Mary Curtin

Contributing Writer

A month has gone by. A whole month. Before my departure to Seville, Spain, I had no idea what to expect. I never thought the language barrier would be as difficult as it is.

However, that adds to the fun and excitement of  the learning experience.

Our trip here was a very tiring one, between flights, train rides, cab rides, busses and just about every mode of transportation.

When we first arrived, we had to point at most things that we wanted and ate only things we knew how to say- so we ate very little and drank only water.

Our first night, we went to an American diner because we could at least see a picture and it resembled something we knew from home.

My culture shock was far different than I expected. I thought that I would have a really hard time immersing myself into the culture, but it was not too tough.

The toughest part, by far, was the language barrier.

It was an interesting first month say the least.

Getting acquainted to an entirely different continent, country, culture and language is completely exhausting, but also incredibly rewarding.

It feels as though I am basically enrolled in a full-time cultural and conversational Spanish course.

I have been able to explore the city quite a bit and it is so incredibly beautiful.

Mary Curtin/ Contributed Photo

Every nook and cranny has something interesting to offer.

Everything looks like it is out of some Euro-trip indie film. We have also had the chance to do some tourist-y things amongst taking classes…and taking [much needed] siestas.

We visited “Las Setas” or “the Mushrooms,” which is a giant structure that extends over the street in Seville and allows people to take an elevator to the top for an aerial view of the city.

It is breathtaking and makes you realize how small humans really are.

We also visited El Torre de Oro – “Tower of Gold,” which was once a military watchtower used to limit access to Seville through Rio Guadalquivir, which is the river most people know Seville for, and rightfully so – it is quite a sight to see.

Another beautiful place was the Alcazar that is filled with gardens, fountains and so much history.

After being here for a month, we have been able to find some hot spots for lunch, dinner, coffee [which is really great], views of the city, places to run and a couple bars.

We even found a Dunkin’ Donuts! There is a department-like store that is essentially a giant Macy’s with a supermarket on the bottom floor called El Corte Ingles. It’s a great one stop shop.

Our University, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, is an hour commute in the morning and an hour commute in the afternoon.

It is a 20-minute walk to the metro or subway, 20-minute subway ride and 15-minute walk from the metro to our academic building where all of our classes are held.

There are around 15,000 at UPO, but only around 350 are in the International Program this semester. The walk to the metro is very beautiful. We get to walk past the Cathedral every day.

The light reflecting off of all of the buildings in Seville is something that is not seen in many places.

There are many plazas with fountains, incredible architecture, horse drawn carriages, tourists, locals, restaurants, cobblestone streets and air filled with the sound chatter and the smells of the city.

Outside of Seville, I have been to Lagos, Albufeira, Sagres and Tavira in Portugal, and  Cordoba and Cadiz in Spain.

Additionally, in the middle of October, we are headed with a tour group to Morocco. Portugal was quite an incredible place and I see myself going back, hopefully in the near future.

I taught English for the first time at the end of September to two girls (ages five and seven). I will be teaching them every Wednesday for two hours until I leave in December! The 7-year old is so very eager to learn and is very attentive.

Whereas the 5-year old is a little less attentive and very timid.

But, she is still young and this is understandable. The parents are very nice people and are always asking me if I need anything.

They have invited me for dinner/lunch/snacks with them already.

I met a teenage girl on the elevator while trying to find the apartment of this family.

We were conversing (with my very broken Spanish), and she asked me where I was from – I told her the United States and she looked at me with such an excited expression and was telling me how jealous she was.

Seville is beginning to feel like home, and I am having a hard time thinking about ever having to leave.

Mary Curtin can be contacted at Mary.curtin@ksc.keene.edu