Getting closer . . .

to making a decision! In the past week I have definitely had some revelations relating to what it is I want to do this next year. I now know that I definitely want to be back in the classroom, working with a group of kiddos more than just 2-3 hours a week. I should know what I'll be doing within the next week . . . xx

Feria - One of the Best Weeks in Seville!

All I have to say is that if you ever plan to visit Seville in the future, I highly recommend visiting during the week of Feria - it was amazing!! I went four out of six nights and each time I loved it a little more.

So what made it so great? I think it's a combination of things. First of all, seeing women in flamenco dresses of all colors, patterns, and styles was one of my most favorite things. Everyone looked so beautiful! I was able to wear a borrowed dress for one night and although it was a little tight, you feel so womanly wearing it! Between the dress, the flower, the earrings, the manton - it's like dressing up for an adult prom - I love it! Then there are the Spanish men (andextranjeros) dressed in beautiful suits and ties. They aren't too bad to look at, either . . . :)

Anna and I in flamenco dresses for the day!

Some of my business students who invited us to their caseta!

Then there are the casetas themselves. Beautifully decorated and filled with people drinking, eating, talking, and dancing. Sevillanas are constantly being played, either live or as a recording, and it seems that just about everyone knows them! It's so fun to watch men and women dancing to them.

In addition, we were lucky enough to have Spanish friends that invited us into their private casetas. This made such a difference - in the atmosphere and the people. It also meant that there were times we didn't have to spend quite so much money on rebujitos, which was quite a nice surprise! Apparently, the average Sevillano spends about 800 euros during the week of Feria. I am happy to say I spent less than 100!

Concha (one of Anna's students) and her husband Jose Luis invited us to a number of their casetas for their afternoon. It was such a fun day!

So, Feria basically is a week-long party! Lots of drinking, eating, laughing, dancing, and late nights - what a great combination! And, if I happen to stay in Seville another year, I will definitely be investing in my own traje de flamenca and sevillana lessons - that's my only regret so far. If planning a trip to Spain in 2011, try to make it to Feria - it's worth it!

Me encanta Feria!

Wow - so Feria only began at midnight last night, but I am already in love with this Sevilla tradition! Feria is essentially a week-long party that happens about two weeks after Semana Santa. Here are a few of the important details:

Feria is full of casetas - tents that are both public and private. Each caseta is "owned" by someone - a group of friends, a business, the city, etc. The majority of the casetas are private, which means you need a ticket to get in. However, there are some public ones as well. The casetas truly are little houses! The front half is set up with tables, chairs, and a dance space. The back half usually includes the bar. There is always a competition to decide the best-decorated caseta - they are amazing!

One of many rows of casetas

People spend hours and hours in the casetas, eating, drinking, and dancing Sevillanos - a specific style of flamenco dancing. Women are dressed in full flamenco attire - dresses, shoes, flowers, earrings, hair pieces - the works! They look absolutely stunning! Most Spanish men wear fabulous suits. (Of course, you can wear anything to Feria, but this type of dress is the most typical.)

In addition to the casetas, there is also Calle Infierno (Hell Street), which is full of carnival-style rides like ferris wheels, bumper cars, and roller coasters. And, because this is Spain, most of these rides do not have the safety features you would find in the US (e.g. lap bars)! Apparently they are pretty great for an adrenaline rush! During the afternoon, it is often common to find people on horseback, enjoying the day.

At midnight on Monday, all of the lights of Feria were turned on, el alumbrado, signaling the official start of the festivities. It was beautiful! From now on, the majority of Seville can be found in Los Remedios, enjoying rebujitos (manzanilla and sprite - a delicious, but dangerous combination!), dancing Sevillanos, and having a fantastic party. I can't wait to experience more of it!

La Portada - lit up!

Flamenco Anyone?

Last post today - I promise! During my time in Seville, I have gone from not especially enjoying flamenco music to absolutely loving it. I think it's been hearing it everywhere, having it sung to me by my favorite man at the markets, and the show Liz, Kevin, and I happened upon at La Tasca that have created a bit of an obsession in me.

Flamenco is a HUGE part of Feria (the week-long party/fair that Seville is also famous for), which begins late Monday night. So, I decided I wanted to find some tunes to start listening to. I highly recommend this group - Ojos de Brujo - in case you want to check some out! It's traditional, yet has a more modern edge - I love the album titled "Bari." You can't help but want to tap your feet or clap your hands a little. (Check out their website below.) Enjoy! xx

http://www.ojosdebrujo.com/

Food for Thought

As you noticed from my earlier post today, I've been thinking a lot about the upcoming year. I decided to see if there was anything out there that might inspire me a bit . . . Here are a couple of quotations I found that have given me something to think about. (No Friday classes and working internet can be a dangerous combination for me - sorry!)

"You must know that in any moment a decision you make can change the course of your life forever: the very next person stand behind in line or sit next to on an airplane, the very next phone call you make or receive, the very next movie you see or book you read or page you turn could be the one single thing that causes the floodgates to open, and all of the things that you've been waiting for to fall into place."

- Anthony Robberts

No pressure, right?!

"When making a decision of minor importance, I have always found it advantageous to consider all the pros and cons. In vital matters, however, such as the choice of a mate or a profession, the decision should come from the unconscious, from somewhere within ourselves. In the important decisions of personal life, we should be governed, I think, by the deep inner needs of our nature." -

Sigmund Freud

I'm counting on my unconscious helping me out soon! And once it does, I hope Ralph is right . . .

“Once you make a decision, the universe conspires to make it happen.”

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

xx

Hmmmm . . . still no decision!

Well, I was really hoping that by this time, I would have figured out something about next year. However, I have to admit that I am no closer to coming to a decision than I was a month ago! Although I don't feel overly stressed about it most of the time, my stomach and dreams are telling me that my subconscious is constantly thinking about it.

I still have yet to hear from any international schools in Europe . . . I know that openings could happen at the last minute, but I don't know how long I am willing to wait. In addition, it seems that much of APS is in a hiring freeze, so I don't know what positions will be open for me there, if any. Ahhh! So what to do?!

I've been looking into possibly taking a Spanish class through the University of Seville in the fall, which would only cost about 260 euros and allow me to get a student visa, work on a contract, and therefore make more money and be here legally. And learning more Spanish is obviously an added bonus!

However, I just don't know what I want to do! I'm not sure I want to start completely over in some new city unless the situation was one I couldn't pass up. At the same time, staying in Seville without my Spanish best friend Anna (who is planning to return to Brisbane in July) would make for a very different year. I know that I don't want to continue moving around and not settling anywhere, yet I still don't know if I am ready to go back to Denver because when I do, I have a feeling it will be for good.

So, I still have no idea what to do! For every pro, there's a con; for every reason to stay, there's a reason to go. I keep hoping that some sign will miraculously appear (i.e. a job offer, the man of my dreams :) and I will know exactly what to do. For the sake of my stress levels and the effect they have on my body, I hope that "sign" will appear sooner than later . . . xx

New Address!!

Kind of a last minute thing, but I am actually moving into a new place tomorrow! I had been searching for awhile due to the water damage and constant state of disrepair of my casa, but nothing was appearing in my price range. However, my SBFF Anna's roommate moved out somewhat suddenly and a room is available in her much more modern, has an oven, air-conditioning, and matching furniture apartment. So . . . I am moving in tomorrow! I will post a few pics soon. In the meantime, here is my new address:

Piso 1

Calle Divina Enferma, 2

41003 Sevilla

Espana

Our fabulous "dining room" - perfect for lesson-planning, dinners, and hanging-out!

Yep - I now have an oven!

Our living room with real couches

My new bedroom :)

¿Qué es Semana Santa?

Easter marks the end of Semana Santa, the religious celebration that has been happening in Seville (and other parts of Spain) since Palm Sunday. And what a celebration it was! Sevillanos seem to either love or hate this time in Seville. The ones that love it attend one paso after another, while the ones that don't often leave for the beach or mountains for the majority of the week.

Although it had it's frustrations, I am so happy that I decided to stay in town for my first Semana Santa. For being someone who doesn't practice any form of religion, the tradition, culture, and reverence that were part of this week were absolutely fascinating to me. Let's see if I can briefly explain Semana Santa:

About 60 hermandades (brotherhoods of churches) from all around Seville participate in Semana Santa. On a given day of the week, they leave their church and march to the Cathedral in the center of Seville, and back. For some churches that are close by, this takes about 6 hours. For others, it can take up to 14!

One of the hermandades we saw in the center

The procession starts with nazarenos, men and women dressed in long robes and pointed hoods (very reminiscent of KKK members) who carry candles. The hoods are quite tight and uncomfortable, a way for nazarenos to show their penance. Some also march barefoot as another form of penance. I can only imagine what 14 hours of walking barefoot through cobblestone streets can do to you!

Nazarenos

After the nazarenos comes the paso, a huge "float" that has a statue of either Jesus or the Virgin Mary. These pasos are works of art, made of gold, silver, wood, candles, flowers, etc. They are incredible! Underneath are 25-60 men who carry the paso on their neck and shoulders. They are covered, so it seems as though the paso moves on it's own. They follow a beat from one of the leaders of the procession.

The paso of La Macarena - one of the oldest and most famous in Seville

Behind the paso is usually a band that performs a variety of songs specific to Semana Santa. As the paso passes, people often touch it and make the sign of the cross. Nazarenos will hand out pictures of the Virgin or Jesus to people in the crowd, as well as candy to children. In addition, children often try to make wax balls out of the candle wax the nazarenos have. There are other parts to the procession as well, but these are the main ones.

Many Sevillanos wait all year just to see their specific hermandad. It is not unusual to see some very emotional responses as they pass. Although I can see why many people actually leave the city during this week (getting around the city becomes almost impossible!), I am so happy I was here to experience it -- what a fantastic cultural week in Spain!