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Published: October 26th 2009
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Futbol!
View from our seats! Ah, what a catharsis it is to blog. There's something wonderfully calming about it, probably a lot like journaling, only slightly more narcissistic because I'm writing all about me, me, me, and expecting other people to read it. And I have to admit, I enjoy looking at the "views" of each entry to see how many people have read each one, and I also like experimenting to see what compels people to read certain ones and not others. I have noticed, for example, that my entry entitled "Say, SEX" has accumulated 68 views! It beats out the next highest by 14. Haha! And now that this entry includes the word "sex," it might get a few more hits than the others. Seriously, people, what were you expecting to see? But I digress, as usual, and I haven't even begun.
On our program for today we have SEVILLA FÚTBOL! Wooooooo!! We bought 30 Euro cheap seat tickets for Saturday evening's game, and we actually ended up having a pretty good view. I bought a jersey specifically for the occasion, and wore it with pride alongside Kate and Mishri. They were last year's, because we're cheap, and don't much care about the
Sevilla pride
It's a bit blurry because I was trying to be discreet, but a very representative fan photo just the same. difference. Mishri and I were practically squealing from excitement. Actually we were squealing from excitement. I hadn't seen a sporting event all semester, and it was so exciting just to be there! The atmosphere, the people decked out in red and white ready to support their team, it really made me miss... the Huskers? WHAT IS HAPPENING TO ME?!
In any case, while the atmosphere was great, and it was fun hearing the Sevilla "football hymn" shouted by throngs of adoring fans waving red and white scarves, the game itself was kind of a letdown. Sevilla FC was playing Espanyol, a team from Barcelona that my sources said were supposed to be the underdog of the game, but they put up quite a fight. Sevilla was on the offense for most of it, and got a few decent shots off, but Espanyol's goalie was AMAZING. At one point, I swear, he was literally diving through the air before the guy even kicked it, before it was even passed to him! I suppose you have to be that good at that level, but it was awesome when I realized what had happened. Just awesome. Despite all that, the game ended
Cathedral
It's huge! 0-0, which is never a satisfying ending. But it was still great, and I can now mark it off my list of things to do before I leave. Whew! I want to go again!
Speaking of marking things off the proverbial list, I went to Catholic mass in Spanish at the cathedral in Sevilla on Sunday. Being neither Catholic nor a fluent Spanish speaker, I spent more of my time gazing at the splendor of the building itself than paying attention to the service or trying to recite the prayers that I didn't even know in English, but I still enjoyed the experience immensely. It made me miss going to church back home. There's something about the environment and being in well-meaning company that's very comforting. And to be in the largest cathedral in all of Spain... (the third largest in Europe!) is always something in itself. Though, I have possibly mentioned this before, I always have mixed feelings about the grandeur of such places. Immediately after the service, we walked outside and were confronted with a beggar on the doorstep. How could all this wealth be housed inside a church in the form of golden statues and church
Inner splendors
The part of the cathedral where services are held. "treasures" when there is so much need in other places? But I could go on and on about that. And I'll spare you. 😊
I had my third day of teaching English to the 8-year-old elementary students, which went much more smoothly than the last two times. The teacher even told me I was getting better. I actually had planned something, so things went a lot more smoothly, and I felt like the exercises were helping, at least a little bit. I had a few extra Reese's that my mom had sent me, so I brought them for prizes since they don't have them in Spain and I thought it would be a cool little novelty. All the kids needed to hear was "chocolate and peanut butter" and they were the most motivated and eager to participate as I'd ever seen them. Funny occurrence of the day: At the very beginning of the class I started out with "Hello!" to which they responded, "Hello!" On the right track, I thought, then asked, "How are you?" and couldn't help but laugh as they replied confidently with "How are you?"
The weather's been nice, which means my mood has improved tremendously since rainy and cold last week. It finally feels like fall, and I love breathing in and taking in the scents of the city. People literally roasting chestnuts (not really on open fires, but roasting just the same) on the street corners, vendors burning incense by the cathedral, it's fantastic, and I really am going to miss it. I could go on and on and on, but I should get going. Unless something notable happens this week, which I'm not going to rule out, you won't hear from me until I get back from fabulous Morocco!! I'm sure that will be an interesting entry.
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