Orange You Glad I Didn't Say Banana

Today... my Spanish father had to show me how to eat an orange.  Why you ask...

BECAUSE EVERYTHING IN SPAIN IS DIFFERENT!
Even how they eat fruit.

The most important rule when it comes to eating fruit in Spain: never, ever bite into the fruit.  You are permitted to bite into the fruit once you've sliced it into a smaller piece.  But biting directly into the fruit is forbidden.  Spain cuts up everything.  And shoving an apple into your teeth or peeling an orange with your fingers or eating a plum with skin on it is unheard of.  To me, all of this cutting fruit business seems really messy:

A. Because they don't slice an apple like us.  They hold it in one hand and use the other hand to slice off a piece facing towards you.  (I'm lucky I still have all of my fingers).

and

B. I'm most likely doing it wrong.  I always end up covered in juice.



Anyway back to the orange...  Knowing I had this impossible task at hand, I simply stared at the thing.  After creating multiple orange eating scenarios in my head (THINK LIKE A SPANIARD, THINK LIKE A SPANIARD), I gave up and asked the family in Spanish, "How do I eat this?"  My Spanish father must have noticed my discouragement and took my orange and peeled off all of the peel with not his fingers, but a knife.  After he was done lovingly peeling my orange, I was left with the task of actually eating it.  You see, he only peeled off the peel.  He didn't slice it or break it apart or tell me how I was supposed to eat it.  I decided to combine all of the techniques I could think of:  I cut a small slice into the orange and then broke it apart with my fingers and then shoved a giant piece in my mouth.  (I decided not to bite into the orange slices to save my Father's lentil soup from being tainted with orange juice/spray.)

Aside from the continuous fruit incidents, my meals here have been awesome.  Last night we had croquettas and the Spanish version of mashed potatoes and the night before we had homemade pizza. 

I also found my favorite (so far) helado place here in Sevilla.  As a helado connoisseur, I feel it is my obligatory duty to try as many different helado places as possible.  (Plus, it has been 90+ degrees everyday.)  A place called "Rayes" has proven to be the best.

Lastly, over the last week, I've drank tintos along the river near the bridge constructed by the same man who built the Eiffel Tower, visited Plaza de Espana (BEAUTIFUL), snuck into a hotel called "Alfonso XIII" to take pictures of the stunning place, took a tour of the original Bull Fighting Ring in Spain, climbed to the top of "Las Setas" for gorgeous views of the city, had heart to hearts in Plaza del Salvador, studied with dogs in a park, watched Sponge Bob with my Spanish sister, and danced the night away with friends at discotecas.  Luckily, all of this activity has kept the helado pounds off of me. 

Have I mentioned before I love Spain?