Chrisy´s Birthday

So... It´s been awhile I know. The whole breaking my computer thing has really hindered my ability to quickly blog. So, Chrisy´s birthday was on the 28th of February, and Jessica went to Madrid with her family and Jillian went to Madrid. Friday on our way to going out, we finally were able to sign up for sevicis (the public bike system here) It was incredible. So much fun, and the fact we had tried probably 15 stations that denied us and finally got one made it that much better. So, we celebrated Friday night and went to Plaza Alflafa, where there a bunch of little bars in a row. We got there literally RIGHT before midnight and ordered HUGE (& delicious) mojitos. We sang her feliz cumpleaños and the bar joined in. I met up with my intercambio Eduardo and his cousin. It was too funny. Eduardo is 26! and it was a little awkward. We finished off the night at a discoteca and danced the night away before sevici-ing home (which was possibly the funniest thing ever) I need to remember to videotape a sevici ride home next time! Saturday night we went out for dinner at an Italian restaurant. On the way we ran into what I considered a really creepy procession of priests and altarboys carrying incense and about twelve men carrying a HUGE cross with Christ on it... walking at the same exact pace. Anyways I ordered a pizza with rocket on it. Yes, I said rocket. They gave us a translated menu and a spanish menu (of course) and the translation for an ingredient was "rocket" it should have said "arugula" but we decided that the next Americans to come in would find it equally as entertaining. So, when I got my pizza it was literally COVERED in arugula, basically a salad on top of my pizza. But it was mighty tasty!
Thats about it, we went home earlier to go to Cordoba nice and early on Sunday
Love you
Franny

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