Day 28-¡Me gusta Sevilla...mucho!

Today was another early morning because it was my day to volunteer.  Luckily I seem to be enjoying it more and more each time I go.  I think the kids are starting to warm up to me a little bit as well.  I am trying to compile a list of soccer terms too because the Spanish people don't even know the translation, maybe just cause they don't know the English words, but so I was working on that, talked some to my co-worker, and then tried to have a little conversation with one of the girls, but she kept saying she was nervous to talk to me!  She is really hard for me to understand as well, but she thinks she is talking so slow.  Then she asked me to ask her a question in English, but she had NO idea what I said.  Then she asked my favorite singer, so I told her Carrie Underwood, but that was another fail.  Luckily, when she said Justin Beiber we were both finally on the same page! :) Then I took the bus back to my school and had class.  It was pretty interesting today, and I was able to understand a decent amount.  We took a quiz just to see what we know, went over some slides, and then had some time to interview someone in the class.  I liked that part a lot because we all got to practice speaking Spanish and learn some about each other.  Then we went walking throughout the city to see a couple spots: one was an Italian restaurant that had been built on top

of Arab baths and the other was a tomb that was found and has been maintained in a parking garage, which was kind of crazy, but that part was a lot harder for me because he kept talking, and for some reason, it was a lot harder for me to understand...so we'll see how that goes.  Then I went home for lunch: rice in a yellow/red sauce with lobster and peppers!  Then I went back to meet with my tutor and we had a good review session!  Then I headed out to the river to meet some friends to sunbathe!!  Then I went to meet my intercambio again, which was nice because I did not get to see her last week.  We walked around for a while then just sat at a restaurant and had tea.  We got to practice a good amount of both English and Spanish, and it is cool because we seem to have a lot in common, and we got to talk a lot about teaching.  She even invited me into her classroom to read a story with her students.  Unfortunately, there school goes from like 9-1:20 and my class goes from 10-1.  I may try to go early one morning and then just take a taxi to get to class on time because I think that sounds like an experience I would really like to have, so hopefully something will work out.  She also invited me to a party at their school this Friday, I think for the parents.  I may go, so I can see how things work in their school and just have the chance to attend something different in Spain!  We had a good time meeting and then she had to get home for a busy night ahead.  Then I finally caved; I had been doing so well, but I went into one store and that led to many more.  It was quite fun though just looking all around and definitely getting some ideas :) but I am still holding off for now!!  It was also cool because I walked around for a while by myself, and I am realizing it is rather empowering to be able to figure my way out on my own, or asking for directions (in Spanish!) if necessary.  It is reminding me of last summer in Burlington, except so much bigger, but now my other home away from home! :)  Today a woman even came up to me and asked me what bus she should take.  I asked her to show me where she wanted to go on her map, and she showed me, and I actually figured it out for her!  I just walked away laughing.  Then I went home and had dinner with my señora: tortilla, chorizo, and that other type of similar meat.  She gave me another one too that was similar to ham, but I was not a fan.  We were talking some more about food, and she thought it was really funny when she asked if I liked fish, and I said yes but no with the heads (just to make sure that is clear), and she started cracking up saying yea you don't like it when it's saying, "I'm watching you!"  No, I definitely do not.  Anyway, then I just had the rest of the night to relax, do some spanish reading, some Mere Christianity, and listen to some John Piper!  It was a busy day, but I loved it and am falling more in love with Spain!