Applied Learning

One of the coolest things about being here is that everything I learn in class applies as soon as I walk out the door. For example, we learned in both History and Art History that Muslims decorate only with geometric patterns and plants, because they believe that only Allah (Is that how you spell it in English? In Spanish it’s Alá) has the power to create things with souls. Anyway, so in their palaces and mosques (again with the English spelling?) they would decorate the floor with geometric patterns up to about halfway on the wall. This tradition still carries on in Andalucian houses. In case you didn’t know, or forgot, Muslims from Africa and the Middle East occupied southern and western Spain for 700 years, from 711 until 1492. (Mom and Dad- that’s your money at work!)
Yesterday I went on a bike ride around Seville, and I was amazed by all the geometric patterns in the sidewalks, walls, and buildings today. In the States, we don’t have decorative traditions that date back 1300 years. That is sweet.
Yesterday, before my bike ride, senora came in and talked to us, as usual. She is the cutest little thing ever. We talked about shoes and she brought out her nice shoes and we all compared and she told us that she couldn’t wear shoes with heels like Sam’s. She also told me to not bike in the streets about five times. Here is a picture of her and Sam comparing tans:

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This is the only picture I have been able to take of her; this is what she looks like most of the time. In Spain, everyone gets really dressed up to go anywhere. When you get home, you put on your most comfy clothes and just hang around. Sam and I change clothes probably 4 times a day. I haven’t seen my senora wear anything but a nightgown since the first day because she goes out when we’re gone and comes back before we get home. She did not know this was the picture I was taking of her, she just thought it was of her arm.