Sesame’s Journey to the West: Life has no limits, a backpacker travels the world alone

Writer: N

Narrator: Sesame

Interviewee’s daily real-life sharing

I am an online external contact I am a Chinese teacher. Thanks to the convenience of my workplace, I have spent nearly three years backpacking, volunteering, and studying in more than 20 countries at home and abroad. During my travels, I saw life in some different environments.

Interviewees’ daily real-life sharing

The first time I got involved with Spain was in 2015. At that time, I was dealing with art, and I most often thought: I will quit my job and go to Spain after saving enough money. Salamanca, learn Spanish and become a good art agent. By 2018, I don’t want to continue traveling purely. Going to Spain as a student is the most fulfilling for me.

Interviewees’ daily sharing of real-life photos

Coming to Spain in this way not only cleared up my thoughts about Spain and the Spanish language, but also gave me a more comprehensive understanding of the Spanish language. Opportunities to be part of a community and culture. From my Asian perspective, European cultures are somewhat interoperable. For example, Spain, Portugal and Italy, or the former Soviet Union member states in Eastern Europe, are concentrated in one place and have established deeper connections than those that are decentralized. Click and stop” seems to make more sense.

Interviewees’ daily real-life sharing

The students come from all ages and backgrounds, including European weightlifting champions, mother-daughter classmates, Erasmus exchange students, and sold-out students. Some are traveling in RVs, some are on business or vacation, some are retired, and some are refugees and immigrants... Classroom discussions are very open, and they talk about everything from national customs, historical events, political hot spots, to personal preferences and life. 2018 is another very restless year, with many emotions mixed together, including joyful, humorous, embarrassing, and confusing...

Respondents’ daily reality Shoot and share

There are many language exchange activities in Sevilla. I go to practice very frequently. On Tuesday, the school and an English institution jointly organized an event. In the courtyard of the for you hostel, sometimes some residents would join in. I never missed that event. On Wednesday, there was a CS place. It was a tavern right next to the school. The atmosphere was more casual, and you could also get some travel advice. In fact, I myself posted a post about Chinese-Western exchange in CS, and there were a few responses, but they were not very reliable... On Friday, when the weather is good, I will cross the bridge to the other side of the river, and I can also go to the Triana market to eat. , or walking around the Gypsy neighborhood...

Interviewees’ daily sharing of real photos

There are also some irregular activities: city free photography, park picnics, urban colors Run, Halloween party...

Interviewees’ daily sharing of real photos

When I first arrived in Sevilla, I already felt very friendly. A large part of the reason came from my host family. The landlord, Rosaria, is in her 60s, very energetic and warm-hearted. At first, I didn't find her grand. I chose half board boarding. For breakfast in the first few days, R prepared bread cubes, olive oil, coffee, and bread with olive oil, which is quite a typical Spanish way of eating. However, I have stayed in so many homestays and I have never had such a simple breakfast. Later, when R saw that I ate less, he asked me what I was used to eating.

The next day, my breakfast consisted of 5 different kinds of fruits...

Interviewees’ daily real-life sharing

Lunch was also rich, and within a week, there was rarely the same thing. . One day, I was doing homework in my room, and R suddenly knocked on the door and asked me to take a look at the kitchen with a wicked smile - she was cooking a pot of paella! That is a famous Spanish dish that I heard about when I was learning Spanish. In fact, I wanted to order it at the restaurant the night before, but it was sold out. It was like R could read minds. Later, I learned that R only drinks one cup of coffee every morning.

Interviewees’ daily sharing of real-life photos

In addition to me, there is also a boarding Korean named W, who is studying in another language school. He is in his 50s and is a very humorous person. . We both really enjoy going out with R, and she definitely does too, always taking us to play. W and I are determined to try all kinds of tapas in various restaurants. Although tapas means "small portions of food", in the south, the portions are not small at all and the prices are beautiful. Usually, each portion is 2.5-3.5 euros, and the Spanish There are so many different ways to prepare food, which always surprises us.

Interviewees’ daily real-life sharing

Every week, R takes us to different neighborhoods nearby, telling us which restaurant is good, and finally turns to her favorite The family sat down. During the meal, R would tell us a lot of things. She only spoke Spanish. Sometimes when we were really confused, she would explain things to us in different ways. Sometimes, we also play pranks, for example, each speaks in his mother tongue and competes with who can speak faster.

Interviewees’ daily sharing of real-life photos

There are so many churches in Sevilla, W was very interested, so R specially picked a morning and took us to visit all the nearby churches. They also took us to pubs to listen to live music, museums, square tango on Thursdays, and art stalls on weekends...

Interviewees’ daily real-life sharing

On the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival, I went to a Chinese supermarket and bought hot pot base ingredients to prepare Chinese food for everyone. R also secretly went to a Chinese supermarket and bought 3 moon cakes. After dinner, we set up a family KTV in front of the computer. We sang W’s favorite Quizás, quizás, quizás...

I have always wanted my family to participate in my free world.

Interviewees’ daily real-life sharing

I arranged a 12-day trip in Spain, mainly concentrated in Andalucia province, which is the place with the most concentrated and rich flavor in Spain. Andalucia {Malaga (the hometown of Picasso) - Cádiz (the beautiful seaside in the south) - Ronda (the white town on the cliff) - Sevilla (the capital of province A/the city where I studied) } - Barcelona (the holy land of architects)

Interviewees’ daily real-life sharing

I got my wish and took my parents to my favorite restaurant, Santa Marta, and ate my favorite Solomillo al whiskey (pork chops in whiskey sauce with potatoes) strips), as well as Flamenquin, Paella, croquetas de pollo, espinacas... Of course, there are also the most famous Spanish ham, red wine and cheese.

Interviewees’ daily real-life sharing

Back to Sevilla where I lived, we stayed for 5 days.

That Wednesday, I continued my previous language exchange. My exchange partner had studied in Beijing and spoke Chinese well. My parents were finally able to speak freely with the locals. That day, we made an appointment at a place to eat Chocolate con churros. Churros is the Chinese version of fried dough sticks. It has a familiar old taste, and when paired with hot chocolate, it makes it even more special when enjoyed with someone who is most familiar with its taste.

Interviewees’ daily sharing of real photos

There are so many things I love about Sevilla. The best in the city in my eyes are La plaza de espa?a (Spain Square), Las cetas (mushroom umbrella buildings) that I pass every day from home to school, the Triana market by the river and nearby neighborhoods (food, gypsies and Flamenco performance gathering area), the Thursday second-hand market full of surprises, the Santa Cruz neighborhood and Sevilla Cathedral (one of the largest Gothic cathedrals in the world), Alameda Square and the century-old store with a red sign, and Many unnamed interesting streets or corners...

Interviewees’ daily sharing of real photos

Gaudí’s architecture has made Barcelona a "dream paradise" for the world. Indeed, they are like real fairy tales. A dream park created with curves and colorful mosaics... In the Sagrada Familia, it has a giant magic city-like appearance, a towering fantasy roof inside the church, and the colorful natural light reflected through the stained glass windows... Everything is there. It's amazing.

Interviewees’ daily sharing of real-life photos

Later, we held two “family” banquets in Sevilla. The first one was attended by classmates, and the second one was attended by friends and family members. Students who were unable to attend the day before. We cooked a table full of Chinese dishes: dumplings, spicy tofu, scrambled eggs with tomatoes, spicy and sour shredded potatoes, stir-fried beef, braised eggplant... Everyone praised the spicy tofu. In fact, the secret is all in the hot pot seasoning bag.

Interviewees’ daily real-life sharing

A Spanish friend also sang a Chinese song for everyone. In fact, he has never learned Chinese at all, but he just searched for a song with pinyin. The international children's song was sung to the tune temporarily: yishan yishan liangjingjing... The atmosphere that day was quite touching.

Although I am walking around the world alone with a backpack.

But, I never seem to be alone.

#Overseas Chinese # Overseas Study # Backpacker Traveler #

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