And Then There Was One

Sometimes it seems that we make decisions that require great thought and calculation.  Other times, our choices are utterly random and careless.  I’m not sure that I could qualify my decision to come to Sevilla as either of these types of judgment, but rather as “Well, we’ll see how this goes…”

Could I have been any luckier?

In Sevilla, I lived with the most wonderful family, saw the most incredible sights, and met the most marvelous people.  If I could have engineered the experience myself, I would not have been able to come close to the fantastic reality of my time there.

gorgeous girls

so happy!

Kike and Emilio framing an ecstatic Keely

Because of this, leaving Sevilla was awful.  I finally felt at home in a Spanish city, and was expected to leave with great excitement for what was to come.  While I am excited to begin work in my school, I don’t have a network in Córdoba.  I know these things will come in time, but at the moment, I’m just missing the life I have already established.

fountain in the main square
(does this look like the Heritage Fountain in Olympia to anyone else?)

Plaza de Tendillas

I arrived in Córdoba two days ago, and I am currently staying in a hotel next to La Mezquita with very spotty internet access.  Thus, I will be uploading this post when I find myself a home.  The next five days are devoted to finding a piso (apartment) in Córdoba.  I am, in a word, terrified.  It turns out that piso hunting in Spain is just as aggravating as in America, only now I must do it alone and in a different language.  Yesterday I spent the day walking around the city with two other girls from the program.  We pulled paper tabs off flyers advertising pisos for rent and then made zillions of phone calls.  Many were already occupied, some were very far from my school, and a handful of the people were so hard to understand that I gave up with a mumbled, “Gracias, hasta luego.”

Luckily I was able to connect with some other auxiliares for tapas last night, which made me feel like I wasn't alone.  There are several people who are placed in the city of Córdoba and around the province.  Networking with everyone made me feel better, and there are several nice people placed in the city with me, so hopefully I'll be able to connect with them over the next few weeks.

auxiliares tapas group

I am feeling more than a little discouraged at the moment, but I know that everything will fall into place.  It’s really difficult to be so far from all of my new friends as well as not being able to easily contact my family and friends at home.  There are a handful of auxiliares like me here in Córdoba, but right now we are all so piso-focused that it’s difficult to form relationships.  Two girls who I met through CIEE already have a beautiful piso very close to my school, so I know it’s possible.  Now I just have to be persistent without getting too disheartened.

On a brighter note, I visited my school this morning!  It is in the middle of a beautiful garden-esque park called Plaza de Colón.  I walked around unable to find it for twenty minutes until I realized that it was actually inside the park!  My bilingual coordinator is named Mariló, and she is very sweet.  She was excited to hear that I am a musician, and told me that I would be able to teach music classes in English!  The children were adorable and the school is very charming, so despite my piso discouragement I am excited for the year to come.  

fountain in the center of Plaza de Colón, where my school is located

 Now, to find a new home.  Wish me luck!