Staying at my home(stay)

So I think that it is about time I create a more thorough blog post since I have been to busy to do one yet! I will try to recount everything that happened (well, the important stuff that is) since I last left you hanging...I am sure you could barely sleep at night since you were so anxious to hear from me..kidding of course. So this week has consisted of little sleep, lots of fun, and the coldest experiences of my life. I know, that is saying a lot coming from Wisconsin and all, but although it is only 15 degrees Celsius (like 40s), we dont exactly have a warm house to come home too -- Spain is great sans the fact that there is no central heating..anywhere. And showering? That is a whole different can of worms. Yesterday I took a two minute shower MAXIMUM in freezing cold water. We also have to shower "army style" (turn water on and off) in order to save water...did I mention they don't use bath mats here? So not only do I get out of the shower with goosebumps the size of Texas, I step onto a freezing cold tile floor as well. Shaving oughta be a real treat...

Okay so onto the good stuff that you would rather hear about. The picture above is where I will be doing all of my studying for business...other classes happen to be half way across the city but walking is good for me... you can really take in the beautiful sites so that will be fun. Thursday we spent most of our day in lectures here...and later that night we went to a Flamenco show..it was so great ! 

The pictures above are from flamenco show! The first picture is so dark, but that is how it was in there the whole time. The second are obvi the dancers in training ! It was so great. A guitar played as the dancers danced for probably close to an hour -- it is something I will never forget. And the great thing is the Flamenco originated in Seville so there are people on the street dancing it all the time! After Flamenco we just went out for a few drinks. When it came time to find our way home (amidst all of the tiny little streets) we decided HECK NO to walking and took a cab. 5 euros for two people -- not too bad right? Got back to the hotel and called it a night...or a morning since it was 2am -- but to the Sevillianos that is weak since they usually stay out until 7am (don't worry mom I would NEVER do that...)

The picture above is one of my favs from Friday...the day we moved into our "homestay". There will be many more pictures to come of my wonderful host family. We are living with our mom Celia, sister Laura (in pic), and brother David (17). They are all so great and so easy to talk to and easy to understand (can't say the same for me..but my spanish is a work in progress!) We played soccer with Laura and her neighborhood friends for like an hour. Clearly I was taunting them with what little Spanish I knew saying things like "Estas listas perder" (Are you ready to lose) and more but...turns out she pretty much kicked my butt. Also, I am staying with another Americana from Purdue, Lauren, and she is AWESOME!!!! It is great to have an English reprieve when needed. We have a cozy little apartment. There are a FEW drawbacks. One: no central heat. Yes I know it is only 40 degrees, but when you come home to a freezing cold house, it is a little different than what we are used to at home. 2. I already explained the shower situation, no need to elaborate. 3. We sit at our kitchen table and put our legs under a blanket with a heater, how Spanish is that?!?!? I love it. I can tell they are going to be a great host family. I will tell much more about the weekend, but ahora we are heading to the most americanized bar ever to hopefully watch my Bears head to the superbowl...Superbowl Super Bears as dad says :) I am with a 10000 packer fans from Madison here. As great as it is to be surrounded by WI kids that say "Where is the bubbler" with me, after tonight I might feel a little differently about them. Kidding, they are great, but I am a lonely Bear fan over here. More later!

Peace, Amor, Espana

Annie