Just call me Rick

Mom and dad, I am so glad you're coming to visit me!!! You're going to love Spain! Seville is one of my favorite cities I've ever seen. And there is still so much of it left to see. Just the other day I visited a new park up the river. It's called Parque del Alamillo and it's the biggest in the city. I ran about 25-30 minutes to get there and it was beautiful. Then I ran back along the river as the sun was setting. It doesn't get much better than that. I wish I had my phone to take some pictures.

Anyways, I wanted to make this post to tell you about some of the things you should expect to see as well as some tips and facts about Spanish life, specifically Andalusian and Sevillan life.
The first thing you will notice when you get to the city are is the abundance of orange trees here. One of my intercambios told me that the alcalde, or mayor, doesn't like them and has tried to get them chopped down, but nobody will let him. Squished oranges on the sidewalk can be messy, but there are people who go through the city to trim the trees, remove the oranges, and clean the sidewalks. They send the oranges to England to be made into marmalade. Do not eat them right off the tree! I've heard they are very bitter.
The first places you will probably see are the Plaza de Espana and the Parque de Maria Luisa. They are stunning, but very touristy. DO NOT accept rosemary (or anything else, for that matter) from the gypsies that hang around there. They will try to get money from you. The Plaza de Espana itself is gorgeous at first look, but it is a manufactured look. It is a combination of the styles you will see in Seville, not something original like the cathedral or the alcazar.
The horses and carriages you see everywhere are charming... but I have patted many horse noses with open sores and seen bony hips sticking out here and there. I do not suggest supporting that mode of transportation. It's probably a rip off anyways.
The river running through the city is called the Guadalquivir, it's an Arabic name meaning "big river". People kayak in there, row, and fish, but only catch and release because the water is contaminated. People do not swim in it, but when the youngins have their botellon (illegal public gathering to drink alcohol), it's not uncommon for someone to accidentally fall in.

As for cultural norms, Seville is known for its social life "in the streets". No one goes to each others' houses to spend time together, they head to the bars and tapaterias for a cerveza and a tapa and talk for hours. If you go to a restaurant, the waiter will not bring you your check unless you ask for it because they expect you to be sitting there for hours and hours. It's very different from in the states, where they want to flip tables as much as they can.
Go to a flamenco show! I have been learning about flamenco for two months now, and the variety in the song and dance is amazing. A show will obviously be geared towards tourists, but the one I went to at La Casa de Memoria was very good I thought. Not too flashy. Don't be fooled by the flamenco wannabes with guitars that walk around bothering people at outdoor restaurants. Not the real deal.
Staring is a thing. Apparently they do it to everyone. But they will especially do it to you because they will know you are American. Yes, they can tell from a mile away haha.
As you may know already, the eating schedule is very different from in the US. Breakfast is a tiny meal of toast or pastry with coffee or tea (or churros and chocolate). Lunch is usually around 2:30 or 3:00 and dinner is usually 9:30. Many stores and restaurants close for a while in the afternoon for siesta.

Yes, I am going to talk about food.
Living in my homestay, the most common foods I have eaten are chickpeas, potatoes, bread, and many many variations of fish. Fried anchovies, fried sardines, canned tuna, cod, fried fish balls, fried fish sticks, fish soup, etc. The seasonings are usually lots of salt, olive oil, garlic, and onions. Beware the raw onions.
Some very typical foods of Andalucia are the Spanish tortilla (potato omelet, sometimes with shrimp or cod), flamenquin Cordobes (Formerly featured on my blog), espinacas con garbanzos (spinach and chickpeas), jamon iberico (cured ham! I just had a midterm on this), gazpacho (summer time), and caracoles (snails. in the spring). Valencia is known for its paella, NOT southern Spain! As far as drinks go, sangria and tinto de verano are wine drinks most common in the summer, the rest of the year Sevillans drink Cruzcampo, Sevilla's beer.

Now for your Spanish lesson:
The Sevillan accent is not easy when you first hear it! They like to drop a lot of consonants.
See you later- Hasta luego (with a Sevillan accent it sounds more like 'ta luego)
How much does it cost?- Cuanto cuesta?
How is it going?- Que tal?
Where is...?- Donde esta...?
Ok- Vale (VAHL-ey)
It's ok, it doesn't matter- No pasa nada
Leave me alone- Dejame en paz (DAY-ha-me en pahs)
To go (as in food)- Para llevar (PA-ra yay-VAR)
It's nothing (in response to thank you)- nada
Oh my god, my daughter actually knows Spanish!- Dios mio, mi hija realmente sabe espanol!