Settling In

Well, I have officially survived the first two weeks, which I’ve heard are the hardest. It’s the period of adjustment and awakening, of building up frustrations and working through them, of getting lost and finding your way (especially when you live in the maze-like historic center of Seville.) And- it’s a super busy time, in my experience!

I think we all tend to idealize situations we’re anticipating in our heads. I had a lot of time to think about what my experience in Seville was going to be like, but in some ways I think this might have made adjusting harder. While it’s natural to imagine the way something is going to be, I think too much worry and too much hope could be a bad thing. It’s best to have an open mind, though it’s also not always easy.

I almost feel as though a whole summer’s worth of anticipation was packed into two or three weeks at the end of the summer, which is when I started talking more to students who had just studied in Seville. To build up so much excitement and head right into the adjustment period probably didn’t help to make things easier, though it’s completely normal for everyone feel the emotions I did: homesickness, stress, anxiety, a bit of culture shock, and so on.

But even during this brief and challenging time, there have already been so many wonderful things about this experience.

For one, I’ve already met so many incredible people, something that’s helped me through bad days. My speaking partner through Spanish Studies Abroad has been extremely helpful and kind, and always has so many interesting facts and stories to share about the city. He’s also shown me places I probably never would have found on my own.

I’ve already had great conversations with my flat mate and other friends I’ve made at school and through SSA, too. Even the people who I’ve just had chance encounters with have stuck with me, like this kind old man who shared his umbrella with me on my walk home from school one day. These people have, literally and figuratively, been the shelter in the middle of a storm.

I’m enjoying my classes at Universidad Pablo de Olavide, too, though I’m already typically busy with homework. My professors are great, and have already taught me so much. And the commute isn’t as bad as I thought it would be either. The metro ride goes by quick and the system is very easy to figure out.

My schedule even worked out (almost) perfectly. I got into all of the classes I wanted and I didn’t need to change anything around, though I did end up dropping one class, since I already had four and didn’t need the fifth. I think I made the right choice. Tonight I had my first Cultural Realities class with the SSA Center, and even though it only meets once a week, I think juggling six classes would have made me go crazy. Even though I’m here for school, there is so much beyond the academic life that I want to be able to experience, such as travelling outside of the city.

In fact, this past weekend two friends and I went to Cadiz to spend some time at the beach, Playa de la Victoria. Not only was it relaxing, but it was also a great experience to see another city and to organize a trip on our own. This weekend I’ll be going to Portugal, and I’m hoping to travel to many other places like Morocco, France, England, and other cities in Spain.

It almost seems impossible how much I’ve already learned, how many people I’ve already met, and how quickly time is flying. And now that I’ve gotten a bit more settled here, I can’t wait to see what the rest of the semester has in store.

#seville #travel #spain #studyabroad #sevilla #torredeloro #crossculturalexperience