Adjusting to the Spanish Lifestyle

"Culture Shock": What I didn't think existed because I didn't experience it in Sevilla.  I guess it's much different when you go in a group of 60 Americans, have all of your accomodations taken care of, food on the table, a piso waiting for you, school already arranged, and a cell phone already in your pocket. Not to metion you're in one of the biggest cities in Spain with millions of things going on.

It's not so easy here.  Not saying I don't like the adventure or that I wasn't expecting it, but I think I've redefined Culture Shock.  Between catching every other word people say to me, and them catching 1/3 of mine.. getting around here is a bit more difficult.  Last night we tried to order 2 Desperados and ended up with 2 sprites.  Como?  After getting help finding the apartment, we've been trying to be a bit more independent, but there are so many limitations.  Today we weren't even able to buy a cell phone because we don't have our Tarjetas de Identidad de Extranjeros (basically a temporary residence card).  But in order to get those cards we need to get another certification from the Spanish government, but in order to get that certification we need to file ourselves in some other archive, and in order to do that we need to contact our landlord, and in order to that we need cell phones, which we're unable to buy because we don't have the Tarjeta that we need in the first place.. and so on and so forth.  It's getting pretty frustrating, and throw in a language barrier on top of that and it's near impossible.  Along with no cell phones we don't have internet, and have little hope of getting a contract, being illegal aliens and all.  Try booking a trip only using some rinky-dink wifi at a coffee shop!  And not being able to Skype with my family and friends back home only adds fuel to the culture shock fire.  So I think finally we have to break down and ask our guardian angel for a bit more help.  Despite the rant, it isn't so bad, and will definitely get better.  We're also having problems finding the nightlife!  Finally last night we came across several really fun looking clubs in the center of the city... but they were still dead at almost 1 AM.  I know nightlife starts really late here, but come on!

So hopefully we will be leaving for a beach trip soon to unwind and escape this heat... 41 degrees at 7:30 last night!!