Orientation

Hola!  What an exciting few days it has been! After a very long journey we were all finally together in Sevilla by Sunday afternoon. We were greeted at the airport by the CIEE Seville staff and went together by bus to the hotel where we began the orientation. After the first session we went with our local Spanish tour guides for "tapas," a Spanish tradition that consists of sharing small plates. This gave the students the chance to try lots of Spanish dishes on the first day. Some even tried new things like snails and octopus!

On Monday we continued the orientation, talking about many important subjects such as housing, academics, health, safety, and program rules. The big event of the day was meeting the host families. There was a shared feeling of nervousness and excitement amongst the group but their first interactions went well and they are all settling in now to their new homes!

We also went to the school for the first time and met Carlos, the professor of the digital film making course. I think I can speak for all of us in saying that the students will be very lucky to have him as a teacher and mentor.

This morning we had the last formal orientation sessions and this afternoon we will have our first class. Everyone is excited to know more about what they will be working on for the next few weeks.

Tomorrow is the last day of orientation. We will go on extensive tours of the city with our local guides and learn more about the history and culture of Sevilla.

After these first few days of getting to know each other I feel very lucky to be leading such a wonderful group of kind, curious, and adventurous students through this journey. I’m very much looking forward to what is to come and I hope you are too!

Hasta pronto!

Danielle

“Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.” – Neale Donald Walsch