antes de salir
This week it really hit me. The countdown to the bittersweet end of my summer in Seville has begun. Bittersweet, indeed: bitter because right now, I feel like I could stay here (or honestly live here) for so much longer, and I feel like I’m just getting started; yet sweet, because I get to be reunited with friends and family, and I resume life as I know it. But the hardest thing is, I don’t think life will be “as I know it” ever again.
While in studying abroad, I’ve traveled in 3 different countries, been in a dozen cities, taken over a handful of buses, been lost more times that I can count, and learned more than I’d ever imagined.
Before leaving Seville (or antes de salir), my roommate and our two closest friends decided to make to-do lists. At this point, we’ve seen the Cathedral, we’ve shopped in Triana and the Center, and we’ve toured the Alcázar. What we have left are things beyond what you’ll find on Trip Advisor or in your guidebooks (sorry Mom). So for these next 5 days antes de salir, I’ve got my loaded list that I think will compile to create some of my best memories so far this summer.
1. Cine de Verano
One afternoon last week, my friend Jamison and I stopped in the school to talk with the evening receptionist and see if anything was going on. We ended up hanging out with the school’s director, Leslie, for an hour or so, and she recommended going to the Cine de Verano, or the Summer Cinema. During the summer, they show movies outdoors at the Diputación de Sevilla near Las Setas (the giant mushrooms) for just 4 euros. A lot of the movies are popular titles of American films, but they’re all shown in Spanish. Under the stars in Sevilla’s perfect night time weather with some of my best friends from Spain- the Cine de Verano is obviously on my list of must-do’s this week!
2. Noches en los Jardines de Alcázar
I’ve been to the Alcázar twice now, but I could go every day and still not get tired of it. Entry is cheap anyways for students, but for a little extra money, you can get admission and watch a concert in the gardens during the evening.
3. Las Setas for a Sunset
I’ve been to Las Setas several times too, but it’s such a genuinely cool place to hang out. The admission to go up to the top is only 3 euros for as long as you like to take in the beautiful views of Sevilla, and a drink is included. I’ve been there for class, in the late afternoon with friends, and one night to watch one of the Spain World Cup games. Las Setas was also where we went on one of my very first days here with my class, so I have great memories and a “special bond” or something I guess.
4. EAT in the Street
Obviously studying abroad costs a ton, so when I first got here I felt guilty for eating out since I’d already paid for my host mom to make me food for every meal. However now I’m feeling guiltier about not eating out more. Food in Sevilla (tapas specifically) is so cheap, and I’m going to try to have more tapas out and about at different bars and restaurants before I leave. One of my favorite places to get a deal is Cerveceria 100 Montaditos- they’re all over the city, but on Sundays and Wednesdays, every item on the menu only costs 1 euro! I also want to go back to Los Coloniales where I went on a Noche de Tapas with the school- it’s one of the most popular and beloved restaurants in the city by locals and tourists. I also found a couple of “top 10" lists that mention some bars really close to our apartment that I haven’t been to yet, like Cerveceria La Grande.
5. Talk, talk, and talk some more
Yesterday Jamison mentioned that these are the last 4 or 5 days we have to talk in Spanish as much as we want while having people who can talk with us and not look at us like we’re insane (I take back the latter half of that comment, because we’re still Americans trying to speak Spanish haha). I don’t regret speaking in English as often as I did (which really wasn’t often compared to a lot of my friends from school) because I think having English to fall back on with school friends was what helped us really bond and make connections. It’s very hard to create relationships with people without having the same topics or sense of humor or knowing how and when to use it. I have plans this week to go out to tapas with Katie (the student director), Mercedes (the receptionist), and my crew which will knock out some of the “eat in the street” and Spanish speaking! I’m also hoping that I can meet up another time or two with my intercambio. I’m trying to soak up all of the time I can with Marta in the house too; Juanjo’s gone for a few days with his dad at the beach, and we don’t know if he’ll be back before we leave or not! So crazy! When I get back to the US, I’m going to try to be really intentional about speaking Spanish and making a point of skyping with friends from SIS, my intercambio, or other Spanish friends like Dani and Marta so I can keep up what I’ve gained this summer. It’ll be interesting to see if all of my friends at Casa Brava will be able to understand me since I have my little Andalus/Spanish dialect now haha. Thankfully I do have a Spanish class this semester, but I want to continue to have authentic experiences where I can immerse myself in the language.
Antes de salir... three words that I really thought would never come cuando llegué / when I arrived. And now I can’t imagine leaving. Continue to live vicariously and jealously through my experiences as I near the end and attempt to get the full Sevillana experience antes de salir. See you soon!
While in studying abroad, I’ve traveled in 3 different countries, been in a dozen cities, taken over a handful of buses, been lost more times that I can count, and learned more than I’d ever imagined.
Before leaving Seville (or antes de salir), my roommate and our two closest friends decided to make to-do lists. At this point, we’ve seen the Cathedral, we’ve shopped in Triana and the Center, and we’ve toured the Alcázar. What we have left are things beyond what you’ll find on Trip Advisor or in your guidebooks (sorry Mom). So for these next 5 days antes de salir, I’ve got my loaded list that I think will compile to create some of my best memories so far this summer.
1. Cine de Verano
One afternoon last week, my friend Jamison and I stopped in the school to talk with the evening receptionist and see if anything was going on. We ended up hanging out with the school’s director, Leslie, for an hour or so, and she recommended going to the Cine de Verano, or the Summer Cinema. During the summer, they show movies outdoors at the Diputación de Sevilla near Las Setas (the giant mushrooms) for just 4 euros. A lot of the movies are popular titles of American films, but they’re all shown in Spanish. Under the stars in Sevilla’s perfect night time weather with some of my best friends from Spain- the Cine de Verano is obviously on my list of must-do’s this week!
2. Noches en los Jardines de Alcázar
I’ve been to the Alcázar twice now, but I could go every day and still not get tired of it. Entry is cheap anyways for students, but for a little extra money, you can get admission and watch a concert in the gardens during the evening.
3. Las Setas for a Sunset
I’ve been to Las Setas several times too, but it’s such a genuinely cool place to hang out. The admission to go up to the top is only 3 euros for as long as you like to take in the beautiful views of Sevilla, and a drink is included. I’ve been there for class, in the late afternoon with friends, and one night to watch one of the Spain World Cup games. Las Setas was also where we went on one of my very first days here with my class, so I have great memories and a “special bond” or something I guess.
4. EAT in the Street
Obviously studying abroad costs a ton, so when I first got here I felt guilty for eating out since I’d already paid for my host mom to make me food for every meal. However now I’m feeling guiltier about not eating out more. Food in Sevilla (tapas specifically) is so cheap, and I’m going to try to have more tapas out and about at different bars and restaurants before I leave. One of my favorite places to get a deal is Cerveceria 100 Montaditos- they’re all over the city, but on Sundays and Wednesdays, every item on the menu only costs 1 euro! I also want to go back to Los Coloniales where I went on a Noche de Tapas with the school- it’s one of the most popular and beloved restaurants in the city by locals and tourists. I also found a couple of “top 10" lists that mention some bars really close to our apartment that I haven’t been to yet, like Cerveceria La Grande.
5. Talk, talk, and talk some more
Yesterday Jamison mentioned that these are the last 4 or 5 days we have to talk in Spanish as much as we want while having people who can talk with us and not look at us like we’re insane (I take back the latter half of that comment, because we’re still Americans trying to speak Spanish haha). I don’t regret speaking in English as often as I did (which really wasn’t often compared to a lot of my friends from school) because I think having English to fall back on with school friends was what helped us really bond and make connections. It’s very hard to create relationships with people without having the same topics or sense of humor or knowing how and when to use it. I have plans this week to go out to tapas with Katie (the student director), Mercedes (the receptionist), and my crew which will knock out some of the “eat in the street” and Spanish speaking! I’m also hoping that I can meet up another time or two with my intercambio. I’m trying to soak up all of the time I can with Marta in the house too; Juanjo’s gone for a few days with his dad at the beach, and we don’t know if he’ll be back before we leave or not! So crazy! When I get back to the US, I’m going to try to be really intentional about speaking Spanish and making a point of skyping with friends from SIS, my intercambio, or other Spanish friends like Dani and Marta so I can keep up what I’ve gained this summer. It’ll be interesting to see if all of my friends at Casa Brava will be able to understand me since I have my little Andalus/Spanish dialect now haha. Thankfully I do have a Spanish class this semester, but I want to continue to have authentic experiences where I can immerse myself in the language.
Antes de salir... three words that I really thought would never come cuando llegué / when I arrived. And now I can’t imagine leaving. Continue to live vicariously and jealously through my experiences as I near the end and attempt to get the full Sevillana experience antes de salir. See you soon!
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