Why Spain?

When I was 13 some of my family (Grace, Gail, Zack, Sarah, and I) went to Spain for three and a half weeks in the summer. For those of you who didn’t know me at age 13, you’re probably lucky. I was such a brat. After being given the option to go to Spain or stay in Santa Cruz, my older brother and I said we wanted to stay in Santa Cruz. I wanted to work at the summer camp at our temple (Camp Kayetz whatup) and Jordy was in his rebellious teen phase. But one day Grace told me that I was going to Spain. So basically I spent the three and a half weeks making the trip miserable for everyone else. Lots of crying and asking Laurie to fly me home. Many tantrums and an obscene amount of whining in churches, museums, and hotels. However I apparently had a good enough time to decide sometime during high school that I wanted to go abroad to Spain during my junior year of college.

My first choice was Barcelona. I loved the architecture (so much Gaudi) and the proximity to the coast—I have this need to be near water at all times. Until sometime in June I was set on going to Barcelona. But one day during summer session one I had a "midlife" crisis. I knew that there was no way I could go abroad to Barcelona. I had two main reasons: 1) I have never lived in a big city and didn’t want my first big city experience to be in a foreign country, and 2) I don’t speak Catalan. My reason for going abroad was to learn Spanish not Catalan. I needed a new city and so I decided on Sevilla.

We spent about three days in Sevilla during our Spain trip in ‘03. My most vivid memories are Grace driving down a street not meant for cars and some intense flamenco. But I remembered having a good time (aside from making everyone else miserable) and thought I could see myself spending four months there.

And so here I am in Sevilla. Ready for all that Southern Spain has to offer me. I’ll be here until sometime in May or June, not sure when yet. I’m hoping to improve my Spanish, make some friends, and travel as much as possible. I decided to write a blog so that I can keep you all updated on my adventures and have a record of them later. More updates to come on my first official week in Sevilla.