Eventful first few days!

I'm loving being in Sevilla so far! I think it's a really charming city with lots of history and character anywhere you look. I've been walking ALL over and it's exciting to see in person the streets and places I've been looking at on Google Maps all summer.

Main cathedral in Sevilla...much bigger and prettier than it looks here!

For my research this year I'm working with a chemistry group at University Pablo de Olavide. They organized a conference this year (on adsorption), and the dates were last Wednesday through Friday. There were about 120 people, mostly from Spain, with some from Portugal and other European countries.

I arrived in Sevilla on Thursday, and my group very kindly invited me to the conference dinner that night, and the talks and lunch the next day. It was perfect timing because I got to meet everyone in the group! They are so nice and I am SO excited to work with them!! They've included me both during and outside the conference, helped me with my apartment search, been patient with my Spanish… more later on the group. :)

The conference dinner was an interesting cultural experience - the schedule said it would go from 9:30 to 11:30, but everyone ended up staying until 1 or so, even the old people! And the sessions the next morning started at 9 am. I joined the other students in getting drinks afterwards and I left by 3, which was earlier than everyone else. I asked one of the students, won't you be tired tomorrow morning?? He responded, well yeah. and that basically they'd all been getting so little sleep that week that one night wouldn't make a difference. And when I asked, what about falling asleep during the talks?? He responded, coffee. So anyway, I think that's pretty typical Spanish! To enjoy the moment and worry about sleep/work later.

So besides fancy dinners and tapas (I've had more alcohol, meat, and seafood in the last few days than I've had in a long time!) I've been consisting on granola bars, nuts, and food that other people have left over in the hostel. On the schedule tomorrow is opening a bank account, starting the process of applying for residency, and signing an apartment lease (!). Once I'm moved in I'll start research at Pablo de Olavide!!

Oh and thank you to everyone for the well wishes. :)