Chocolate con Churros

It rained today, guys!!! Hardly any, but it was windy and chilly and rainy and great. SUCH a relief from the heat. 

In honor of the first true day of fall, besides wearing my leather boots, Allison and I bought CHOCOLATE CON CHURROS!

This is a "muy typico"(very typical) little treat in Sevilla, and this was the first time I had it. Allison and I walked to the Triana Bridge and found the little kiosk that sells churros and hot chocolate. Sooooo here it is:

CAN YOU BELIEVE THE SIZE OF THIS THING! 

It cost 4 euros (around $6) for this massive mass of churro and two shots of hot chocolate. 

(Note the grease stains on the newspaper they serve it on)

Here's Allison with it for some size perspective:

RIGHT. I know it's humungous. So we had a great time chatting, inhaling the delicious churros, and feeding the birds our leftovers. 

This is me being really excited to get this humungo churro wheel and thick, goopy, chocolate syrupy drink to dunk it in. 

Sorry this is out of focus, I was distracted by the amazing flavor of this delicacy. 

Close up. Notice how there is actually no cinnamon or sugar, just hot, fluffy, doughy goodness. 

A poorly backlit picture of my chocolate con churros and the parque. So rainy today :)

THUMBS UP FOR CHOCOLATE Y CHURROS!

Grammar 251: Complete

Salutations dear loved ones!

Yesterday I took my final for my Spanish Grammar 251 class. It consisted of a written test, as well as an oral interview.

I felt pretty good about it, studied with friends, and reviewed my homework, so I thought I'd do okay.

We all got our written tests back today and.............


I got a 94%!


I was smiling all day. I am super happy because I got a 91% on my last test (40% of class grade) and since I got an A on this test (60% of class grade) this pretty much guarantees me at least a low A in the class. Participation and my oral are still factored in, and I will see my class grade tomorrow.

I am so happy to have completed my first class in Spain (and to have done well!). This means that 3 units of Spanish 251 will transfer back to APU, which is equal to one semester of Spanish class. Which I did in 4 weeks here, as opposed to 16 back home.

Anyway, just thought I'd share this exciting news with you!!

Meow

So as you all know, there is a 9 hour time difference between California and Sevilla. This makes connecting with family and friends somewhat difficult, but somehow we manage, right? Anyway, I was talking to my friend AJ about how I miss home, and he had the funniest response. I saved part of the conversation from Facebook and thought I'd share because its so flatteringly funny (to me).

AJ says......

This just cracks me up. Apparently AJ knows (1) that I love cats, (2) that I have skyped my cat, and (3) that Mom would enable me to do so. And the best part is that he doesn't think that's extremely abnormal!

I don't know why but I cracked up about this. But I thought you guys might get a kick out of it.

I have awesome friends :)

Happy Saturday!

Goooood morning :)

Today has been great so far. My roommate Allison went to the beach, so I decided to explore the city a little bit with my friend Alyssa today.

We strolled around the Centro de Ciudad (Center of the City), shopped, and snacked. I decided it was okay to be touristy so here are a few pictures from this morning.

I stopped alongside a little mosaic of a black cat that I found. I've been wanting a picture with it because as you all know, I do love me some kittys.

Kinda creepy though.

Next Alyssa and I stopped off at La Campana, the most famous pastry store in Sevilla. I've been dying to try it so we finally did. SUCH a selection!

 Founded in 1885!!!!

This is my view from the table we sat at.

 Cafe con leche (coffee with milk) and pastries! We shared a whipped cream eclair and a caramel hazelnut cream cake. Oh my lord. I know why this place is famous now!

One of my best friends from class, Alyssa!

COFFEEEEEEE. 

So as you can see, today was relaxing and awesome. I made it home in time for lunch with Rosa. We had bocadillos (sandwiches) with chicken salad and french fries. We pretty much get french fries with every meal here. But she told me stories of her past students for probably about 45 minutes, which is so cute because I understand about 75% of what she says, and the other 25% of the time I laugh when she laughs, or try to figure out if I should gasp or laugh or smile. It's really entertaining to talk with her. 

Anyway, it's siesta time now so I am off to mi cama (my bed) and then who knows what the rest of the day shall hold!!

Hasta luego, Until next time!

End of Week 3 Update

Holaaaa! My apologies that it has been so long since my last post. I haven't been taking as many pictures on a daily basis because it is my goal to be as Spanish and not look tourist-y at all! :)

Anyway I thought I would update a little bit on this past week.

- I tried the hazelnut kit kats. Literal heaven. Like nutella + my favorite candy combined
- I got my first test back! Scored a 91% on the test and 100% on my essay. SO HAPPY !!! My hard work is paying off :)
- Saw a dance concert! It was a modern flamenco show featuring Sara Baras (Google her, she's the world's best). No pictures were allowed, but I can assure you that it was mind blowingly beautiful to witness such talent and culture on the big stage.
- Watched my first futbol game. A bunch of friends and I sat in a local bar, munched on olives and appetizers, and enjoyed hearing Sevillanos cheer on Sevilla FC who surprisingly beat Real Madrid. For the first time watching soccer was actually enjoyable haha.
- Got my package in the mail from Mom. She sent me all my clothes for fall and winter, so thanks to her I will be prepared for the rainy season.
- Watched locals perform flamenco music in the local restaurant. My friends and I went with one of their Senoras to her favorite place where we got to dance along to an old guy with his guitar. It was so cool to do what the locals do and laugh and clap and tap our feet to the flamenco music.


Those are just the highlights; this week has been amazing (like every week so far). Tonight I am off to Sevilla's only American restaurant to get a big fat cheeseburger, which I have been craving since the second day I got here. Prediction: it will not be delicious. In Sevilla it is 75682 times safer to get fried fish as opposed to anything American! But it will be nice to go out with friends and have something that reminds us of home.

Much love to all of you out there reading this!

Dulces!!

Quick one! Pictures from my trip to the supermercado for candy! I wanted some snacks, and it was under 5 euros for all this!!!

 My loooooot

 Chocolate mini croissants, watermelon burst hard candies, mix pack of lollipops, and.....

HAZLENUT KIT KAT. I AM IN HEAVEN!

Córdoba

Hey everyone!

Today was a school field trip to Córdoba, which is about two hours north of Sevilla by bus. 

The whole school went and we got to see amazing architecture from Romans, Christians, Muslims, Islamics, and Jewish cultures. 

Some of the buildings date back to the FIRST century. 

Here are some of my favorite pictures from the day:

You walk under this HUGE Roman arch way upon entering the city.

This is the Puente Romano, or Roman Bridge, that was built when the city was founded in year 711. 

This is one of the towers of the Mosque in Córdoba, surrounded by orange trees.

The school paid for us all to go inside the Mosque, called the Mezquita. It was built over the course of 400 years by three different cultures, all of who added onto each others' work.

This is a close up of the Roman mosaic tile floors from year 800.

One of my favorite pictures of the inside of the Mezquita.

Note the sunshine coming through the window!

Meeee in front of some cherubs?

We got to walk around the Juderia, or Jewish neighborhood, where vendors were selling souvenirs, ice cream, and jewelry. Córdoba is FAMOUS for it's filigree silver jewelry.

Hey here's me again! In front of the outside of the Mezquita. 

Outside of the first door built in year 711.

Such a long, hot, fun day!

For GG

It has come to my attention that some people (my Grandma) may possibly think that my lifestyle is too much play and not enough work. Actually she definitely said that. But have no fear, Spain has not been an endless party! I actually go to school here! And in order to prove that, here is photographic evidence:

My day planner, notes, and textbooks

Today's notes on the lesson

More notes. Yes I pay attention in class!

My composition

Inside the textbook, which is also a workbook.

Me on my bed, with my book and homework

So, as you can see, I study, read, and write in Spanish here. Yeah, every day is super fun, but I have school work. I have my first test tomorrow so I have only been napping and studying all day today. 

I am being safe in Spain. I do not take drinks from strangers (or anyone really). I am not oblivious and I am always aware of what's going on around me. I go out in large groups and never too late at night. I promise that nobody will have to fly to Sevilla and search for my dead body for the next five years, because frankly I am doing just fine!

P.S. I love you Mommy and Grandma. Thanks for your concern

Las Setas

Last night, Allison and I went on an adventure to find Las Setas. They are a super cool architectural building that you can get on top of, and see the whole city. After asking three or four really nice Spaniards how to get there, we finally found it!!

The view of the Cathedral from the top

After we saw the city, we decided to stop for food. We went to a Taberna (tavern) where we met THE nicest Spanish waiter. He suggested two DELICIOUS things for us. We had some type of pork that looked like raw bacon but had salt and lemon on it. So yummy. Then we had adobo fried fish nuggets, which were equally amazing. We asked this kind man, who knew zero English, where the best discotecas were, and he was sweet enough to write down a list of his four favorites for us. Allison and I had such a good time!!!

Palomas en el Parque

Today a few of us went to Plaza de America, where there are swarms of pigeons that you can feed! It was so crazy; they were everywhere and had no fear. Here are some pictures from it:

Afterwards we came upon this strange castle building. Had to take a picture!

Hope you all are doing well!

Tapas!

I just got back from eating my first Spanish tapas with Allison!

It was so fun to sit down and enjoy people watching while sampling delicious food.

Here is the view of the cathedral from the restaurant. 

This was my favorite. Cold gazpacho soup with olive oil sorbet. SO good. 

Mojito

The menu. You probably can't read it, but EVERYTHING sounded good.

Our table setting. We got fried shrimps with an onion yogurt sauce. 

Goat cheese "lollipops" with sesame seeds and orange marmalade.