3 Feb 2008 - Carnaval in Cadiz

Jeremy and I, as the sun was setting. Just the beginning of a crazy adventure.
Bob and Allison, and some Spanish dude, in front of the mob that filled the cathedral square.

So my trial period of Spain is at an end. The long, empty days of my 3 hour a day grammar class are over – tomorrow my CIEE classes begin, and the following week University of Sevilla classes will begin. I’m frustrated with the grammar class that I’ve been taking, and feel that all it’s done is strip down some of the confidence that I have about speaking Spanish. I believe that I’ll be taking a semester-long grammar class that I’m not especially excited about, but perhaps it will be really good for me. (?) I don’t feel that I learn Spanish well in a classroom/theoretical sense. I think that having conversations is the best way to really improve, and as we split up and each have different classes, and meet Spaniards in our classes, I’m sure it will be easier.

I’m looking forward to starting this “real” part of my semester abroad. It will be good to get into a steady schedule and to have full days – even if they’re full of studying. It’s hard for me to do so much nothing, but it did give us time to get to know Sevilla, and also each other, that is the kids in my class especially. I feel like I definitely have a few solid friendships, which will hopefully help me out in getting through my classes. Its hard to get used to the fact that we can’t “hang out” in our homestays – in order to meet up, be it to study, watch a movie, or just to talk, one must take to the streets. In order to meet up with friends, one must fork out some cash for a coffee or a beer. I understand that we are guests in the homes that we’re staying in, and it’s easier for CIEE to give us an all inclusive rule of “no people over – ever,” and it does make sense as well. I’m actually rather lucky – my “señora” is a young woman who actually works at CIEE, so she doesn’t object to my friends stopping by briefly, because she knows who they are.

This fine weekend was spent in Cadíz, the home of second largest street party in Spain - Carnaval! Arriving mid-day gave us plenty of time to relax on the beach, eat our sandwiches packed lovingly by our señoras, and observe the Carnaval festivities. During the day, there were balloon-vendors, donut vendors, small children in costumes, and groups of adults dressed up all in the same costumes. As the sun went down, the streets filled with costumed, bottle-in-hand Spaniards. Busses from Sevilla arrived around 10 with our fellow study-abroad students, and in the small city of Cadíz, there was a familiar face on every corner. Spain sure can throw a party. The bars barricaded their front doors; they took money and passed the beer over the barricades, but kept the unruly masses outside. At 4:30, a few of us dragged our sad, sorry selves to the train station, battled through the mob outside of the station with tickets in hand. Miraculously, everyone else from our crew made it not only onto the train, but into the same compartment! And conked out until our arrival in Sevilla.