Exploring the Life, Culture and History in Seville, Spain.
In Seville, Spain, life is lived in the present. Though it’s a seemingly obvious statement, the Sevillian notion of truly living is much different from the American version I’m accustomed to.
My lifestyle, which epitomizes an overzealous New Englander, busy Bostonian and impatient Merrimack “Valleyian” is nothing like the lifestyle of a typical Sevillano, in which minimal stress and maximum enjoyment of every moment are not only standard, but fundamental. As an official resident of Seville until July of 2010, I’m living and working in this historically and culturally rich and vibrant city and gladly adopting the tranquil lifestyle.
The past doesn’t exist, and personal agendas don’t extend beyond two days. Native Sevillanos stressed this repeatedly as they introduced Sevillian culture to me and my colleagues, who will be English language and American culture assistants in public schools throughout Seville for the 2009-10 school year. The city, which is home to about 700,000, is the political, cultural and financial capital of Andalusia, a region in southern Spain. It has a comfortable and laid-back atmosphere that most urban centers lack.
Every day around 3 p.m. the clinking of plates and utensils resonates in the winding and narrow cobblestone streets of Seville. Between the hours of 2 and 5, the majority of shops and businesses close for siesta — a time for people to go home and rest, leisurely eat their main meal of the day and often nap. Some people opt to eat at a restaurant, which usually includes socializing with a beer or a glass of wine. Sevillanos savor their conversations and debates as much as they do their food and drinks, and they never seem to be in a rush. Almost everything is closed on Sundays, when people enjoy time with their family and friends, often drinking and socializing in the many plazas throughout the city, amid the spectacular Renaissance, Gothic, Moorish and Baroque architecture.
This is my first time abroad, and I expected to feel out of my comfort zone for a while. On the contrary, I’m quite at ease. Experiences and encounters that I once might have perceived as difficult I now view as adventures and challenges that I’m eager and excited to face. I neither speak nor understand the Spanish language well, but many people are willing to help, and I’m improving daily. As a language and culture assistant, my job is to share my knowledge of the English language and American culture in high school math and science classes. Neither subject is my forte, but the mutual learning that exists in the classroom is always stimulating. I’m constantly referring to my map for directions, but I enjoy wandering aimlessly and exploring this remarkable city. Traditional Spanish cuisine isn’t particularly appetizing to me, but I’ve found food that I enjoy and have a wonderful group of friends with whom to share all of these experiences. The carpe diem attitude that is ubiquitous in Seville and the collaboration of cultures here have influenced me to re-evaluate my understanding of a comfort zone and to enjoy every experience.
When it hit me that I wasn’t on vacation, but actually living here for nine months, the feeling was quite overwhelming. It was even more overwhelming to understand that I was realizing a lifelong dream to live abroad and become bilingual. I’m here to pursue my passion and to experience life in a new way. I’m living in Spain but, more importantly, I’m truly living. No words in any language can fully encapsulate this feeling.
Spanish Eyes – La Buena Vida
In Seville, Spain, life is lived in the present. Though it’s a seemingly obvious statement, the Sevillian notion of truly living is much different from the American version I’m accustomed to.
My lifestyle, which epitomizes an overzealous New Englander, busy Bostonian and impatient Merrimack “Valleyian” is nothing like the lifestyle of a typical Sevillano, in which minimal stress and maximum enjoyment of every moment are not only standard, but fundamental. As an official resident of Seville until July of 2010, I’m living and working in this historically and culturally rich and vibrant city and gladly adopting the tranquil lifestyle.
The past doesn’t exist, and personal agendas don’t extend beyond two days. Native Sevillanos stressed this repeatedly as they introduced Sevillian culture to me and my colleagues, who will be English language and American culture assistants in public schools throughout Seville for the 2009-10 school year. The city, which is home to about 700,000, is the political, cultural and financial capital of Andalusia, a region in southern Spain. It has a comfortable and laid-back atmosphere that most urban centers lack.
Every day around 3 p.m. the clinking of plates and utensils resonates in the winding and narrow cobblestone streets of Seville. Between the hours of 2 and 5, the majority of shops and businesses close for siesta — a time for people to go home and rest, leisurely eat their main meal of the day and often nap. Some people opt to eat at a restaurant, which usually includes socializing with a beer or a glass of wine. Sevillanos savor their conversations and debates as much as they do their food and drinks, and they never seem to be in a rush. Almost everything is closed on Sundays, when people enjoy time with their family and friends, often drinking and socializing in the many plazas throughout the city, amid the spectacular Renaissance, Gothic, Moorish and Baroque architecture.
This is my first time abroad, and I expected to feel out of my comfort zone for a while. On the contrary, I’m quite at ease. Experiences and encounters that I once might have perceived as difficult I now view as adventures and challenges that I’m eager and excited to face. I neither speak nor understand the Spanish language well, but many people are willing to help, and I’m improving daily. As a language and culture assistant, my job is to share my knowledge of the English language and American culture in high school math and science classes. Neither subject is my forte, but the mutual learning that exists in the classroom is always stimulating. I’m constantly referring to my map for directions, but I enjoy wandering aimlessly and exploring this remarkable city. Traditional Spanish cuisine isn’t particularly appetizing to me, but I’ve found food that I enjoy and have a wonderful group of friends with whom to share all of these experiences. The carpe diem attitude that is ubiquitous in Seville and the collaboration of cultures here have influenced me to re-evaluate my understanding of a comfort zone and to enjoy every experience.
When it hit me that I wasn’t on vacation, but actually living here for nine months, the feeling was quite overwhelming. It was even more overwhelming to understand that I was realizing a lifelong dream to live abroad and become bilingual. I’m here to pursue my passion and to experience life in a new way. I’m living in Spain but, more importantly, I’m truly living. No words in any language can fully encapsulate this feeling.