The alternative title for this post was "Still lookin like a freshman" .... more on that later. For the benefit of non-UNC readers, LDOC is an abbreviation for our favorite day of the year: last day of class. For the sake of this, I have adapted this to make FDOC, or first day of class; en Español, se dice primer día de classes (hence PDDC). Finally, after having been let loose in the streets of Sevilla for 3 days, we have a semblance of structure to our schedule. While I'm here, I will be studying the history of Spanish art and advanced Spanish language and grammar; the Spanish art class usually meets every week day at 9:30 and Spanish language meets at 12. Today, however, the art class did not meet so we got to sleep in. Unfortunately, the combined intelligence of Jorge and I were not sure if our language class met at 11 or 12, so we arrived at the school an hour ahead of time and walked into a full classroom that was not ours. Rookie mistake. As if that was not bad enough, I was the only person in the class without a pencil or notebook. The pencil I left at mi casa, the notebook I left in Atlanta altogether. Oops... Fortunately for me it was an introductory class and I do not really need anything until tomorrow.
The class seems like it should not be too difficult but I do expect it to be rewarding. The teacher does not speak English well, so she will not be tempted to slip into speaking English like a few of my past teachers have. Even though we only did goup introductions and then went to the librería to buy our class books, I can tell that she is very engaging and will ensure that the class is very conversational.
After class, we toured the Cathedral de Sevilla. I have already seen it on my last trip through Spain with my family and the Stewarts 4 years ago, but I was just as impressed this time around. It was interesting to compare my English tour to the Spanish one. I admit that my memory does not serve me well enough to remember anything from the tour 4 years ago except for a few random facts about Christopher Columbus' tomb, but I do know that the Spanish tour offered a new perspective about the alter, capillas, and architecture. It really is a very historic and beautiful building that has been built, destroyed, repaired, and rebuilt over various art periods. As a result, there is Moorish, gothic, baroque, and renaissance influence. The tour guide for the cathedral was actually my future history of Spanish art teacher, so it was good to put a face to the name. His tour was interesting and comprehensible, so I hope the class will be the same.
After a long, siestaless day (the Cathedral tour interfered with my siesta nap time.... worth it though), a group of us went to a small cafe and enjoyed un jarro de sangria before returning to the home.
Not much planned for tonight; we might walk around the town and take night pictures. Jorge and I took advantage of the rare opportunity to buy Cubans, so we may indulge ourselves smoking them tonight.
To those (mom) that are waiting for pictures of mi familia, I ask for you to be patient. Carmen was not ready for it today and wants to make sure that the picture of her that is being sent back home is not one of her just rolling out of bed after siesta, I hope the pictures of the school and cathedral will do.
I feel pretty good So I dropped into the luxury of the Lords Fighting dragons and crossing swords With the people against the hordes Who came to conquer... I'm flying in [Sevilla] Cathedral - Crosby, Stills, Nash, Young & Pepe
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