A (Very Brief) Introduction to Spain and Seville

(Image from Lonely Planet. Seville is located in the southwest.)

Over the centuries, Spain has been populated by Phoenicians, Romans, Visigoths, Muslims…. These days, the “foreign invaders” are more likely to take the form of tourists, foreign students, retirees, and immigrants. Still, Spain continues to fascinate for its history, culture, landscapes and privileged position at the crossroads of the Mediterranean: where the “old world” meets the “new world”; where North meets South; and where the past meets the present. In recent decades, Spain has undergone dramatic political, economic and social transformations: the democratic transition following Franco’s death and the birth of the autonomous communities; the impact of the Euro;  or the recent legalization of homosexual marriage, just to name a few.

Above is an excerpt from my program handbook. I don’t really know how else to “introduce” a country, especially one with a history as ancient and diverse as Spain, but this seemed like a good start!

I’ve always wanted to study abroad, so I feel incredibly lucky and excited to have this opportunity. Ever since I began taking Spanish classes in high school, I knew I wanted to study in a Spanish-speaking county and try to improve my fluency. After looking at programs in a number of countries, I settled on Spain. Though I had heard great things about studying abroad in places like Argentina and Chile, the allure of traveling to Europe was too much to resist.

Once I decided on a country, I still had to choose a program and a city. CIEE, the Council on International Educational Exchange, has several Spanish programs that are affiliated with my home university. I researched their programs in Barcelona, Madrid, and other cities, before eventually deciding to apply to the semester-long Advanced Liberal Arts Program in Seville!

Here’s a little blurb about Seville (also taken from my program handbook):

Seville, Spain’s fourth largest city, is located in the southernmost region of Spain, Andalusia, and is a major tourist destination, not to mention one of the world’s most beautiful cities. The city has been made famous throughout history, art and literature, but these days it is more likely to be visited for its popular traditions, festivals and gastronomy. Home to the largest Gothic cathedral in the world and its famous Giralda, which was originally constructed by the Moors in the 12th century; today, the city makes headlines for its public bike sharing system, its incipient metro, or the construction of architectural landmarks or skyscrapers. As a result, Seville struggles with the balance to preserve its rich cultural and historic heritage, with the challenges and necessities of a modern city.

And another selection from the CIEE website:

Capital of Andalusia, Seville was one of the last footholds of the Moorish empire that ruled the Iberian Peninsula. It is home to the ingenious barber of Seville and the tempestuous Carmen. The great Renaissance painters Velázquez and Murillo were born here, and Ferdinand and Isabel ruled Spain from the royal apartments in the Alcazar Palace. Though the city preserves its past, modern Seville is the commercial hub of Andalusia. For a city of fewer than 800,000, Seville offers amazing cultural activities, from flamenco to classical, pop, and jazz concerts.

Do you see why I want to go there?