un mes

Well I did it, one month in Sevilla! This whole experience has been a roller coaster for me...being away from family for such a significant moment in our lives, completely reworking how my daily schedule works, adjusting to the diet, and now working homework into the mix. It is weird because getting on the plane was an emotion that I can't put into words, but I've been trying to keep to the attitude of "going with the flow" and I think it is working for me! I have learned so much about myself in just one short month, and I am so thankful for the opportunities and the people I have met here.

On Wednesday night, I had a jamón (ham) tasting with my interest group. A man who works with jamón ibérico (the kind that Andalucía is famous for) gave a presentation on the process of making the jamón, and then of course we got to try it! The pigs are fed acorns, which I guess make them the best?? But basically there is a whole process for drying and preserving the ham, literally still on the hoof, and then they carve it into thin slices to enjoy with wine and cheese. We had ours with wine called Manzanilla which is made in Andalucía and was definitely stronger than your average wine.

Yep, just a typical jamón hoof being carved

Go into any Spanish market and you are bound to see something like this!

Thinly sliced. So yummy! 

There are some Spaniards in our interest group too, which is a nice way to meet people! I talked to one who had been to America one time and where did he go?? Minneapolis of course! He had seen a Twins game at the dome and also watched the Vikings. Of all the places in the United States... 

At the ham tasting our group leader had some interesting news for us: Our original flights fell through for our trip to Mallorca in April. Being that the trip was the main thing that motived me to choose this group, I was upset when our leader told us our trip was being switched to a weekend in Madrid. Thank goodness she was kidding! But we did have to change our trip a bit...the only flights that worked for our weekend involved extending the trip for one day! How sad, one extra day in Mallorca. This girl isn't complaining! 

This weekend was more or less relaxing, because I had three full days to spend in Sevilla. On Thursday night, the "brother" of one of my friends took us to a Spanish club in the neighborhood called Los Remedios. I didn't even leave my apartment until midnight, and didn't get to the club until around 2:30 in the morning. All totally normal in Spain! With my friends and our Spaniard guides for the night, we danced in a room full of disco balls until the sun was about to come up. Definitely something that I needed to experience while here, but I don't think it will turn into a daily activity. I just can't justify sleeping during the day when it is 65 without a cloud in the sky!

This week I feel will get me more into the swing of what the rest of my time here will be like. I have homework, meetings, soccer on Wednesday nights, and SPIN CLASS! That's right, they have Spin in Spain. Just couldn't go 4 months without it! Tomorrow I have a volunteer meeting for a potential opportunity to work with disabled kids in my neighborhood. Crossing my fingers that it works in my schedule! Now back to my homework...a reading on the origin and varieties of olive oil in the Mediterranean diet! Good thing they eat dinner late here because I am going to need some food after reading about all the good oils!