Sketches of Sevilla: living like a local
One might reasonably anticipate difficulties when attemping to network with locals in his/her second language. However, Andalusian people are among the most agradables I’ve come across, and meeting sevillanos has been as easy as approaching strangers on the street with various questions. Just the other night, a friend and I found ourselves in an unfamiliar part of town, so I stopped a friendly-looking woman to ask for guidance. Not only did she point us toward el puente de Triana, but she also walked us in the correct direction! As we moseyed along, we explained to her that we were students from the United States. She complimented our Spanish, and when we parted ways, she insisted on besitos – kisses on each cheek, used by Spaniards to express both greeting and farewell.
Another example: Today, I was trying on wedge sandals in a store and found a pair that I really liked. On the fence about my potential purchase, I turned to a fellow shopper and told her I needed another woman’s opinion. After asking me if the shoes were comfortable and having me twirl around a couple times, she smiled and gave me the go-ahead.
The situations I’ve described here are just a few of many: I’ve had political conversations with cab drivers, discussed Spain’s economic crisis with random passersby, and taken advice from the elderly individuals at my service-learning placement. Each morning, I leave the house excited to encounter new locals with whom I can exchange ideas.
On shopping: As one might expect from one of the world’s foremost tourist destinations, Spain has no shortage of places to spend money. Of course, there are retail districts with chains like Zara and H&M, but there are also pricy boutiques and outdoor stands. Today, I purchased the aforementioned pair of wedge sandals from a Spanish chain called Patricia, but I also bought a pair of pants off a roadside vendor. I haven’t acquired many exotic pieces to date, as gift shopping for family and friends is still on my to-do list. However, one classic Sevillan souvenir that I have my eye on is the abanico, or hand fan. Many women use their elaborately designed abanicos as an elegant way to keep cool.
While the euro is worth slightly more than the U.S. dollar, the current exchange rate is actually quite a bargain for American travelers. Moreover, since Andalusia is the poorest region in Spain, everything is significantly cheaper here. I budgeted roughly $1000 for this trip, and I’ve spent less than half of it thus far. This is not to say I’ve been careful with my money, as I’ve been investing in ice cream and tinto de verano at every opportunity – rather, Sevilla is a city where travelers can get more bang for their bucks. A good croissant is €1,10 at our language school, a gel manicure is €12, and (as I mentioned in a previous post) a cab from one point to another in the city costs €6-7 at most. While Europe on the whole might be expensive, Andalusia is a hidden gem for cash-strapped students like myself.
