Homestay, Take Two

After a week and a half of something similar to my own personal reality show of searching for the perfect homestay, I finally found one. I went to four different homestays in Triana before deciding on this one. My new homestay is a young couple (he’s thirty-two and she’s twenty-seven) with a one-year-old boy. They are from Bolivia but have been in Spain for about six years. Figures I would find the non-Spanish family to live with. Two other couples also live in the apartment, but they keep to themselves for the most part. The apartment is huge and my room is great; a single bed, bunk beds, desk, and huge Ikea status closest. Best part of the apartment: It’s right above a supermarket! Supermercado El Jamón also known as my new favorite place. I moved in on Monday night and felt instantly welcome. My “senñora” and “señor” have been so nice about everything; asking if I need anything, saying they’ll come pick me up if I’m out late at night, offering to drive me to the airport when I go to Paris.

Carlos (or Charlie) owns a bar a few blocks away from the apartment where I have been having breakfast every morning. My breakfast consists of toast with strawberry jam, fresh orange juice, and a cup of red tea with sugar. It’s fantastic. While I’m eating breakfast, the other man who works there (Nico) makes me a sandwich (bocadillo/bocata) to take for lunch. Maria works during the day, from 9am-2pm while their son Aaron is at day care (guardería). Aaron is adorable. When I was moving in he was “helping” me unpack by trying to open my facewash and comb his hair with my huge pink comb. And when I asked him to put something in a drawer (“ponte lo aqui”) he did it right away.

The apartment is in Triana, down a street off San Jacinto, one of the main roads. I’ve already found a ton of people who live right near me, which is the opposite of my first homestay in La Macarena. It’s been less than a week but I already feel really comfortable here. SO happy to finally feel at home in Spain.