the news and a show called La Buena Ley which is best described as a combination of Judge Judy and Jerry Springer. There is a problem that has to do with some sort of social issue - the most recent ones were a stepdad falling in love with his daughter and another was about a mom who was leaving her 16 yr old to watch the little brother (but really function as mom) while she went to work. So, the judge comes out, hears the problem, and then leaves while the audience interacts and discuses it with the people having the problem (Jerry Springer part) then the judge comes out to make a ruling. Although I thought it was cheesy at first, I have grown to really like it and it sparks great conversation.

So, a very common thing to see on the streets here that I am shocked by is not only Gypsies but people with severe disfigurements. Like completely seemingly warped arms or legs. One of my friends told me that it was because while in the States we intervene very early on and can detect things like that, it is not common. However, here, although they have health care for all, they dont have all of the same benefits. It really is interesting to me to learn how drastically different the systems of society function - political and social.

Finally, I have come to think that I am definitely going to be looking for opportunities to continue my Spanish. What seems most promising right now to me is perhaps during the school year volunteering at this place I have been told about that works with immigrant teenage boys and then maybe some sort of volunteer abroad in Central America program.

As for now, I am going to really enjoy this time here.