La Plaza de España
All of the SAIIE students
Welcome dinner of tapas!
A bird pooped on me on orientation day. I was told it is good luck, so it should be a great semester!
We moved in on a Thursday and spent most of Friday attending orientations. We went to the University of Sevilla to learn about our classes and the enrollment process. I expected to be in classes with Spanish students that are attending the University, when in reality there are separate classes for American students studying abroad there. All of the other American students attended this orientation too, and we met students from all over the US. Next we went over to the SAIIE campus, which is about a 10 minute walk from the university. There I met Finn and Aiden, the two other SAIIE students. With such a small program, we will all get to know each other very well. Stuart and Sean each told us a little bit more about what we can expect with classes and the activities that are included in the program, as well as those that cost extra. I am very excited for the Morocco trip, which is a three-day trip that is included in the program cost! After orientations, the Activity Director Sean showed Mallory and I around an assisted living facility that is a volunteer opportunity for students who want to practice Spanish by spending time with elderly people there. We all met up with Sean and Stuart that night for tapas, and the food was incredible. We got to try many traditional Spanish tapas and get to know each other better! The rest of the weekend was spent exploring the city. I spent a lot of time with the other students in my program, and it was so nice to have other students that are experiencing all the same changes. Sean took us on a walking tour around the city and we visited places like the Maria Luisa park and the Plaza de España. We live in such a beautiful place and I am excited to explore further and call this place home for the next three months!