Adjusting to the Spanish culture was relatively easy, but adjusting back to life in the United States may be more difficult when I return.

Pace of life
There are so many things I love about Spanish culture, just as there are customs I am not so enamored with, but one of my loves is the pace of life in Sevilla. On the weekends, I leisurely start my day at 2:30 when I drag myself out of bed, and finish it at 7:00 or 8:00a.m. when my feet are ready to fall off from dancing.

Even during the week, when I have an 8a.m. and a 10a.m. class, I can still look forward to the three to four hour siesta during the afternoon which is perfect for catching up on missed hours of sleep. At first it was difficult to adjust to the entire city shutting down in the middle of the afternoon, but I am fully accustomed to the siesta now.

Concern with appearance
One cultural difference that was not so easy to adapt to was the major emphasis placed on appearance. Of course, I like to dress up once in awhile, but here, itīs a way of life. People are very well-dressed in Sevilla, and if I go out in my sweatshirt, jeans, and flip-flops, Iīm bound to get a few strange looks. Finally, I decided to grin and bear it, because some days the need for comfort exceeds the desire to mix in with the culture. Besides, as Americans, we are spotted from a mile away anyhow. Travelers and foreign exchange students are abound here, and even my friends and I laugh now when we spot an obvious guiri.

Misconceptions of America
It is interesting to pick out common misconceptions about American culture. Few of my Spanish friends have visited the U.S., but many are adamant that their knowledge of the U.S., that comes from movies and the news, is correct.

Of course, some of these stereotypes are based on reality. If they think that Americans are rich, it is because compared with their standard of living, many of us are wealthy. My family has four cars for four people, while many families here have none. My host family has one small apartment for four people, while my family in the U.S. has a big house with a backyard. Americans are also typecast as fat, easy, and obnoxiously loud (although this has proven true here in the past, we are a bit loud).

Despite the negative stereotypes, American products are found everywhere, and Spanish television shows a fascination with American stars and all things from the U.S. Some friends of mine made me chocolate chip cookies, which I shared with my host sisters. They promptly ate them all and told me I cannot leave until I teach them how to make them.

Family dynamics
My host sisters are so much fun, I get along well with all three. The youngest, who is my age, tells me all of her sorrows. The family dynamics are so different here, mainly because the living situation is so much different. Children live with their parents much longer, sometimes until the age of 30. This can cause a lot of problems, but it also makes for a very close-knit family. My apartment here, with five women living in it, feels like a war zone with screaming and yelling one minute, then the next everything is forgotten and they are talking excitedly about a new clothes purchase. The same is true in their relationships. All three have long-term boyfriends, and they fight with them often, then make-up quickly. The relationships are very hot and cold.

Touring and travveling
Besides the great friendships I have made here, the experience of living and traveling in Europe has been amazing. It was a dramatic change after living in small Midwestern towns all of my life. During the semester, I traveled all over Southern Spain; first to the gorgeous beaches, then to more cultural sights.

Spain has such a rich history, because so many different groups of conquerors passed through and left traces of their cultures here. We have visited Moorish castles, Roman aqueducts from before Christīs time, and fantastic cathedrals.

After three months of traveling and experiencing daily Sevillian life, I feel I have learned much about Spanish culture, and of course my grasp of the Spanish language is much stronger. Yet I still have so much to learn, possibly on a future trip...