A semester for the history books in Sevilla, Spain

Avery Edelbrock is a student at Belmont University and an ISA Featured Photo Blogger. She is studying with ISA in Seville, Spain.

Marruecos: Morocco. Although our almost week-long ISA excursion to Morocco wasn’t national news, it was a trip I’ll remember for the rest of my life. The landscape, combined with the unique Moroccan culture, was unlike anything I’d ever seen before.

Shukran: Thank you (in Arabic – I understand why they didn’t teach us this one!)

Paso: The large floats used during Holy Week, also known as Semana Santa. During the week leading up to Easter in Sevilla, dozens of these ornate sculptures are carried by hand through the streets of many Spanish cities in mourning, celebration, and reverence.

Penitentes: The hooded faithful who follow behind pasos as an act of repentance, often barefoot and carrying crosses or candles.

Capirotes: The pointed hoods worn in the Mediterranean during Semana Santa since the Middle Ages.

Apagón: A blackout (bonus – red: network). On April 28th, the power shut off in Spain, Portugal, and parts of France, leaving us in the dark, literally and figuratively. Thankfully, in Sevilla, it was back on within hours, but the scale of the event has made a mark on Spain this year.

Arranceles: Tariffs. When Spaniards learned I was American, often one of their first questions was about the complicated economic and political situation between the EU and the USA. I learned a lot through listening to their perspective, and I hope they learned from mine. Overall, the conversations were never aggressive or confrontational, but rather curious.

Conclave: A handy cognate – literally conclave in English – the process used to elect a new Pope. Pope Francis’ death and the subsequent election of the first-ever American Pope were significant historical events, and it was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience to be in a Catholic country and follow along.

It was a privilege to witness so many unique events and places in Spain this semester, and the things I learned will stay with me for the rest of my life!