Profesor del año

 

¡¡¡Felicidades Juli!!!

Tell us your story 1st Prize

1^st Prize

Theresa Gielissen

University of Wisconsin-Madison

 Gitana in Cowboy Boots

Since my plane landed in Sevilla, España I have taken a lot of pictures — 11,813 pictures, to be exact.  They follow me as I explored the twisted gardens of the Alhambra and climbed the 551 tiring steps in St. Peter’s Basilica.  They document my journey as I crossed borders and marveled at some of the most beautiful things this world has to offer.  If you don’t look closely, they paint my 8 months abroad as a fairytale, something you only read in children’s books.  In part, this is true.  The year I spent in Sevilla has been the very best year of my life, but it hasn’t always been a fairytale.  Sometime studying abroad can be difficult and confusing, but it is always, always rewarding.

My favorite picture of the trip is not exactly something you’d see in National Geographic.  It was taken a few weeks before my departure from Spain during the Feria, a weeklong celebration in Sevilla.  In the picture, I am dressed in the vibrant pink flamenco dress I borrowed from a Spanish friend.  Grinning impishly, I am lifting the heavy ruffles of the skirt to reveal … cowboy boots.  They were the only pair of heels I owned, so I had reluctantly donned them that morning, not wanting to ruin the expensive dress.  For most people, the picture is easily forgotten among the 11,812 others.  But for me, it represents an epiphany.

Because as I took the 45-minute walk to the Feria grounds that day, I finally figured out what everyone was trying to teach me from the beginning.  Studying abroad is all about discovering cultural differences and accepting them, not trying to change them.  You have to learn to embrace another culture while still respecting your own.  Most of the people who passed me that morning did not see the cowboy boots.  For the first time, I could have easily passed for a Sevillan native.  Even when people did see them (and, from the looks I got, I know that a few people did), I did not feel embarrassed like I would have in the beginning of my trip.  I walked with my head high and smiled, acknowledging that, while I could never be truly Sevillan, I was okay with that.  For the first time, I allowed myself to accept both cultures at once.  I will always be American, but Sevilla has left its mark on me.  This beautiful city and its wonderful people are part of me now, and, like my cowboy boots, I will always wear them with pride.

 

Tell us your story 2nd Prize

 

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More than a Little Shocking

 Mikaela Shaw, Indiana University

About this time last year, I was sitting in my final Spanish class when my BlackBerry buzzed. Curiosity won, and I decided to check the email against class rules - definitely a bad decision. It read: “New eruptions of violence in Mexico City have increased the security risk. As a result, the summer program in Cuernavaca is permanently suspended.” The sudden cancelation of my studies in Mexico that were supposed to start in two short weeks, left me stunned and unable to fully pay attention to the final review that I so badly needed.

Later that week I found myself in the Indiana University Overseas Study Office. After two long hours, I walked out with all but my visa for a year abroad in Sevilla, Spain. Shell-shocked, I could barely comprehend how quickly my life had taken a 180-turn.

Fast-forward three months. Despite badly needing to sleep on my final flight from Madrid, I found myself listening to a mother’s tale of her own daughter’s experience in Sevilla. Like me, she spent her junior year improving her Spanish and living the Andalusian life. When her year ended, she struggled to return to the States to finish her degree, but returned soon after graduating and is still happily raising her Spanish family in Sevilla.

Not only did this story freak me out a bit, it finally registered that I was actually in Spain where I would be living for the next nine months. As I think back to that moment, it is hard to remember what it was like not to feel at home in Sevilla.

Last fall I became acclimated and at ease living in a foreign culture with a language I barely spoke. This was not an easy process, but an unexplainable, incredibly worthwhile endeavor. As I stopped adjusting and really started living here, I developed a routine. Mondays were for volunteering with the homeless through Solidarios de Sevilla. Tuesdays and Thursdays meant I spent my evenings tutoring two of my Spanish friends in English. When my school load was light enough, Wednesdays brought endless hours at 100 Montaditos. We reserved Fridays for botellón next to the Torre de Oro, and Saturdays for bike rides by the river and dancing at Lo Nuestro. Sunday normally meant hanging out in Parque de María Luisa. Then I did it all again. And again. And again. Picturing myself leaving all this behind is impossible.

 For me, Sevilla is not just a tourists’ destination or the home of a great university. It is the place I call home – forever my second home. Although I will not be leaving behind my Spanish lover (that just never happened. . .), I will be leaving behind the true love of life – the countless relationships I have developed over the last nine months. So really, that kind woman from the plane knew more than I ever imagined. I guess it should not be so shocking – it really is impossible to live in Sevilla and not fall in love.

 

 

Tell us your story 3rd Prize

3^rd Prize

My CIEE Liberal Arts Experience-

Elizabeth Kelly Concordia University-Nebraska

         Growing up in Alaska, I dreamt of embarking on an adventure, not just a one-week trip, but leaving to actually experience another culture outside of the snowy frontier.

         With excitement, I researched options, finally choosing to study abroad with CIEE, in Sevilla, Spain. While I began my count-down during the dour winter weeks prior to my departure, the experience seemed like it would never come! I wanted to learn how to speak Spanish and to see far-away places! I had been planning ever since I submitted the paper to my University advisor, with the word “Spanish” scribbled in as one of my majors. When I arrived in Spain, “Spanish” was still just a word on a piece of paper, tucked neatly in a filing cabinet of my University. However, in Sevilla, I got to adapt that tiny word into a whole lifestyle!

         Suddenly, my life didn’t revolve around academic normalcy, but rather, around Spanish! And let me tell you something: there’s nothing like immersing yourself in a foreign culture to show you that you learning a language takes work!

         I remember when I met my host-mom, Consuelo. After a week of orientation, I hadn’t had many one-on-one encounters with Spaniards, but I was excited to meet her. Let the communication confusion begin!

         We exchanged a greeting of besitos, or cheek-kisses, and started conversing in the taxi.  Although I’ve studied Spanish, it has been a wonderful challenge to actually live completely immersed in the language. There have been many humbling experiences! Within five minutes into this first conversation with Consuelo, I managed to confuse the entire conversation, but it ended in laughter. She was completely patient and we still laugh about the silly mistake now! But living with Consuelo and taking classes with CIEE’s program has transformed my language skills completely.

         Language is so fluid, and some days the words seemed just to slosh around in my head. But it was worth all the difficulty. Vale la pena, as they say here. This semester has been the best academic and personal decision of my life!

         Seville has shown me a world completely different from Alaska. It is a place with beautiful words, like río (river) and naranjos (orange trees). Of course, I missed the expanse of the mountains at home, but this semester has been an amazing adventure of words and culture and life! I have fallen in love with a city that smells of orange blossoms and sounds like Flamenco guitars and has a beautiful Spanish language!  Studying and taking part in activities with CIEE has taught me that I can adapt to another culture and speak another language.  Of course, I continue to make grammatical mistakes and don’t look like a Spaniard, but I feel like Sevilla has become my home. I hope that others will go through the planning and have their own language adventure in a wonderful place, like Sevilla. It is worth it. Vale la pena!

 

Tell us your story 4th Prize

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Seville is like a box of chocolates….

                                               Rachel Krasnow, Indiana U

 

I’m in love with Seville and couldn’t be happier.  I came here an American studying Spanish and with no expectations but plenty of goals; I am leaving a ‘Sevillana’ with my heart on my sleeve.  I have had the time of my life this semester. Let the tears begin.

 Why do I love Seville?  Let me explain.  It is beautiful in so many ways and a true joy for the senses- the orange trees, the organ and Spanish guitar echoing through the extremely narrow streets, the sound of the tram running down Avenida de la Constitución and bike bells ringing as the Sevici bikes zip by you make Seville a wonderful city to live in.  I won’t leave out the gelato, tapas, cute dogs, dressed-to-the-nines Sevillians, and the true essence of traditional Spain that penetrates the air.

 Seville will inevitably always be the place where I have truly grown as a person more than I could ever imagine.   This semester was truly enriching experience in all aspects-I’ve had my trial and errors, but I will leave without regrets and with a lifetime supply of memories. 

 I’ve taken fantastic classes both at the CIEE study center and at the University of Seville. I have made several Spanish friends, although the process was challenging at times, and have learned their way of life.    I’ve learned the Spanish people absolutely do not use their cell phones in the same way Americans do, and that’s okay.  

 I’ve experienced the exhausting but vibrant nightlife at my own expense. I went to an authentic flamenco show and have seen beautiful Spanish women dressed in flamenco attire dancing the Sevillana in their Casetas during the April Festival.  I unfortunately only learned the first part of the dance, but I learned that by ‘winging it’ I could be just as successful.

 I’ve traveled to several different countries, including Portugal and England and around Spain, and have met people from around the world.  I’ve made great friends here, and we will always have this experience in common with each other.

 Studying abroad has its frustrations- you have to be flexible. I wanted to improve my Spanish, and I did, but it took some time.   It’s a challenge not to speak in English some times.  I wanted to take Flamenco classes but didn’t follow through with it. When you’re abroad, you learn what your priorities are and you run with them.

 As for becoming partially Sevillana, I grew accustomed to the relaxing and late eating schedule, taking a break to drink a coffee and get a pastry, and overall, living a higher quality of life.  Further more, I am so lucky to have built such a strong relationship with my Spanish family.   Living in a Spanish home has been an integral part of my study abroad experience, and I will forever miss it.

 Along with my wonderful experiences, I will additionally come out of it speaking better Spanish, and that’s what’s important.  Although I must return home, Sevilla will never leave me.

Ya huele a feria

 

 

Name: Theresa G.
Home School: University of Wisconsin-Madison
Nationality: American

Las preparaciones para la Feria de Abril ya han empezado!  Este año, la Feria, uno de los festivos más importantes de Sevilla, va a empezar el 3 de mayo.  Cada año, construyen una portada única, y esta vez la portada está dedicada a las primeras exploraciones de la tierra.  Según andalunet.com, la lema para las celebraciones de este año será, "la vuelta de Sevilla en un mundo."

Es un privilegio tener una "caseta", o un pequeño edificio en que su familia y sus amigos se pueden quedar durante el festivo, y mucha gente está en la lista de espera durante muchos años.  Estoy muy emocionada a verla con mis propios ojos! 

Para leer más de la portada y el arquitecto que la diseñó, visita http://feriadesevilla.andalunet.com/portada.htm

 Theresa

 

Semana Santa en CIEE

 

Estas Semanas los estudiantes podrán sentir el ambiente sevillano durante la Semana Santa. Todo esto será posible a través de la desgustación de productos típicos de esta epoca del año y del incienso que quemamos en el patio y que da ese toque cofrade al ambiente.

  

 

 

Jeff en la Residencia

 

 

Lent in Seville/Cuaresma en Sevilla

Maritheresa Frain, Center Director

CIEE Study Center in Seville

For those of us who live in Seville, the "feeling" of the preparations for Easter Week (Semana Santa) are everywhere.  In the Catholic faith, the 40 days before Easter are referred to as Lent (Cuaresma).   In Sevilla, we all know that it will soon be Easter because the orange blossoms (azahar) are nearly in full bloom and the smell is intoxicating everywhere we walk.

There are other signs as well that Easter will soon be upon us.   In the early hours of the morning (madrugada or madrugá in Andalucía), you will sometimes come across some of the brotherhoods (hermandades)  practicing the movement of their floats (pasos) through the city streets.  In Sevilla, the pasos are carried on the neck and shoulders of costaleros, sometimes up to 60 men, all of the same height, working as a team to move the paso sometimes for nearly 14 hours!!!  The costaleros work in shifts (cuadrillas) and since they cannot see what is going on outside (nor can you see them), they follow the instructions of the leader of the paso (capataz).  Keep an eye out for them when you are enjoying Sevilla late at night.

Mi intercambio

 
Name: Janey Scuzarella
Home School: University of Massachusetts Amherst
Nationality: American 

Me gustaría mucho escribir sobre mi intercambio, o mejor, mi amigo Fran. Al principio no éramos intercambios asignados por CIEE. Pero conocimos en uno de los Encuentros para intercambios de CIEE en la discoteca Malandar donde intercambiamos números.

Desde este primero encuentro, hemos ido a muchos barres y otros sitios juntos. Fran es el mejor intercambio que podría querer. A él le gusta hablar y enseñar sobre Sevilla y su historia y cultura, tanto que me gusta aprender y ver Sevilla. Con Fran yo he visto sitios históricos en Santa Cruz que no son bien conocidos, he mirado el más bonito espectáculo de flamenco. Fuimos juntos al sitio de la Exposición de 1992 en La Isla de La Cartuja y el sitio de la Feria donde él me explicó mucho sobre el gran evento en Sevilla.

Este fin de semana pasada nosotros fuimos al Parque de la Donaña para explorar y ver la naturaleza de Andalucía. Juntos veíamos los pueblos pequeños de Sevilla por una vuelta en coche, mientras escuchábamos música en inglés y español y por supuesto charlábamos.

Siempre, después de todos los encuentros, hay tiempo para tomar una cerveza.  Y eso es mi favorito parte, porque con tiempo se hace más fácil para hablar con Fran en español.  Si estamos sólos o con amigos, siempre paso un buen tiempo con Fran. No es sólo mi intercambio, es más. Fran es uno de mis mejores amigos aquí en Sevilla, y voy a estar muy triste cuando salga