10 more lessons Seville has to offer:
#21 Marble tiled floors are easy to clean but boy are they cold come winter. That explains all the stands on the streets selling fluffy slippers next to the sunglasses.
#22 A map of Seville is easily obtained from various tourist sites in the city (unless it is 2-5, a Sunday or a national holiday. See previous tips.) However, be warned that all the maps are printed 90° out. Because Seville "looks prettier with the river running across the bottom of the map instead of north to south".
#23 if you're working as a supply teacher and have been booked in for the week, don't bother asking what time classes start, or for how long or with which level. They wont get back to you until, say, an hour prior to starting. Mañana pues.
#24 Holy days are a whole family occasion. For this, one needs smart clothes and well-preened children following behind you in shiny tights. Preferably 2 children, walking side by side down cobbled streets in a bright, low winter sun.
#25 Holy days are festive days. As such, the courtyards outside the churches will suddenly be extended to resemble a beer festival. This year's "Day of the Immaculate Conception" is sponsored by Cruzcampo Beer.
#26 Expect a concoction of different sounds; moped engines, gravelly old voices shouting to each other, children running into you, flamenco guitar warm-ups, a choir, the chink of glasses, pigeons flapping hurriedly into date palm trees... as the seamless transition from church service to fiesta begins.

#27 No, you may not go to sleep before 1am. The neighbours are on holiday and so, therefore, are you.
#28 Don't worry, this does not prevent the following day's routine. Rest assured that the neighbours will be up and singing flamenco ditties in the streets by 9am.
#29 As in France, and doubtless other wonderful European places, you can opt to have a "puente" (bridge). This is where, if a national holiday falls on a Wednesday and another holiday falls on the Friday, you can "bridge" them and have Thursday off as well. After all, who's going to want to come in just for one day? (I haven't seen them do a "viaduct" yet. Oh yes, they did that in France bien sûr)
#30 Customer service. Customer whatnow? Some friends yesterday helped me to understand that the Spanish have excellent customer service, but a different type to ours. We are used to money being the key focus of a transaction. It's about selling, about providing staff to help sell more products, or about opening up shop when you'll get the most footfall... but here, that is not the focus. There is absolute pride in selling your wares, of good reputation, to loyal customers. They will not fall over themselves for income. (Or for anything, actually.) It's not about maximum profit, or about pleasing strangers. It's a livelihood. The first time you visit the greengrocers, apparently you get the worst tomatoes. The second time you visit, they're better than the supermarket variety. By the third visit, you're offered the exquisite produce that the locals all delight in eating. It's about looking after each other. It's a difficult lesson to learn when you arrive from a slightly fast and furious culture, but once you've understood it, it's almost a refreshing attitude.
... I can't believe how fast these months have flown. Thank you Sevilla. You've been amazing.



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