adventures in homestaying

My señora is an interesting character. No major problems have occured and I doubt any will. But let´s just say we have very different personalities. She likes her house to be just so and her schedule to be perfectly on time. I´m a much more laid-back person. That´s ok. I think she still likes me even though I slip-up every now and then.

One such slip-up occured a few days ago. I was taking a shower and making it a very quick one. CIEE had warned us not to spend longer than 7 minutes in the shower while at our homestays. So I shaved my legs, washed my hair and everything in record time. I stepped out, hung up my towel, gathered my things, left everything spotless and went to my room. I was feeling rather proud of my efficientness and cleanliness when I heard a shocked voice eminate from the bathroom exclaiming, ¨¡Ayyy, hija! ¡La ventana!¨ My goodness. I forgot to open the window after the shower. Aparently this is a big deal.

So I´m still getting used to leaving everything just the way she likes it. I´ll get used to it, I´m sure. I´m also sure I´ll get pretty used to exclamations of ¨¡Ayyy, Hija!¨

But she´s really sweet as well. She´s a good cook and I couldn´t help but smile when she told me that in only eight days she could see the effects the olive oil in her cooking has had on my skin. I didn´t want to break it to her that my family has been cooking with olive oil my entire life. It is not new for me. I am from a Spanish family after all.

All in all, as clear as she makes it that she likes her house to be run a certain way, she is very good about giving me my space and seems determined to make me take advantage of the Sevilla night life. Hey that´s fine with me!

Well, I must be off. Lunch is in 17 minutes. I musn´t be late!