First Impressions
As we drove from the airport to the location where our host family would pick us up, and as we walked from that location to the home, I spent the entire time trying to put my impression of Spain somewhere on the spectrum from India to America — the two countries I know best. Some of the residential architecture was reminiscent of my grandparent’s home in Delhi with the colors of the walls and the layouts of the neighborhood being similar, but not quite the same. I guess the greenery reminded me of America but that’s not enough. In just that walk to the homestay I realized that this neighborhood and this city are unlike any I have seen before.
After sufficient rest and a meal with our lovely host family, I went to roam the nearby Parque de Maria Luisa with just a paper map. I don’t know how we managed to navigate but once we found our way to the park I was captivated by the lush greenery. I stopped to take a photo of almost every other tree because each one had so much character. We roamed around and came across La Plaza de Espana, not knowing what it was. It is such a magnificent piece of architecture and I later learned that it was used as a set for a Star Wars movie. So basically I went to Naboo.
We met up with the group for a brief tour of the city and it is by far the most beautiful city I have ever seen. I spent the entire tour trying to capture the essence of everything I saw in the photos I took but failed to do any of the streets or architecture justice. This city is living up to and exceeding every expectation I had. I want to explore every corner of it. Two weeks here is starting to feel like not long enough at all.
On our second day, we had our orientation in Parque de Maria Luisa. Our wonderfully knowledgeable Sevilla coordinator presented us with some facts about Spain and the two cities we will be in. She explained that Spain as a country is extremely diverse, but Sevilla is the city that is most representative of what people think of when people think of Spain, specifically in terms of bullfights and flamenco. As I noticed in my first day here, the people in Sevilla have a very laid back attitude that I find quite refreshing. She went on to describe the differences in food, language, and safety between Sevilla and Barcelona.
I thought one of the most interesting aspects of our orientation was the discussion about living with our host families. I am lucky to have such a caring host, and it has only been a day but I have to remember that I am in her home. I have to adjust to her lifestyle. I think I am a fairly flexible and open minded person, and adjusting to the lifestyle of a local makes this experience that much more authentic.
