Yes, I did just name this article after a Ricky Martin song. But it’s perhaps the best way to describe my first couple of days upon arriving in Sevilla and it’s Spanish.
I started off with a bang: my luggage was lost. My checked suitcase disappeared during my 10-minute connection from Madrid to Sevilla. Nothing can quite describe the heart sinking feeling when you know your bag is just not going to turn up on the baggage carousel. I filled out a request to locate it and return it to the hotel where my group was staying for the first day. All other 50 students on my flight had to wait in the parking lot while I worked out that issue, so I was off to a great start on the friend front as well.
My first 24 hours in Sevilla were a blur of meeting fellow students including my roommates, orientation, and sleep depravity. My suitcase had yet to turn up so I was still rocking the same clothes I wore on the airplane and went out in the night of my arrival (a great reason to wear a semi-nice outfit on the plane—and pack your jewelry in your carry on).
The next day my roommates and I moved into our new apartment. It’s in a tiny alley way but close to one of the main roads and the river. My roommates were instantly in love with the place and the idea that our apartment was “big.” I was not so enchanted right away. All I could focus on was that it was freezing in there, covered in dingy tile, had a very strange smell, and was basically a labyrinth of skinny hallways and little rooms. I am used to an American-style apartment where the kitchen and the family room open up to one another. But we cranked up the heat and bought some candles and now I admit I really like it.
We were off to explore Sevilla nightlife after dark. And I mean way after dark. Clubs do not get full until around 2 a.m. and most people don’t return home until around 6 a.m. It is nothing short of crazy to an American. But they know how to party and they look good doing it. Everyone here has a serious sense of style and takes pride in their appearance. (Virginia Tech, I will always love you and miss you, but the whole people-going-out-in- yoga-pants-thing needs to stop.)
Filling our day with touring the city and our nights with practicing Spanish at local restaurants and bars quickly became exhausting. But the city is absolutely beautiful. The architecture is so ornate and antique you can’t help but want to spend the whole day roaming around outside. It’s what the sevillanos do. A large majority of them start their drinking at noon and sit outside at cafes for long hours of the day spending time with friends. Then they take part in a siesta, and so do we. It really does exist. After around 3 p.m. and until about 5 p.m. most shops close and everyone goes home to relax. I think it’s what is keeping my roommates and me alive as we’re basically running on empty.
So it was just wonderful when I got lost on the way to my very first class. My roommate Vivian and I set off with some makeshift Google Map directions and full of confidence. After we started making wrong turns and had to back track several times we were worn out and freaking out. Our Spanish classes had started ten minutes ago. I was on the verge of a mild panic attack, so we jumped into the first taxi we could flag down. The driver dropped us off and told us our building was a block down. We found the supposed location but it was locked and had no marking that it was the correct place. We searched up and down and asked at least 10 people for directions. Of course no sevillanos knew where a little American school building was located.
After a laughable amount of time (about an hour had elapsed) we called for help. A program director on the phone issued us directions but our desperation must have shown through because they decided to send someone to come retrieve us. We waited for about 30 minutes somewhere between laughing and crying until Carlos, one of the staff members, rescued us. I asked if he ever had to perform a search and rescue mission before and obviously the answer was no. However, I think he was pretty entertained. We walked for about 15 more minutes and came upon a beautiful garden, los Jardines de Murillo. Our building is tucked away right behind it. We made it just in time for my second class to begin.
So I’m definitely going to be teacher’s pet in my Spanish class, right?
Rep image courtsey of: www.spain-holiday.com