tengo que comprar un ordenador

As some of you know, my computer broke.  We have the modem for our internet in the window and my bed is directly below the window and somehow the cord was pulled, and the modem fell.  Meanwhile, I was on my bed using my computer.  The modem fell and cracked my screen.  I went to the Apple store here today to ask how much it would be to fix.  800 euros!  So, I may as well buy a new computer if I will be spending that much money anyways.  Right now I can only see about a third of my computer screen, so things will get more difficult.  I guess we'll see!  Also- Lucas would be proud because I think I have had the song "Insane in the Brain" in my head for the past week!  Hope things are going more smoothly for all of you! 

Love

Franny  

Carnaval

Last night I went to Cadiz for a huge festival called Carnaval.  The only way I can explain this is to say that it is Madison on Halloween + Mifflin + Mardi Gras.  We took about an hour and a half bus ride from Sevilla.  Everyone dressed up (I was Zorro).  The bus left at around 9 and we got off the bus at 11pm.  Driving in I saw some funny costumes.  After getting off the bus, we walked to the main area.  People were singing, playing drums, having fun with their costumes, and drinking (of course.)  It was a lot of fun, but the night soon became very very long.  We got on the bus to get back at 4am, and I got into bed at 6am.  It was a fun experience seeing everyone dressed up and having a good time.  There were half a million people in a city built for thirty thousand, to give you some idea of the insanity.  If you had to go to the bathroom, you peed in the street.  This of course led to urine... evvverrrrywherrree.  I actually got in a verbal altercation with a Spanish guy while I was shielding Chrisy.  He was peeing close to her and saw her and thought it would be funny to pee at her.  So I kicked him, and he went away then they were laughing a few wards away so I flicked him off.  He came over and I started yelling at him in Spanish saying that he was being completely rude and that it was disgusting etc.  He finally apologized and I made him apologize to Chrisy.  So don't worry... I can hold my own in a fight even in Spain.  Time for dinner, I'm starving!  Love you I'll write more later.

Franny

un recorte por favor

Today I got my haircut.  Chrisy needed one too and since we were both pretty nervous about it we decided to go together (strength in numbers.)  When we got there they asked for our names so I said Franchesca (no one understands Franny or Frances here so I had to improvise.)  They put us in these little smocks that were made out of the materials those hospital slippers you put over your shoes are made of.  In the States, they make a very conscience effort not to get any water in your ears, eyes, etc.  I couldn't hear a word she was saying because there was so much water in my ears.  But it was fine.  Then she sat me down and I had to take off my glasses (bad idea.  I should always ALWAYS wear contacts when I get my hair cut) which left me completely blind as to what she was doing.  I told her only 2 cms, and side bangs (luckily I had a picture.)  After combing my hair to whatever side she instantly took my bangs and chopped them off.  In one swipe.  That's when the nerves set in.  But I let her do her thing.  I figure if nothing else I'll look more Spanish, right?  She cut it a little shorter than I had hoped for, but at least the ends are cleaned up and hair grows back!  I'm pretty happy with it though, you all will have to skype me now.  As Maria says after dyeing my hair and now cutting it I really am a new person, which is when the name Franchesca came into the picture. Haha.  Anyways thought I'd let you know it wasn't so bad!

After lunch, I walked around parts of the city I hadn't been yet on my own.  It was really fun exploring and I found a lot of really cute shoe and clothing stores, so I will have to go back! 

Miss you all!

Love

Franny

beautiful weekend

Finally!  A stretch of days without rain! And on the weekend!  It was fabulous.  I don't have classes on Fridays so I will be getting very used to the idea of three day weekends.  This past weekend was incredibly relaxing.  I stayed in Sevilla so it was nice to just wander around and explore the city.  I am going to Carnaval this coming Saturday.  It's basically an intense combination of Madison's Halloween and Mardi Gras. Yeah... I know it sounds insane.  Basically we are going at around 8 on Saturday night, staying up all night, and getting back on the bus at 4 in the morning to come back to Sevilla.  I'll definitely let you know how that goes.  So, I have been searching for a costume all weekend.  I have yet to find one because I dont want to spend a ton of money, nor do I want to be dressed in very few clothes.  Saturday I went to the other side of Sevilla called Nervion.  I actually have a class there now in the business school.  Chrisy and I walked and it ended up taking much less time than we had originally planned.  We were on a mission for flats (the all are patent leather, snakeskin print, or severe pointy toes)  but did not end up finding any.  Nervion has a big shopping center that's three stories with restaurants, a movie theatre, stores, etc.  We decided to try out the bus system on the way home in order to make it for dinner (and we just didn't feel like walking.)  The bus we took went in a HUGE loop around the city in order to link Nervion to Triana.  It was fun to see a lot of the city that I had not yet been through.

Sunday morning I woke up bright and early to go hiking.  It was a perfect day.  It was very pretty and I took a lot of nature pictures.  But as always, the pictures don't do it justice.  It was a fun hike though. Very steep in parts and there were a ton of rocks in the path, which made looking around at the scenery quite difficult at times. 

Monday I started my one new class (European Economics) which I LOVEEEEE.  I have the same professor for two classes, and I am not ashamed to tell you I have a small inkling of a crush on him.  

Not much new today (Tuesday) I had another new class (Three Cultures) and the professor is much better than the other guy I had at first (Sorry Jessica and Chrisy)

I think that's about all for now.  I just heard Maria walk in the door and I am hoping for an early dinner...

Oh! Before I forget.  Nicole is slightly sick, and last night I told Maria and she got all worried.  It was very funny because she gets VERY motherly.  And in the middle of the night, Nicole woke up coughing and I (in my sleep) go "Que paso?!"  (for all you non Spanish speakers "WHat happened?!")  So I now am not only talking in my sleep, I am talking in Spanish.

More soon. 

Love 

franny

I forgot I came here to study...

Since being here in Sevilla we have had opportunities to tour all of the major sightseeing spots for free, so why not?!  Italica was the first place we went to.  We walked around looked at ruins of an old city.  It actually was pretty interesting, especially because we only toured the newer part of the city.  The old part is actually underneath a smaller town now.  These houses were enormous, the whole family lived together so I would hope so.  We also saw an old gladiator ring and I sent Charlie a postcard of where they used to keep the lions and such.  

I also went to La Catedral, which is the 3rd largest in the world.  Walking in was breathtaking.  Everything was so intricate and HUGE.  I decided to take a picture where the priests used to sit to convene.    

This past week regular semester classes started.  I only have two classes every day (for about an hour and a half to two hours each) Monday through Thursday.  No friday classes, which is perfect for traveling purposes.  At the end of the week I switched two of my four classes.  They are letting me take a class at the business school because that is where their economics department is.  But it's at least an hour walk from my house, which means I need to figure out the bus...  So, now my four classes are Three Cultures (Christian, Jewish, and Muslim), Contemporary Spanish Economic History, Transition to democracy, and European Economy.  It will be nice because taking two econ classes here (which will most likely be easier) means I only have I think two more to take to finish the major!  I switched into a different three cultures class, which kind of sucks because Jessica, Chrisy, and Jillian are all in it, but it was the only way to take an extra econ course.  Besides, our professor is so bizarre.  He never actually acknowledged that he is talking to a room full of students.  And when he talks he covers his mouth a lot, but continues talking so all you hear is a muffled Spanish man trying to teach a bunch of Americans.  I hope my new professor is better, but you never know.  

The weather here is finally starting to get nicer.  It has been  "unusually cold and rainy" to the point where I have heard multiple Senoras apologizing for it.  I'm staying in Sevilla this weekend and on Sunday morning I'm going hiking (Cath thinks the concept of me hiking is hilarious.  When I told her she goes "Hiking?! Like outside?!" Have some faith.)  

I'll let you all know how that goes.

Love

Franny

¡Granada!

This past weekend I went to Granada with my program. For those of you who don´t know Granada is east of Sevilla (about a 3 hour bus ride.) We left VERY early Saturday morning, stopped half way at a Shell gas station with the most gorgeous view, and arrived at our hotel around noon. Our hotel was right next to La Alhambra (a palace and fortess building all rolled into one.) I shared a room with Chrisy and Jessica and the first thing we did was take a 30 minute power nap (it was essential.) The hotel had buffet style meals, which were incredible, and I finally got to try paella! It was SO delicious. After lunch, we went on a short walking tour of the city. During the walk, we came to a plaza with a ton of hippies selling bracelets, scarves, etc. All of the sudden they just started packing all of their things up because the police were coming. (Chrisy later told me they used a keyword for the police "AGUA") After the walking tour we went to Capilla Real, a mausoleum in honor of los Reyes Catolicos. It was very pretty inside, but we were not allowed to take any pictures. Their is a room in Capilla Real that actually contains the remains of los Reyes Catolicos (Fernando and Isabel) along with their daughter (Juana la loca <-- sad story behind the name) and her husband (Philip el hermoso) and the tiny body of Miguel. After the Capilla Real, our group went to a teteria (teahouse) and drank incredible tea and Arabic desserts. After all of that, we went back to our hotel, got ready for what would turn out to be a long, fun night of dancing, ate dinner, and watched the Sevilla vs. Betis futbol game. BETIS WON (Maria was so happy.) We went out into the center of the city to a small tapas place (if you ordered a beer you got free tapas!) Then we went right next door to a discoteca. We literally danced the night away and went back to our hotel at 5 in the morning. Unfortunately, we could not sleep in and recuperate because we had a tour of La Alhambra at 8:30 in the morning! Getting up was not fun, but La Alhambra was beautiful with intricate detailing on all of the walls. It would be much prettier when the weather is warmer because then flowers would be in bloom in the extensive gardens of Generalife. After lunch, we boarded the bus and headed back to Sevilla. Granada is a very pretty city much more granola-y than Sevilla. (Jillian and Chrisy taught me the word granola= hippy, which is funny because the whole time I was thinking how much Cath would love it.) I´m happy to be studying in Sevilla for the semester though. That´s all for now!
Love you!
Franny

Homestay...

When we had gotten our accommodation information, we received a map and a roommate. I had not yet met the girl that would become my roommate for 4 months, so I of course started asking around. Her name is Nicole and she goes to Indiana. She seemed very nice at first, so I was happy. The map I was given was zoomed far in so I couldn’t tell where I would be relative to everything else. So I asked Joaquin to help me find my house. When he saw where on the map I was he gave out a little laugh and pointed to LITERALLY the edge of the map (on another map of mine, I am not even on the map.) Oh well, at least there are other people in the program by me to walk with.
The day I moved into my home stay I got up early so that I could FINALLY buy a phone, which was perfect because everyone would be separated from now on. Finally I heard my Señora’s name (María Roman Coco) called for me to come forward. Nicole was not yet down so I was alone with her. She was so sweet though. Greeted me with a kiss on both cheeks and asked me about everything (definitely slowing down her normal talking pace). When Nicole got down we took a cab to our home stay. It’s an apartment in a cluster of identical apartment buildings. It’s very cute. There are six rooms: Nicole and I share a room, Maria’s bedroom, Tere’s (her daughter) bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, living room. The first thing I noticed about the kitchen was the actual leg of a pig out on the counter (in Spain, they don’t refrigerate how we do)
María is so funny and very motherly. She takes singing, guitar, and computer classes. So she is always very busy and isn’t home during the day much. Whenever she is home though she is always singing. When I had a horrible stomach ache from trying ham I told her and for three days she put me on a strict diet of bland foods so as not to upset it again. Now whenever I leave she tells me not to eat anything that would hurt my stomach. Since being here, the meals have overall been pretty good. I think María has finally come to understand that I don’t eat meat. It’s still served a lot but I just don’t eat that and then she remembers and says “I won’t say anything eat what you want to.” Before she would always say eat more eat more and Tere would tell her to leave us alone. Haha. They are very funny together. Tere is a police officer in training, but she just finished training and finds out where she will be working in a few days. I can tell it’s kind of a rough subject because Tere doesn’t want to leave her mom alone. Tere is very nice and talks to me a lot. Especially because for the first two weeks I had an intensive language session very early in the morning when she would be leaving for work.
There were twelve groups for the two-week session and two of the groups had 9am class. I of course was in one of those two groups. Thankfully, Jessica also had class that early and lives close, so we would walk the thirty-five minute walk everyday together. The intensive session was not bad. It was a lot crammed into a two-week period, but it was nice to get it over with so quickly. My other good friend here Chrisy had the same teacher right after me, so we could go to our outside of class assignments together. One assignment was to go to a movie called “La Mujer del Anarquista” so we went to a matinee showing on a Saturday. We bought bags filled of gummies, which you can mix your own from drawers and drawers FILLED with different kinds of gummies. When we walked into the theater we were actually in the front of the room underneath the screen. It was so awkward; thankfully no one else was in there.
More stories from home to come I’m sure.
Love
Franny

I lived in a hotel for two days..

After the flight, there were a ton of people in my program on my same flight, so we all moved in a pack to get our luggage.  Thankfully, I was not one of the unfortunate travelers to lose my luggage.  We then boarded a bus that took us to our hotel for the remainder of the orientation.  The streets here are so narrow that the bus had to drop us off a good hike from the actual hotel.  So here we all are with our HUGE suitcases in tow trekking through the stone streets of Sevilla.  It was not the most pleasant walk (I was tired, I clearly have no muscles to carry these bags more than five feet, and suitcases were getting stuck in the stones)  but it was fun to finally FINALLY after all the flights and layovers actually be in Sevilla and on the streets.  It still felt like this place wouldn't become my home for the next five months, more like a nice little vacation.  

When we got to the hotel we lined up to get our room assignments and orientation materials.  The hotel rooms only had one key, despite two people being assigned to it.  My roommate was already there so when I knocked she opened up the door.  She did not seem thrilled to see me.  She was already slightly unpacked, had claimed the desk (with the outlet and mirror), and the main chair.  Also, the room has two beds, but it was more like one big bed because they were pushed right next to each other.  To sum her up, she was not the most impressive greeter I've ever met.  I'd ask her questions about where she's from, her school, being in Sevilla, etc.  The responses were dry and with minimal words.  Oh well, I guess you won't be friends with everyone you meet.  

The food in the hotel was fine, nothing exceptional, but you couldn't order what you wanted, so most of the dishes had some sort of meat. I later found out that this would not be the last of my meat only dishes.  

For orientation we were grouped up by last name.  My leader's name was Joaquin.  Very funny.  Basically we just went to meetings about the classes, culture, expectations, etc.  On our second day of being in Sevilla our group was again split into smaller groups of four and told that we had to go on a scavenger hunt through the city.  I'm personally surprised no one got horribly lost.

We saw a flamenco show at night, which was incredible to actually see.  I have never seen someone move their feet so quickly in my life.  I'm definitely going to go to another show on my own.  For dinner, we had tapas in our groups.  A lot of meat tapas but my leader ordered vegetable and chicken ones too (He was concerned I wasn't going to eat.)

The annoying thing about the first two days was that no one had phones yet so it was nearly impossible to meet up with people.  And the fact that the cheapest phone ran out in every vodaphone store within walking distance made the wait much longer than it should have been.  but oh well! we all have phones now!  

Other than that, nothing very eventful those first two days.  The first bar I went to here I think was only Americans from my program, so I'm hoping to mingle with some Spaniards soon!  

slowly getting there but at least I'm catching you all up.

love

franny   

The flights over...

So I'm going to try to remember everything that's happened since leaving the US...

The trip over:

With in the first ten minutes of sitting down into my seat, the Hungarian woman next to me (I know this because I creeped on her ticket stubs) took out her cell phone and proceeded to take pictures of the INSIDE of the plane... I kid you not multiple pictures too.  As if it couldn't have gotten any more awkward, this lady leans over me (I'm sitting in the window seat) to take a picture of the outside of the plane (we had not yet moved).  This would have seemed completely okay if it hadn't been a cloudy day at O'Hare.  Throughout the flight this lady slept with her head leaning over into my headrest. To add to my interatlantic experience..

As some of you may or may not know, I get really sick on flights that last more than two hours.  Flying over the Atlantic Ocean was no exception.  I tried sleeping the whole entire flight, but constantly woke up because I felt horrible.  Then waiting to get off the plane at Heathrow I got extremely overheated and ran to the bathroom, was the last person to get off the plane, and almost missed the little tram that took me to the terminal.  

Nothing exciting happened until the Madrid airport.  I need to get my suitcases, get them rechecked for my next flight, and get to my terminal in two hours.  Unfortunately, I booked my international and national (Madrid to Sevilla) separately, so I couldn't check two bags at Madrid.  Let me remind you that this is my first completely Spanish conversation.  The lady behind the counter was saying you didn't book them together so it doesn't count, and I was explaining that I had my tickets from my international flight, but she said that it did not matter.  I of course stressed out started to cry.  So as tearing were welling up in my eyes I tried to convince this lady that I shouldn't have to pay the 75 euro fee.  She could tell I was upset (obviously) so she said that I could take one of my checked bags as my carry on and then pay one overweight fee of 25 euro.  As she was putting the tags on my one bag, I looked up and asked her again how much I had to pay, she asked me if I was studying here for the semester and I said yes in Sevilla.  With a reassuring smile, the lady told me that I didn't have to pay a fee at all.  Moral of the story: my ability to cry on the spot whenever I'm overwhelmed is very VERY helpful and saved me money.

More to come later.  I need to go home now (almost dinner time) and Chrisy and Jessica are making me leave and walk in the rain... (I'll tell you alll about THEM later) 

love,

franny