The last few weeks have been crazy with traveling and having John come to visit, so I haven't even had time to write about a very important holiday here...Semana Santa. Semana Santa starts on the Sunday before Easter, and continues until Easter Sunday. It is a huge celebration in Sevilla, and thousands of people come from all over the world to celebrate here. This obviously made for A LOT more people and a lot of busy streets.
John didn't come until Monday afternoon, so I got to experience "el Domingo de Ramas" with my family here. On Sunday at about 2:00 p.m. they told me they were going to eat lunch at their grandma's house, so I decided to go along. While they were all getting ready I thought I better ask what they were wearing. I was planning on wearing jeans and maybe changing into a nice sweater or something for the event. Well, let's just say I was really glad I asked. Within the hour I had on a fancy black dress, did my hair, put on makeup, and was even wearing heels. For those of you who know my fashion style, you know I never wear heels in the States. And with all of the walking that we normally do in Spain, there was no way I was going to wear them here. My sisters were slightly disappointed, but I finally convinced them I wasn't going to wear them out of the house. After getting 6 girls ready to go, we left the house around 3:00. As with most things in Spain, I really had no idea what I was getting myself into; but like always, I was excited for the adventure.
We walked quite a while to their grandma's house and then enjoyed a nice meal with the family. After eating we went to a restaurant that her friend owns and began our wait to see a procession (that's the best word I can think to describe it in English). While we were there, it began to rain. This meant that all of the people on the streets needed to crowd into the restaurant, which meant that I was surrounded by a lot of people speaking Spanish very loudly in a very small area. I stood by my sisters for a couple hours while I tried to have yelling conversations in Spanish with my Senora's friends. Once it finally stopped raining we walked down the street to find the procession.
I have been going to Tulip Time parades since I was a little girl, so I thought I knew what to expect. I was wrong. The procession consisted of hundreds of people dressed in robes and hats walking in a single file line (I don't have any pictures, but you should look some up on google to get the idea). Then there was a very big structure with the figure of Jesus on it that was carried through the streets behind the line of people. After the statue there was a band and then more people walking. Instead of people sitting on the streets to watch, everyone was standing and crowding around the procession. I stood without moving (because I didn't have any room) with my little sister for over an hour as the procession went by. It was crazy and exciting to see all of the people celebrating something that was so important to them.
After the procession passed, my little sister and I went to find our Senora. She was sitting with her group of friends and their kids at another restaurant. It was about 8:00 p.m., and since I had no idea what we were going to do, I just sat down and got comfortable. I spent the next three hours talking to her friends about the differences between English and Spanish and the United States and Spain. The conversation was quite entertaining between me speaking Spanish, her friends throwing in random English words they had picked up on the streets, and the comparison between the culture in Spain and the U.S.
Around 11:00 p.m., my Senora told me we were going to pick up my other sister and then take a bus home. Well, picking up my other sister meant going back to her friend's restaurant for another 30-45 minutes, walking ten minutes to the bus stop, and then taking the bus home. I couldn't help but smile when I got home around midnight from what I thought was going to be a Sunday lunch at their grandma's house...I love the Spanish culture. :) Time is never an issue, kids stay up as late as their parents, and an opportunity to sit and talk with friends is never passed up. Life is relaxed, and spending time getting coffee with a friend or sitting by the river is a daily occurrence. I am so thankful that not only do I get to learn the Spanish language, but I get to live with a family that is truly helping to show me the Spanish way of life.
This past week I was also blessed with some visitors...Harley and Jessica Janssen. Harley was doing some work in Germany, and they decided to come to Europe a little bit early to see Paris and Sevilla. I was more than excited to have them visit! Our families are close friends and they now live next door to my grandparents, so I have spent a lot of time at their house over the years. I always look forward to summers at home so I can go over to their house to play with their four kids and eat supper around their kitchen table. They have made me feel like a part of their family, and I am so grateful for them. Harley and Jess have a truly Christ-centered marriage, and I have learned so much from their relationship. I respect their family for the way they are constantly serving others and looking for ways to show Christ's love to those around them and abroad. Their family is doing so many great things in Pella and around the world. It is incredible to see a family of 6 that works together to serve Christ and to not be "polluted by the world" (James 1:27).
I had the privilege of spending all Tuesday afternoon walking around Sevilla with them, and getting to catch up on how God has been working in all of our lives. It was such a blessing to be able to see them and have another piece of home with me in Sevilla.
In front of the fountain at the Plaza de Espana.
After all of the excitement of the past few weeks, I now have to do with the reality of school. Another week of exams and presentations coming up, and then I'm headed to Greece for five days. I guess I can't complain too much about the exams. :)
Love,
jana
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