Estoy aqui!!! Sevilla is absolutely gorgeous. I'm already in love with the city. I flew out on Tuesday and thankfully made all my connections and arrived Wednesday. The first two nights we (myself and the other CC-CS students) spent in a hotel in Sevilla, meeting the faculty of the school and getting oriented to the city. Thursday we went to meet our host families! I'm sharing a room with Jackie, another student in the program. She is wonderful. We've bonded really well and we've both decided to speak in Spanish to one another as much as we can, which I'm really excited about. We live in an apartment that's across the river from where the CC-CS center is. So we get to walk across it everyday. It's a beautiful view from the bridge.

Our host family is wonderful!!! We were greeted by our little "mom" named Charri and her 21 year-old daughter Maria. Charri has a husband but he's recuperating from surgery in a different town for a few weeks. We've heard from everyone who knows her that Charri is an amazing cook, and we are quickly finding this out for ourselves. Lunch is the biggest meal and both the lunches we've had here have been pretty formal, with different family members coming to eat with us. Everyone in the family is lovely and so sweet with us. They're so patient with our Spanish. I've found that speaking so much Spanish has been more natural for me than I thought it would be, and I'm realizing how much I have left to learn but I'm also getting more confident. Our sister Maria loves to correct us and I ask her questions all the time that she is very willing to answer. They are both so much fun. Charri is just the sweetest little lady. She has the cutest little smile and loves it when we compliment her cooking. And Maria is already taking us out on the town with her friends! I'm so glad we have a sister our age because it gives us the opportunity to really experience Sevilla from the Sevillano perspective.

Sevilla has such rich history! I absolutely love the beautiful old buildings. Everyday I get to walk by the huge cathedral. It amazes me every time. But there is also such a vibrant, modern feel. Jackie and I were walking back to our apartment last night and the cathedral was lit up and there were so many people walking around, so many families and kids. And there were a few street musicians playing. It has such a warm, friendly vibe. I'm going to try and play on the street one of these days. Heheee. We'll see how that goes. Jackie plays the bagpipes (!) but she didn't bring them. That would have been so fun. I think she might play the harmonica with me though.

I miss you all friends and family but thank you so much for your prays and warm wishes! I am so thankful for this opportunity and I intend on doing all I can to enjoy it!