NO8DO

In Sevilla we have a motto. It looks like this: "NO8DO" with an 8 that represents a knot called a madeja, so when you put it together it is "No madeja do" or "No me ha dejado" which means "you never left me" in Spanish. You can find the symbol all over the city in the most random places.

On the random poles that were all over the city to protect buildings

On the sewer covers

Part of the logo for the public bikes

And on the bike parking around the city

On the park sign outside my apartment

I found the motto appropriate during this time because now that I have officially left Sevilla, I know that it will never leave me. I spent the most wonderful 4 months of my live living in that city. I met amazing friends, professors, sevillanos...I can't even describe how much I will miss it! Saying goodbye to my friends on our last night left me with a strange feeling in my stomach, but of course all things come to an end. No me ha dejado.

Basically I spent my last week cramming for my four exams and avoiding the heat! It was 100 degrees the last three days I was there, so in a way I was getting smoked out! Everywhere I went I was sweating, and when I got back to my apartment it didn't stop! Elisa and Monolo told me that I still hadn't experienced anything close to the heat of summer---I don't know how they do it! Trying to fit in everything I wanted to do "one last time" and trying to be at least a little prepared for my exams left me short on sleep and energy, but that didn't stop me! I spent time by the river, in the park, walking by the cathedral...and of course getting ice cream at my favorite place actually every day! That was one benefit of the heat, always an excuse for ice cream. 

My last day in Sevilla was simple. I took my exams, went to my last pilates class, and went home for lunch with Elisa. She made me a soup-like dish that I loved with garbanzos, spinach and rice---that day it was painful to eat because I was dripping in sweat! Luckily she also had my favorite cold soup called gaspacho too! Next I went to the river to visit with my old friend Libby and say goodbye to my favorite ice cream. Packing was a chore because of the heat, but after I relaxed in the living room with the sevillano family and had our last dinner together. After saying goodbye I went out one last time with my chicas. It was fun because everyone from our program seemed to be in the same place and saying their goodbyes. I had an early flight so called it a night early with some of my friends and did our last walk back to Triana. 

Saying goodbye to my señora Elisa

And Monolo! 

Out with my friends on our last night.
Back to a place where our guide Fran took us on our first night! 

In the morning, Elisa and Monolo were already gone when I was leaving so I got to strap on my giant backpack and carry my 50 pound luggage down four flights of stairs all by myself in the heat! So that was fun...but I made my flight, got to London and navigated myself on two trains to my cousin Sarah's flat! So now I am enjoying the sunshine and 50 degree weather---50 degrees cooler than Sevilla! It is strange to be gone, especially when my friends are all back in the States, but I am ready to travel Europe with Grace! I am thankful for Sevilla, for my host family, for my friends, and excited to continue our friendships now that we are gone.