November 16, 2008 Sunday.

There's not a whole lot to talk about concerning my life at the moment (funny, I say there's nothing going on but pretty much am writing a book here). It is just like any other student (even though I'm in Spain) I'm studying almost non-stop because I have tests this week. 3, two on Tuesday and I think one of Wednesday but I wouldn't put it past them to have all three on Tuesday. We've had a long weekend this weekend (as we will have pretty much until the end of the semester) so Friday was actually spent out of the house. We met up at around 11 or 12 at the school and from there we (and by we I mean Cyndi, Kristen, Mari-Sol, and Renee) , we went to the Alcazar (pronounced Alcathar). We got in for free because we're students. It was pretty cool (view pictures). I believe it was built by one of the Spanish Kings in the Muslim style of architecture, incorporating things like gardens with flowing fountains and mocarabe encrusted arcs, etc. It's pretty cool although I really wish I could get to La Alhambra in Granada which is supposed to be magnificent (I have seen fotos and it is indeed amazing). I went home for lunch at 2 and around 5 I met my friend Cyndi at a bar to study grammar. That's pretty much all we did Friday. We didn't go out later that night, we actually watched Robin Hood (the disney version and a gift from my boyfriend. . . Thanks!). Saturday I met Cyndi again at around 11 to go to the Gypsy market on the other side of Triana (the neighborhood where I live, the main commercial center of Sevilla and the school is on one side of the river and the students pretty much, aside from two girls, live in Triana or Los Remedios). I hadn't been to the market before so it was interesting although I went with no intention of buying anything. It was insane, there were about 3 or 4 rows of stalls that went back forever. We never made it to the end. Cyndi bought 2 kilo of grapes for 3 euro but most of the time we just wandered around. The stalls had everything from fresh produce to jewelry and underwear to shoes and shirts and socks; accessories like purses and wallets, belts. Anything you could need at a great price. It was like one huge Chino store. Cyndi and I met up again at the same bar to study again at around 4:30. Unfortunately it became really crowded and noisy by 6 or there about, so we left to find somewhere more accommodating. What we found were the streets filled with people only to discover that one of the traditional processions of the area was happening at that same moment. Normally during Semana Santa every church has a procession with their own Immaculate Mary and they march through the streets. This was something like that but it wasn't a Mary, it was Jesus with his cross which explains the insanity. Unfortunately we didn't stick around too long to see much. We headed over to a café we had yet to try, VIPS, only to discover that the café we could get in any other place for one euro was almost two there. So the girls decided to go to McDonalds to study, they at least have tables. I decided to go home and study. I have spent today entirely studying, plus a bit of reading.
I should speak of the weather here in Sevilla. Before I left for Italy we still had warm days and it wasn't just in the sun but in the shadows too. But when we got back there was a chill in the air. We've entered into what their winter's are here. And it wouldn't be so bad, in fact outside is absolutely gorgeous. The trees are all still green, flowers are still blooming, we haven't had rain even though the forecasters keep predicting it. If there were not wind I would say it's absolutely perfect. But there is a cold wind that requires a jacket and a scarf, nights generally require a coat or heavy jacket. But it's the inside that's absolutely miserable. The houses are created to pull out all the heat in the house; 8 or 9 months out of the year it's a great system, but during the winter, during these months of cold, they're like an ice box. I wear more layers inside than I do outside. We have a little "estufe" heater that we plug in but it doesn't heat the floors. Moreover we try to conserve electricity so we don't plug it in all the time. Today is a good example of this. I have been in my room covered by my blankets studying today. Around 1 or so I went to sit on the patio to read and enjoy the sun, and as I was sitting there in the sun I was warm, even though the patio doesn't have window. But the sun gradually left me and moved behind a tree so I retreated back to my blankets and enshrouding jacket for warmth.
I suppose I should tell y'all what happened with my birthday last week. I was pretty sick up until Saturday, after that my senora had me keep taking the pills she had (miracle workers those) through Monday. Despite this we went out to celebrate Saturday night at a bar (the same one where we go to study). First we got kicked out of the couch area and then off the table where they put us after they kicked us off the couches, so we left. Monday my senora, Salud, bought some sweets for dinner to celebrate. My roommate got me a pair of Boots (totally unexpected and totally appreciated. they're black and kinda felty material) Kristen and Cyndi both got me earings (a purple pair and an orange pair). I really wasn't expecting presents and I really appreciated their thoughfulness. That was pretty much it for my Birthday. I had to go to the Convent that night to help with the elderly. They love us over there and they have us sing for they now. Mostly Silent Night (the first time they heard me and megean sing they made us sing Silent Night 4 times), we also sing hymns. Unfotunately they don't really relate to or understand the hymns because they're all Catholics and we sing protestant hymns but they get the gist I think. I didn't tell anyone that it was my birthday, I don't like being sung to, but I did tell the dishwasher/cook Loli, and made her promise not to tell anyone. She broke thar promise, but thankfully it was just 5 of us left in the Comedor when she broke the news to the nice old people, who then sang to me. It was really sweet. So that's how my 21st birthday passed. Already it seems like it never happened or that it's super far away.