Wednesday April 9, 2008
All I have to say is that it pays off to have Spanish friends, especially during Feria. On Wednesday night we went out for our first Feria experience with a bunch of Sevillanos that I met at our intercambio a few weeks back. We had a group of about 20 and it was amazing to go with a group of natives. We got the “inside scoop” on everything and they made it a point to point out all of the important things that we must see and take pictures of. While passing under the “portada” (the large entrance door into Feria) my Spanish friends informed me that I had to make a wish as I walked under, so I did…I would never have known this tradition if I hadn’t been with them!
We walked around for a while and looked at dresses, horses, casetas (a combo of a tent and a house…basically the nicest tent that you’ve ever seen in your life with hardwood floors, china, paintings, lights, plants, the works) and then we headed to a caseta of our own. Someone had a friend with a caseta therefore we all went with. There are a couple of public casetas but the large majority of the casetas are private. Therefore, it’s really good to know someone to get into a private caseta because there are guards at each caseta’s entrance. It was great speaking Spanish the entire night and learning how to dance Sevillanos. They were all amazing to us and it was great finally feeling like we have friends again, instead of just looking like tourists and feeling awkward.
After our first caseta we went to the firefighters caseta, which had a live band playing. The music was a mix of Sevillanas and popular songs. There were even songs that I knew…which amazed me, and songs from the US as well. YMCA anyone? While they taught us Sevillanos, we taught them the YMCA…ha, what an odd exchange of cultures. But it was priceless teaching the Sevillanos how to do the YMCA, they looked awkward, it was hilarious. I’m sure that’s how I look when I try and dance Sevillanos. We ate tortillas, drank rebujitos (a special kind of wine mixed with 7up) and danced Sevillanos, how much more Spanish can you get?
My favorite part about Feria is the fact that it is an “all ages” event. There were children in strollers all the way up to people in their 80’s or more out celebrating. Everyone was happy, enjoying themselves, dancing and having fun with the people around them. I felt really welcomed by the Spaniards and it was a great way to experience the culture.
Even though it had been raining most of the week and most of the day there were still lots of women dressed in flamenco dresses. I couldn’t believe all of the bright colors, mantillas (large bright colored hair combs), flowers, and large earrings, polka dots; I was in awe. If I could get a dress back to the States, I would love to buy one in a heartbeat. One of the ladies in our group got my e-mail and we are meeting up at her house later this week so we can try on some of her flamenco dresses and take pictures in them and so she can cook us a Spanish meal! Well that is the plan at least…I hope that it ends up working out. After tonight, I definitely don’t ever want to go back home, this was one of the best times that I have had in Spain so far. I give Feria two thumbs way way up.
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