Meeting the host family

Met my host family this morning! We had breakfast at the hotel and then caught a taxi to the apartment. She greeted us at the door (after we got lost and had to ask a Spanish man for directions) with a kiss on each cheek. Her name is Inés, and she lives in an apartment just across from the mall and a supermercado called El Corte Inglés. It's about a 15 minute walk from EUSA, where we will be taking classes (EUSA is a center for foreign students or Spanish students who are studying English in Sevilla.)

Inés is very sweet. She was very friendly and nice. Although it's sometimes difficult to understand her, she repeats things three or four times so we are able to understand. She sat down with us and asked us about our families and I gave her the book I'd brought about Asheville-- although apparently she has had several students from Asheville and in Ana's room there was an Asheville poster! She also laid down the rules (los regalos) of the household, like that we are not able to bring friends over at all. This is something very different about Spanish households-- they don't have people over at all, they only meet in the street, at the cafés, in the bars or discotecas.

Inés brought us to El Corte Inglés and the mall, and then cooked lasagna, salad with pommegranets, and bread for lunch. We ate with her and her daughter Ana, who is 15. Lunch (almuerzo) is the biggest meal of the day and is served around 2:00 and dinner is small at 9 p.m.

After dinner we took full advantage of our siesta (nap), although it ended up making me more tired. At 5 p.m. we went to EUSA, where we had an orientation.... basic things like safety and emergencies and class schedules and such. Then I went with Carly, her roommate Alex and Cherise to El Corte Inglés to buy some things we needed.

Dinner was at 9:35 p.m.-- sandwiches with ham, eggs, cheese, lettuce, tomato and salad. After dinner I called Kevin and my mom, then watched Friends with Inés and Ana. Apparently they love Friends and they watch it nearly every night! I was very excited... even though it's in Spanish I've seen each episode enough times to know exaclty what they're saying.

After Friends Cherise and I planned to meet up with some people and explore the city a little. We wanted to go somewhere fun, but apparently you have to know where you are going in Sevilla to find anything. After walking around the city for about two and a half hours (!) we ended up chilling in a pizzeria. Cherise and I split a chocolate doughnut and I had a beer.

It's been a long day! Hasta mañana!

Picture 1: Our apartment from the courtyard where we have a pool
Picture 2: Our apartment, from the outside
Picture 3: Our room, my bed and my roommate Cherise