I arrived in Sevilla a little over one week ago already feel as though I have gone on so many adventures. The first day I arrived, I met my host Señora, Manuela, who is so generous and kind, along with my roommate for the semester from Virginia who has already become a close friend. From the very first moment, Manuela has treated my roommate and I as though we were part of the family. Every morning, before she leaves to go to work, Manuela leaves out el pan tostada, mermelada y cafe for our breakfast. Then, around 2 p.m., most shops and stores close, children come back home from school, and Sevillanos leave work and either make their way home or meet friends at a restaurant for lunch–the biggest and most important meal of the day here in Spain.

At lunch, we all gather around the table and eat slowly, savoring the delicious food and company as we watch and discuss the news, different Spanish game shows or our favorite telenovelas. After lunch comes my new favorite part of the day — la siesta. We all hangout together on the couch and watch tv, read, journal or nap until around 5 p.m. when the shops open back up and everyone starts to go back to work until around 8 p.m..

At that point, the streets become alive with conversations and laughter between friends and family sharing tapas or having a drink before dinner, which doesn’t happen until around 10 p.m. (which has definitely been one of the biggest adjustments since arriving!) While there is still so much more to explore around Sevilla, I have become more familiar with the quieter neighborhood of my homestay — El Porvenir — and still cannot believe that my daily walk to class consists of passing through a vibrantly beautiful park filled with palm trees, statues, mosaics, doves, ducks and ponds as well as the absolutely stunning Plaza de España.

Every time I make my way to the center of the city, it feels like I am living in a dream!