Let's Explore: My First Spanish Friend

Lots of firsts this week! My program, CIEE, offers an "intercambio" service where they match you up with a student from the university of Sevilla that wants to learn english. After a little e-mailing back and forth I finally met my intercambio! His name is Javier and he is a Junior studying finance and accounting. It was funny e-mailing with him prior to meeting because he would e-mail me in english and I would respond in spanish. His english is a little rough but we're going to work on it! He said he was nervous about us being able to communicate but that my spanish was a lot better than he expected! I guess my writing needs some work!

We met for coffee at a cafe near the university, I'll tell you about a few things we discussed:
1. Even with my leather jacket I still look like an American. I asked him if I could pass for a Spanish girl and he said no way. I'm a little bummed, but maybe when I get some more sun I'll have a better chance of blending in.

2. He yelled (well not really yelled) at me for walking too fast! He was giving me a little tour and told me I need to slow down! He said that they take things more slowly in Spain and I tried to explain that I like to walk fast and be efficient! He told me I need to live the spanish way... we'll see.. not sure if I can stroll..I'm definitely a power walker!

3. When we were walking he started singing, One Direction, Story of My Life. I died of laughter. He then proceeded to tell me about how he loves listening to Elvis Presley!

Now, a little bit about my new classes!

9AM: I had international marketing this morning and I'm really looking forward to this class, considering my two majors are marketing and international business!

11 AM: My next class is Wine: In Spain. Yup, you read that right! A whole semester filled with learning about WINE! and yup, there are wine tasting throughout the semester! I'm going to come back so cultured and know how to drink wine the fancy way! (spin it, sniff it, sip it!) This class is in a different building from my business classes and a different building from where the CIEE center (my photo class). It's in an old building that used to be a tobacco factory, it's beautiful!

7 PM: Finance. Not looking forward to taking this class. I already have no idea what's going on and we had to read a spanish economist newspaper today in class. Good thing my intercambio is a finance major!

Taking all these classes in spanish is definitely difficult, but I'm pretty impressed with myself that I understand what is going on (for the most part)! It's definitely going to take some time to get used to, but I'm getting there!

Sending Smiles from Sevilla,

Rebecca

Some pictures of the university of Sevilla (where I have my wine class)! Can't believe this place used to be a tobacco factory! It's absolutely gorgeous!