On Saturday we woke up and checked out of the hotel locking all of our suitcases in one small room and went to breakfast in the hotel. Then it was time for our tour of Sevilla, which was modeled as a scavenger hunt. Unfortunately, as we reached the doors we were met with rain pouring down. Naturally I forgot my umbrella at home, and of course my amazing new rain jacket called H2N0 (creative) was packed at the bottom of my suitcase…locked in a room containing at least 50 more suitcases. I was not a happy camper on our 30 minute walk to the CIEE building. We got our directions and split into groups of three or four. Before we left I stopped in a little store to buy an umbrella, and don’t worry I didn’t use it the entire day; just my luck. The tour/scavenger hunt was going great until my group was approached by 3 women that began reading all our palms without time for us to react we just stood there dumbfounded. Then they tried to scam us out of money and me being the loser American that doesn’t know how to walk away from situations like this gave the lady 5 Euro. HOW EMBARASSING! She tried to scam me for more money, because she saw my 20 Euro in my wallet, but at least I didn’t suck enough to give her anymore. I was beyond mad at myself at this point, but we continued on our way and I enjoyed learning more about Sevilla.

After the tour we went back to the hotel where we awaited our new ‘families’ to come pick us up. I wasn’t nervous about moving in to someone’s home, until I sat there waiting and watching people shuffle in to the lobby. Francisco came to pick me up and I was even more nervous then, because I expected Maria to be there, in which I would have shown a little more ease. I was also concerned at first because every time he would say ‘let’s go’ (vamanos) he sounded hurried and I felt rushed, but it turns out I took it the wrong way. Francisco was really nice and he was patient with my poor Spanish. On the ride home we talked a little about weather and family and then turned into their parking garage. I felt so bad because he was helping me with my luggage and of course took the bigger suitcase, luckily they live on the first floor and there were only a few stairs from the parking garage to the courtyard area.

Maria, my senora, greeted me at the door, she was so nice, but talked too fast for me, I often have to ask her to repeat things. I get really embarrassed and flustered when I speak with them. They always tell me not to worry but it can be really frustrating when you know exactly what you want to say but don’t know how. As I proceeded further into the house I met their granddaughter. She is only 1 ½ and she is adorable. She continued to ask who the new girl was and they tried explaining to her. She was apparently not satisfied with their response and decided I was part of the family and continued to call me tia (aunt). I joked to Francisco and Maria (in broken Spanish, of course) that their granddaughter knew more Spanish than I do. They thought it was funny, but they probably agree. We got to know each other more over a lunch of meatballs with fried potatoes and a salad. It was muy delicioso! I was fairly comfortable here for it being only the first day, and Francisco helps because he will randomly sing songs and it reminds me of Popsie :) haha. Then we watched some TV and I took a much needed siesta . . . that is one Spanish custom I will be bringing home with me!

That night we went out as a group for tapas and then to a bar that offered 100s of different kinds of beers. A popular beer amongst some people in my group had a scratch and sniff label of weed; it was so weird, but highly (no pun intended) entertaining. It was great because the bar was crowded so we just moved it to the street, and that was okay, and legal! QUE BUENO! Later we went to a club, or discoteca but it was full of Americans. It was an interesting place but I left early because I couldn’t handle all the cigarette smoke it makes me super nauseous and I hate smelling like it after each day and night out. That’s an example of a Spanish custom that I will not mind leaving. EVERYONE smokes here, and they are allowed to smoke wherever they want. It stinks, literally!

I got home late that night because I got lost, but luckily I was with a girl from my group, Delaine, and even luckier she lives in the same building as me! However, neither of us could open the gate to get inside to the buildings for quite some time. We finally made it in and as I was attempting to unlock the front door to my house I accidentally rang the doorbell at approximately 2 in the morning. HOW EMBARASSING! But at least I found my house, one boy in my group couldn’t find where he lived so he just walked around literally ALL NIGHT! I would have been a mess and undoubtedly at the police station haha.

Sorry this post was so lengthy but a lot is going on! PS: I HAVE WIFI IN MY HOMESTAY!!!! That made me beyond happy! WOOHOO!