Orientation and the Family

On Friday night there were seven of us that went out for dinner at a fany restaurant by the Gualdilquivir river. I had grilled steak and sangria while two old men played the guitar and accordian. We went back to the hotel and went out again, despite all of us being really tired. It was our first night, we had to go out. We went to a bar in el Barrio de Santa Cruz, also known as the Jewish quarter, for more sangria and tinto de verano (red wine with lemon soda), and then to a outdoor club on the river. Everyone there was old, 30s or older.

We slept in on saturday, changed rooms because we were all assigned a room and a roomate from orientation. Then about 40 students arrived throughout the day. We had a short meeting and then dinner in the hotel together. Then we went out to a bar where we now know the bartenders (mother and daughter) well. We meet spanairds there and had a good time. Then we went across the river to the Big Ben bar and quickly found out that it was the american student bar. A group of kids from a Texas Tech program were there, their classes started last week and some american tourists.

On Sunday we had breakfast in the hotel then went on a tour of Sevilla where we were in small groups with map and had to find a guide at a street corner who would tell us about the neighborhood and point out important things for students and then tell us where to go to find the next guide. After that, in a larger group with a guide, we had a lunch of tapas, sampling all kinds of spanish food. Croquetas de queso and a simple tomato, cheese and oregano dish were the best. Then a long siesta and later we all had a short interview with professor as a speaking test.
After dinner in the hotel (all the meals were really fancy), we dressed to go out and went as a group, lead by a few guides and we went to an open air club that played salsa music all night. We watched the spaniards dance and started to pick up on it. Two of the other CIEE programs were there.

After breakfast Monday morning, we packed up and checked out of our rooms and then waited in the lobby for the families to arrive. Alicia, the oldest daughter picked me up and then meet 5 of the 8 kids and the father. The dad is really friendly, we talked in his study for a long time and he gave me a book to read with a notebook to write down the words I don't know. He also wants me to do the same with a newspaper everyday. The kids have exams right now, they study during the summer and then take exams before the semester starts in order to advance to the next grade and for placement etc.

There is a lot more to say... I'll update again later.
Tonight is another orientation meeting and then we go to see Flamenco somewhere.
I still have to explore the neighborhood, I got a quick driving tour around here, and I'll get a phone and register for classes and get a student residency card from the police...