In Transition

Dear Friends and Associates,

We are into our third week of transition from a full work and family life to a sabbatical. Here are a few highlights of our journey so far.

Our lives have changed dramatically. We located an apartment after lots of hard work-apartments are scarce and we came after the school year began. (Realtors charge a lot-one month's rent.) However, we lucked out and have a good size apartment by Spanish standards-two bedrooms, a living/eating area, small kitchen, bath, and a utility room where I hang my laundry every day (Can you believe I've become a washer woman?) --no fancy equipment, TV or heat. (We did buy a little radio.) We are also very conscious of the cost of gas, electricity, and phone, which we take for granted in the US. We think twice before running hot water and always turn off the lights in rooms we aren't using. We have located in the old city center-full of churches, the second largest Cathedral, shops, cafes, and many wonderful curvy cobblestone streets. Our days are spent exploring them.

The life in Seville Spain is light years from the US. There is an emphasis on life vs. work. People start around 9:00 and work until 1:30. Lunch and siesta at home with family is common. It was strange, at first, to hear the sounds of cooking, children and laughter in the middle of the day. Now I've grown to really like and appreciate it. We have joined in and really treasure our meal and rest time. Work resumes about 5:00 and most shops are open until 8:30. Dinner is about 10:00 and then many people (with and without children) sit in cafes until after 11:00. We now do the same. Families are together a lot. On Sundays, all establishments are closed except for a few cafes. Seeing families strolling and enjoying the outside life together is joyful for me.

Women seem to like their clothes, but apartments are small so accumulating items is not common. Our apartment is very sparse and, yet, we manage quite well. I haven't seen TV or read a paper for 3 weeks. So far, I haven't missed it. We walk or take the bus everywhere-no need for a gym program.

In spite of the fact we aren't working, we have put a structure to our day. It revolves around doing food shopping (really fun), doing laundry (not easy here), taking Flamenco and Spanish classes, sending e-mail, exploring the city and sitting in cafes. Having time to think and read is something I treasure. With no work or other interruptions (we get no phone calls), I have endless time just to "be." Where will it lead?

The pleasures of awakening to church bells instead of the alarm and going to bed when I'm tired are all new and I'm savoring them. How can I continue some of these habits and yet fit into the US life? Questions to ponder.

We have begun to investigate the rural life, which is breathtaking-rolling hills, olive and orange groves, sheep, cows, horses and a serene beauty. We will go to the Sierra Neveda before the weather turns cooler.

We have made a few friends and are enjoying their company and knowledge of Seville. Language is somewhat a problem for me but my husband does quite well. However, the language of dance is universal and I have no problem understanding.

I feel very lucky to step outside of my familiar world to live and explore in another. The greatest daily challenges I have are getting the laundry dry and figuring out my daily destinations on the map or buses-this is a far cry from my challenges in the US.

If you have any questions about the sabbatical I'm taking, e-mail me at mwfam@aol.com.