A Month of Study Abroad in Spain: Sevilla, Cádiz, Granada, Córdoba, Huelva, Itálica, & Madrid
Hola todos! The month in Spain flew by so rapidly. The time was filled with going to class, exploring Seville, and taking trips to see different cities in Spain. Before this trip, I had never been to Spain. I quickly fell in love with its European charm, good food, pleasant locals, etc. Experiencing this elegant setting with its unique style of Spanish was a Spanish language lover’s dream come true. Traveling around all different parts of Spain let me catch a glimpse of the diverse lifestyles within this country, and I loved what I saw. I was in Spain from January 3 until the 26th. For the majority of the time, I resided in Seville (Sevilla, in Spanish) while taking day trips to various areas close to us. The final few days, we traveled up to Madrid and learned about its history and culture. I went with a group of students and a professor from my university on this month-long Jan Term program. The group was small, so we all became rather close in a short amount of time. After coming, almost straight from China, it was a pleasant shock to be exposed to a totally different atmosphere and culture. Spain will forever hold a special place in my heart, and I am forever grateful that I had this opportunity to study abroad there.
Since I was attending the program through my university, I drove up to Spokane a day before my departure date, January 1, to relax before commencing this month-long adventure. I was nervous with anticipation and excitement for my next study abroad trip to begin.
On January 2, I was at the airport around 7 am to meet up with some of my classmates and also my professor. We flew to SeaTac, where we were joined by the rest of the group. At 1 pm we departed from Seattle and flew to Amsterdam. We had a slight layover in Amsterdam, and then flew to Madrid. We arrived in Madrid at 12:30 pm, where we had to catch a train to Seville. I was so jet lagged that I only vaguely remember the train ride. It was evening when we finally arrived at our destination. We were picked up from the train station by the Enforex’s (the school that we were going to attend while there) bus. The bus then dropped us off at near our host families’ houses. Each person from the group was paired up with one other person, and the pairs were given a host family.
Our host mother was very hospitable and made sure we were comfortable. She couldn’t speak any English, so we communicated in Spanish. Her home was very cozy, yet at the same time, very cramped. She resided in her apartment with her two cats. Our first night there, Allie (my roommate) and I could barely keep our eyes open to eat. We crashed into bed at the first opportunity and were sound asleep the next minute. Although I was so exhausted, I was exhilarated beyond belief to finally be in Spain. I had been anticipating this trip for ages (practically a year, to be exact). To finally be there was surreal. I was, at last, in Spain!!!
Seville
The time in Seville passed by rapidly as it was filled with classes, day trips, and exploring all different parts of the city. Since the program was an oral Spanish language program, many days we attended class. We would rise in the mornings, eat breakfast, and then walk the thirty minutes to Enforex (the school). The apartment, where we were staying, was on one side of the Puente de Triana (Triana Bridge) while our school was on the other. So, every morning we would have to walk to the bride, cross, and then walk into the city to where our classes were held. At first, I was not too thrilled to have to walk so much to get to school, however, I started enjoying it. In the mornings, people were walking, jogging, and riding their bikes alongside the river and on the bridge. People were kayaking in the river while the sun rose over the brightly colored buildings edging the river. It was such a picturesque sight. Close to 11 am, we would have a “siesta” (nap time or relax time) break. During this time, we would walk back to the house where we would have lunch, and then relax until we had to walk back to the school for our afternoon classes. Our classes consisted of practicing the Castellano accent (prevalent only in Spain), learning about Spain’s culture and history, and much more. The teachers were awesome. It was clear that they enjoyed their jobs because their enthusiasm would shine through. We also took additional extras of dancing, cooking, etc. It was a blast to learn how to make some of the traditional Spanish dishes, including gazpacho (vegetable soup).
Seville is a food lover’s paradise, if you are into what they offer, from paella to tapas (small snack-sized food), you will be in heaven. Since it is near the sea, there are many options that include seafood. Recently, a new upscale market called Mercado Lonja del Barranco opened up and has many options from seafood to sandwiches. It was super nice and was situated right near the river. There were so many cafes, it was almost impossible not to encounter on every block. They were the coffee lover’s dream place. Gelato was also plentiful. They had so many flavors that it was so tempting to get it several times a day. There were some days that I did get it a twice.
Wandering around the narrow roads bustling with people, it wasn’t difficult to discover new parts of Seville that you hadn’t noticed before. The city was overflowing with historical works of art. There were many museums, buildings, and cathedrals that all displayed the stunning architecture of a time that had long passed. Passing under the trees laden with oranges, I would often chance upon some new cafe, shop, or even the bull-fighting ring. Seeing the roads filled with the activity of busy people, horse-drawn carriages, etc. felt like a conglomeration of the new and the old. It is one of the reasons that I yearn to return and experience it all over again.
The Seville Cathedral is truly a masterpiece. Including the burial tomb of Christopher Columbus, there are other famous people buried there. The cathedral has a bell tower called La Giralda that was originally part of a mosque that stood in the very place that the present day cathedral is. The cathedral also has 15 different doors on its four facades. Each of the facades and doors represents something different. Strolling about the building was similar to seeing completely different buildings all put together. It was truly breathtaking and I could have spent hours looking at all the small details on the cathedral.
Cádiz
One of the few day trips we made was to Cadiz on January 6. We departed from Seville at 9:30 with our professor and a guide. It was slightly discouraging because the weather was very gloomy and fog had rolled in so that it was difficult to see the buildings and landmarks. While there, we got to explore a cathedral, the constitution statue, and the beach. Wandering around and viewing these landmarks, although covered partially by the fog, were still a sight to behold. It is astounding how much detail the artists and architects put into their work. Thankfully the sun peeked out from behind the clouds and fog while we were strolling along the beach. The beachfront was absolutely pristine with seagulls flying about above our heads. There were barely any people out on the beach since it was chilly outside. I really enjoyed wandering around looking at the expensive hotels lining the beach while the waves lapped up on the sand. We regretfully returned to Seville to continue on with our studies and adventures in other places.
Granada
Vamos! Our next day-trip stop was Granada. The ride there seemed to take forever, even though it was only three hours away. Our first destination was the Alhambra. The Alhambra was constructed during the time that the Muslim people were in charge and served as a palace, castle, and residential area for the servants. Walking through the different sections of this giant structure was truly awe-inspiring. The Muslim influence was readily apparent to the eye as the buildings featured Arabic architectural styles and Arabic script trailing over the walls. The sound of the gurgling fountains found all throughout the palace lent a very peaceful air to the atmosphere. The shrubbery was artfully planted in appropriate places to highlight the architecture, fountains, and pathways. Down in the town there were also obvious Muslim influences in the artwork that the locals sold, the cuisine, etc. The Alhambra is a truly magnificent place that I would visit again in a heartbeat. It was a shame that we didn’t stay longer to view more of the city and the surrounding area.
Córdoba
Córdoba is another wonderful place located in the southern region of Andalusia. It is also the capital of the province by the same name. On January 17, we traveled with another group, who was also studying at Enforex, to our destination. One of the students was from China so I got to practice my Chinese with him. He couldn’t speak any English, and wasn’t advanced enough in Spanish, so it was the perfect opportunity to practice another language. One of the famous attractions in Córdoba is the calle de las flores (flower street). The flowers are hung on the walls of the narrow streets so that people can admire them without worrying about hitting their heads on them. The main attraction there was the cathedral surrounded by orange trees. The impressive edifice was originally a mosque during the reign of the Muslim. Many people were just sitting in the sun enjoying the shade of the tree, while others went into the church to pay their respects. The day came to a close with a delicious meal, including trying pate (duck liver).
Huelva
Yet another short day-trip on January 18 to Huelva. The first stop we made was to the Monasterio de la Rábida, which is a Franciscan monastery located in Palos de la Frontera. The contrast of the white paint and the clay color on the buildings made for a very peaceful vibe. The flowers decorating the monastery were also scattered around on the ledges overlooking the courtyard. Our guide revealed that Christopher Columbus resided there while he was preparing for his journeys abroad. We then headed over to a small waterfront were life-size replicas of Christopher Columbus’ ships were docked. Seeing the ships in person definitely brought the history to life for me. Imagining the people running around getting the ship stocked for the voyage, and then setting sail for months, not knowing if you were going to ever see your loved ones again. Visiting any historical place or seeing artifacts from ancient times brings possibilities and what reality must have been like to my mind. It has been a privilege to see all these things in person when I never even dreamed of ever seeing them in my lifetime.
Itálica
Our final day-trip was to Itálica on January 20. The trip was more relaxed since we were only visiting one place there. Itálica is a preserved Roman city and birthplace of some famous Roman emperors. There was an amphitheater that was very well-preserved and we were able to view the underground part where the participates would queue. I could just imagine the roar of the crowd as they became excited. There were many Roman building ruins including a bathhouse, homes, etc. There were even floors covered in mosaic tiles. Viewing the Roman ruins was a great experience. Sadly, we were leaving Seville and the southern part of Spain in a few days as we made our way to our final destination.
Madrid
Madrid was like a whole different world compared to the south of Spain. The lifestyle was faster-paced and the buildings were more cramped. Personally, I favored the time I had in Seville over the the time I spent in Madrid. However, the experience there was unique and I wouldn’t trade it for anything in this world. Unfortunately, again, I didn’t take many photos. I think I’ve figured out that I get really tired of taking photos at the end of my trips. I’ll try to fix that problem. The architecture was simply splendid and again, I couldn’t believe how much attention they put into details. On January 24, we went to the Museo del Prado and Palacio Real. Both were magnificent. The museum was amazing to see all the historical artifacts and how history has changed so much over the years. The palace was unbelievable; sparkling white in the sunshine. The rooms inside were so extravagantly decorated that many bordered on gaudy. I really wanted to take photos but they were prohibited. If you want to see some photos though, just look it up. It is beyond amazing how people will go all out to display their wealth and prosperity. That night we also went to a futbol (soccer) game. It was one of my favorite memories from my time in Madrid. The soccer match was Rayo Vallecano against Atletico de Madrid. Hearing the people chanting the soccer teams’ chants got everyone’s adrenaline pumping. It was impossible not to get involved in cheering for the team you were rooting for to win.
The next day, January 25, was the last day in Madrid for us. We didn’t have much scheduled so that we could have time to wander around for a bit on our own. We went to the Parque del Retiro which was very fascinating with statues of devils and conquering conquistadors riding their trusty steeds. The lake was frozen over so it was fun to see people out walking on the ice, or just strolling about the park. It was a relaxing close to a hectic but marvelous month filled with language learning, laughter, storytelling, and friendships.
This Jan Term Spanish Language study abroad trip was absolutely superb and I am forever grateful that I got to be a part of it. Hopefully, I will get another opportunity to go back sometime in the future to relive and create new memories. On January 26, we left Madrid to return to America. It was a bittersweet journey home, but I am ready for my next adventure.
I am thrilled to announce that I will be going to Córdoba, Argentina for a semester! I will try to update my blog periodically to inform you about my experiences. I will be in Argentina from the beginning of March until the end of June. All of these journeys continue to impact my life greatly, and I can’t wait to share some of my favorite things with you. Muchas gracias.