Spring Semester 2007

Jocelyn's host sister 'Janire'(left) and Jocelyn with her host mother 'Idoia'(right)

I share a room with my host sister Janire (upper left), which works out well. We go to the same school by tram every day and that gives us plenty of time to bond. She is a lovely, goofy girl who loves fashion, her friends, and her sister (even though they have frequent verbal sparring!), laughing, and getting up in the morning "to take in the sun and be content." I enjoy her presence greatly. Her younger sister, Saioa, is a boisterous little thing who loves patinando (roller-skating) and learning hip-hop dance off of tutorial videos. She is an active child who seeks attention, but is very loving. For the first week, I had to concentrate very hard to understand her chatter. I've relaxed into it now, but I still have to ask her to slow down sometimes!  

Piri, my host dad, is an athletic man who goes running every day, works in the civil guard, and loves to make jokes. The jokes are good... when I can understand them! He taught me how to play paddle, which is like tennis with a different variety of ball and racket and where you play bouncing the ball off of the walls as well as the ground. Idoia (with Jocelyn, upper right) is the classic Spanish mother, with her constant caressing and concern over my food intake. She loves playing dominoes and hardly seems to sleep during the week as she stays on the computer playing dominoes electronically with her friends until all hours of the night! She is a good cook and a very open communicator; she and I have had many frank and open conversations over the weeks, which have proven essential to my survival in this world of un-established expectations. She and I played dominoes a week ago and she taught me how to make the Spanish tortilla today! This consists of frying potato and egg together into something akin to an omelet - only better! I guarantee you that, whoever you are, you will like this traditional Spanish dish. 

Jocelyn with Sevilliana dancers