Repost: Hola a todos!

Figured I'd write another update to keep people up to date on how Seville is, as well as write down all the things that have happened to also help me remember. Although I've only been here two weeks, so much has happened that it's already hard to remember everything. Life here continues to be full of surprises and excitement. Last night (sunday - superbowl night O.o) was the first night I decided to stay instead of at the minimum going out with friends. ALthough people don't drink here everynight, you are are always out. In spanish culture its considered absurd to have friends to one's house even the parents, and so if you want to talk to someone after dinner (9-10PM) you need to be out in the streets. Hence you don't get much rest, because as everyone knows once you're out, you're out. Especially when you don't want to be walking home alone, and taking a cab albeit necessary sometimes can be expensive when you don't need to leave.

Anyway, Spain has been awesome, and we took a cool trip already to Italica. It's a roman city left today, although it is slightly taken apart because during Franco's time the citizens took it apart to rebuild roads or bunkers. Then again there is a city called Merida really close to here that is also a roman city. In fact it's the CITY in which Gladiator (think Russel Crowe) take's place. All in all there are 9 very distinct and different cultures that have lived in Spain. Considered the first true melting pot of the world. Initially there were the iberians (named by the romans), then Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Greek, Egyptian, Visigoths, Hebreo (hebrew), Gitano (indian), and Musulman (muslim). All in all there were a lot of people and the most important fact is that no one ever destroyed anything here when they took over. Although they imposed their religions they often did so with a degree of amalgamation (might have made that word up). They incorporated the existing religions and instead of destroying their former religious sites, they improved them or built their new ones beside them. Ironically, Spain (typically considered a very conservative catholic and destructive society (think inquisition)), appears to be the first place in the world where large scale tolerance took place. In fact most spaniards agree that the people have never been intolerant it's only the large political structures and most important the religious leaders that ever held any hostility. The people themselves were always living the daily life (vida cotidiana). Nonetheless it has resulted in a culture that is full of crazy things. For instance I'm sitting in a muslim style courtyard in a traditionally catholic style building using techniques brought by the muslims to maintain a cool temperature even in extreme heat, decoated with jewish symbols on all the features. So we're talking three major religions that at times appear only to be hostile, all coexisting happily creating a building that looks great, functions well in heat, and has an inviting ambience. I think my english is degrading horribly, but i'm sure you can all understand.

For those interested in nightlife, this place is crazy. First of all i need more shoes, and I need them badly. If you want to go out here more than just bar hopping you better be what we call formal dress, which here is called casual. Button up shirt? Well it better be silk. Shoes? They better be leather, and formal (and shine!). Pants? Ok jeans can pass, but you'll be kind of a slob. People here get dressed up. Obviously girls can get away with a little more here, especially if its more revealing that not (where isn't that true), but guys you better be in tip-top shape. The biggest festival/street party here, you need to be in easter sunday clothes. ]The end result? a night out where people actually always look good. There is no slob who looks like he's a drunkard and doesn't belong. I'm sure even the most drunk people here manage to look half-decent because they're dressed for the occassion.

Also when we got here people told us Spaniards don't drink, so don't drink to excess. Obviously none of us want to get robbed, kidnapped or all the plethora of things us guiris (foreigners) are worried about in Europe, so we took and still do hold the advice to heart, but man do they lie. Spaniards do drink, it's just that most of the population is asleep (at least foreigners) before they ever show signs of being drunk. 1 am, sober, 2 am sober, 3am sober, it's only around 6 or 7am when spaniards finally show signs of ever having a drink at all. It's quite impressive to say the least, although i'm sure the massive amount of dancing that goes on certainly helps.

The other night we all went out and supposedly knew someone who knew this bar etc... long story short they forgot to put us on the list so we wandered aimless and obliviously to the next nearest one so we could at least share stories about the day. Unknown to us we wandered right into a gay bar, and danced our socks of, got free condoms (only at gay bars), etc. Finally we realized what we missed and then realized here its no big deal. Here everyone knows that if you want to dance there are two places to go. Clubs (discotecas), and gay bars. In fact my 50 year old senora informed me the next day at lunch that gay bars are here favorite place to go dance now, and she just loves going with her gay friends. That's when i discovered that yes there are ultra-conservatives here, but there are an equal but opposite group of ultra-liberals. I'm not talking liberals and conservatives in the US, but think of the most fundamentalist on each side, and thats the normal for each group. Two groups of completely opposite ideals making rules for one unified culture. It means there are some crazy situations here. An extremely conservative culture that maintains religion to the nth degree, and an ultra-liberal side that would put san francisco to shame.

Next weekend is our first CIEE (my program) trip to Granada. It should be exciting and i'll take lots of photos. It's a colder city, but hopefully things will start warming up there soon. Then the following weekend my friends and I (my friends of now just over two weeks, although it honestly feels like 4 months), are going to Lisbon, Portugal. It should be a blast.


Anyway adios for now, I'm sure I forgot 10000 things I wanted to say in fact I feel like i really just rambled on for 10 minutes, but in all the notes i've ever read from abroad that's what everyone says so maybe i'm doing something write.

Hope all is well, David keep me informed on Shanghai that sounds fun. Mom keep me psoted on the goings on in Colorado. (Everyone here must think i'm lieing cause it's so hard to explain "where i'm from"). Dad you too! Everyone who's abroad keep me informed, cause i don't have internet much so i could easily miss something, toss me a poke or a message or something if i should look at something.

Other than that miss you all and talk to you soon!