clases, toros, y futbol

*(Note: this is really long. Because I like to journal on here. Here's a link to Sam's pictures, click Espana http://s7.photobucket.com/albums/y292/ihaveaclevernickname/)
We started classes today! A brief summary of my classes:

Arte espanol is almost entirely visual. We have no textbook. My professor speaks no English. It's excellent. We get to go on field trips around Seville, to Toledo, Granada, and somewhere else. Carmen (my professor) said that we should also go to Madrid by ourselves and visit The Prado. This class guarantees that I will indeed go to all the important museums and see the tourist sights of Sevilla.

Gramatica Avanzada: Lots of talking, no set schedule. Carmen is my professor for this too. We will study what ever topics we feel are necessary. I really like advanced classes because they are so relaxed.

Historia: I have a different professor for this class. Her name is Ana. I believe (if I can trust what I think I understood my senora to say) that Ana's husband died like 3 years ago because he fell off a float in the Holy Week (Semana Santa) parade and hit his head. How awful. Anyway, she is really cute and loves history.

All of my Spanish friends and professors call me "Elena" My professors looked relieved to not have to say "Ellen". Sam and I went shopping today. She was very sucessful. I bought just 2 shirts which I like both a lot, and I have to say that I accomplished a goal. I'm pretty sure I would not wear one of them in the US. It's just really Spanish trendy and I like it. I might wear it when I get back. But it will probably be too hot. You will probably see pictures.
We always watch TV while we eat. Yesterday, I decided I hate bullfighting and I refuse attend a bullfight, thereby supporting it while in Spain. I don't really care if they do it, I just don't want to go. On TV yesterday, there was this show called "Toros para todos" (bulls for everyone). They showed this poor little guy (bull) in a pen and commented: "He is about to face his doom" The bull looked up with these big eyes and I was saddened. But it ended up that he surivived being backstabbed by the matador and didn't die, so they stitched up his back and let him go back to eating grass in his pen.
Then they showed several clips of bulls totally owning the matadores it made Sam and I very happy. We love it when the bulls win! Which is probably not good, but really the point of a bullfight is to make the bull angry and then stab him in the back. So we cheer when the bull is like "Hey quit stabbibng me" and then flips the bullfighter up in the air. Our senora would think we were weird if she hadn't hosted so many Americans.
Seville has two soccer teams: Sevilla and Real Betis. There is a huge rivalry. Most people I have met have been Betistas (fans of Betis). However Betis is not doing well at all this year and Sevilla is doing really well for the first time ever. I needed to decide who I would support. While I was deciding, I found out that I live down the street from el campo del Betis (the stadium). And so, with that I must announce my hesitant decision to become a Betista. I might change back if I have a good reason (especially if it affects my grade...).
If you are related to me (and not my mom) I would like to say "Hi! I don't know if any of you are reading this, but hello if you are!"
And to my mom: Hola mama!