Best laid plans

Details first:

Our journey to Alicante for the weekend looks increasingly unlikely at this point. First of all Eddie is only beginning to recover from a terrible cough/bronchitis problem that had him immobile since Thursday afternoon. Secondly the girls he met from Alicante a few weeks ago advised us about the best hostels to stay in while we were there and then said we could "hang out" once we got there and make plans. Not what we thought they meant when they said we should come see them. Thirdly there is going to be a lot going on here in Sevilla this weekend, not the least of which is the final weekend of the festival of nations which is taking place in one of the parks, five or ten minutes walking distance from our neighborhood. It's not all the nations of the world but many of the Latin countries and various European ones. They each have a food booth which is fantastic. Even better, there are shops with cultural knicknacks, whatnots, and doodas, none of which are as expensive as some of the "cultural products" we've seen in other parts of Spain. Finally, staying home will mean essentially burning the 35 american dollars the tickets cost; however, we had yet to book a hostel when we made the decision so overall we will save that 125 E for the weekend plus the cost of food and any other transport. So really, we burned a little cash but saved even more, and we don't get the experience obviously.

Now the promised reflection on being halfway done.

First of all I don't believe I am halfway done. I think last week I told you about how enamored I am with Spain and what a crazy first couple of days I had right? It seems like it. Midterms were surely real enough, but they felt less like a midway point marker and more like a sudden alarm sounding, alerting me to the reality of how quickly the sand is pouring through the hourglass. I don't feel as though I have been missing opportunities or letting them fall by the wayside; far from it. So I can find some solace there.
It has been plenty long enough for me to find the less attractive realities to living in this country. Nothing is truly awful or problematic.....but there are some bits of our society, the police for example, that quite simply need to work. Without questions or bickering or exceptions. I thought I saw a police car pulling someone over today and I about fell over from surprise, but then true to form they just sped around the vehicle and off to parts unknown. I always see police speeding somewhere but you never see them arrive or arrest anyone or do anything. Another disturbing detail: for a country quite literally on the very brink of following Greece into austerity reforms and begging for bailouts nobody, and I mean nobody, seems worried. Nobody talks about the upcoming elections or the sovereign debt crisis. Even the older professionals are out at bars until 5 in the morning drinking and talking. Culturally speaking America could probably use a little more gathering communally and talking and sharing each other's company; on the other hand, our straits are nowhere near as dire as Spain's and we have this Occupy Wallstreet movement taking off, and already you can't open an internet browser without some random factoid about one Republican candidate or another being crammed down your throat through your screen. You also may have noticed there are a lot of cranes in my pictures of the city. Off the top of my head, there are no less than seven new apartment complexes being built within a half mile of our apartment. Where are they getting the money for this? Who is going to pay to move into Sevilla in an economy like this? It's not just Sevilla either. Madrid seemed to be under construction, Cadiz had its fair share of projects. Perhaps it is Spanish stoicism, or perhaps the "no pasa nada" attitude really is a way of life. Either way, to put it metaphorically, I'd still put a freaking screen on my open windows after the first night of fending off mosquitoes, moths, and gnats. Such a course of action simply does not occur to the average Spaniard.

I do love it here. The food is simply wonderful, as are my host family and new friends. I suppose it is much like any other experience of period one may go through. The place itself may or may not be so fundamental in shaping the experience but the people are always essential. I have been blessed with a roommate who is (according to everyone who spends any time around us) a long lost brother of sorts. We are all blessed to have teachers who understand our focus cannot be solely on the schoolwork; several even encourage us to travel as much as possible and arrange the class load accordingly. It's a little strange to me but if you'll give me a few inches I'll take the mile, thanks.  I find my transcribing these thoughts to you today especially apropos: it rained today. By rained I mean some billowing grey clouds rolled in about eleven thirty this morning and dropped a sprinkling, a smidgen of moisture. Just enough to re moisturize all the dog crap drying on the sidewalks, but the smell and the feel of the rain was simply glorious after baking for so long. The temperature has finally, blessedly begun to drop this week. Walking to the gym Eddie and I were slightly put off by how much the roiling grey clouds, gusts of wind, and slightly cool temperature reminded us of Michigan and Ohio in the fall. We don't exactly know what to do with such weather. I mean we have the clothing for it of course but cold? Sevilla? Impossible. Simply cannot be.

Everyone talks about how studying abroad will change you, open your horizons, make you see the world differently. I'm sure it has actually been happening and man I have seen some things (did I tell you about the mothers who hold their 2-5 year old daughters over trees to pee in the plazas between apartment buildings? They go to incredible lengths to dress their children perfectly, often in little matching uniforms, and yet they'll just hold them there to do their business in front of God and everyone. And they don't bring paper towels or tissues or anything. Just shake 'em dry and on we go. The ironies and contradictions are hilarious). I just haven't felt the deepening or broadening very much. In my head I'm still just some kid from New Mexico, studying in Ohio, trying to figure out what I'm supposed to do with my life. Therein might lie the issue, because according to the calendars I'm no longer a kid, and I really haven't been for a while. The question then becomes, I think, is this doing something with your life? Some days it sure feels like it. Some days I'm less certain.