Submitted by Gabrielle Hnatin on the 2018 winter session program in Spain sponsored by the School of Education…
Hola de Sevilla, Espana! Me llamo Gabrielle and I am a junior Elementary Education major at UD. Thanks to IGS I have the privilege of studying abroad with the Education Department’s 2018 Winter Study Abroad in Spain!
My favorite experience in Week 1: The Epiphany Parade! In Spain, the Christmas season lasts for weeks culminating with January 6th, the Epiphany! On January 6th, families celebrate and the Three Wisemen bring young children presents the night before as a reward for a year of good behavior. January 5th includes city and country wide parades of incredible floats throwing thousands and thousands of pieces of candy into the crowd. About half of our group went to the parade and stayed for an hour and half until the end, surrounded by local families collecting candy. The energy was contagious and learning about a holiday I had never heard of was really exciting. I would love to revisit Sevilla for the Epiphany later in life with my family!
My favorite food in Week 1: Chocolate and Churros! Affordable and delicious.
Culture Shock: Lots of PDA!, Dinner at 8:30 pm is early!
Sevilla Must See’s:
1. Plaza de Espana
a. INCREDIBLE PHOTO OP. Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones was filmed here in 2002. A fun outdoor experience where you can rent a rowboat for just 6 euros!
2. El Alcazar
a. Beautiful gardens outside and detailed mosaic tiling, paintings, and tapestries within. Must see! Game of Thrones Season 5 included scenes shot here.
3. La Catedral
a. La Giralda is a giant tower that visitors can climb while visiting the Cathedral. After walking up 34 ramps to the top, the 360 view of Sevilla is more than worth it. 
4. Maestranza
a. Every Sunday from April through October, up to 12,000 people can come here to watch bull fights. This means 6 bulls are killed each Sunday here, and we got to learn all of the history behind this foreign form of entertainment. We didn’t get to see any bulls, but the building is spectacular.
Tips So Far:
1. When it comes to flying together, the more the merrier. We were left to schedule our flights on our own since our hometowns are spread out all over the East Coast. I ended up traveling with a group of 10 students. Hanging out together made waiting in customs lines and layovers go by so quickly. Also, navigating through connecting flights is much less stressful if you have a few people to travel with.
2. Use cell phones minimally, especially in crowded public areas and on public transportation. It is key to be aware of your surroundings so you do not bump into people or end up getting pickpocketed.
3. THE RUMORS ARE TRUE pickpocketing is a HUGE issue, in Spain at least. When your instructor suggests a money belt or some sort of device to hide and secure your valuables, really look into that. I’m ordering one on Amazon Prime tonight and leaving as many of my belongings locked in the hotel as possible in the meantime.
4. Brush up on your country’s native language. It is not safe to assume that all people will be able to accommodate the American tourists. Although MANY workers in big international cities are bilingual, it was not the case for us in Sevilla and even simple things like ordering food or drinks was extremely frustrating for us Americans and the patient Spaniards.
5. Book a tour with a tour guide! Our tour guides on the program have been funny, kind, and SO knowledgeable. With a little structure to your exploring, you hit all of the most beautiful and interesting places in the city in an efficient amount of time. Rather than just wandering around and taking pictures, you can actually learn the history behind these places which only makes it more breathtaking.