One of the best pieces of advice I was offered before starting my study abroad journey was to explore the country you are studying in and not spend the entirety of it outside of it traveling. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t travel outside of the country but instead to consider getting to know the new country you are living in on a deep level and seeing what it has to offer. There will always be time to travel the world, but will you live in another country again for an extended period?

This past weekend I went to Malaga a city on the south coast of Spain. I can say it is my second favorite city after Granada currently. Everything from the water, time with friends, the architecture, to the scenery was incredible. In the few weeks I have been in Spain I’ve had to learn how to “adult” on a higher level. Booking train tickets, flights, hostels, navigating the hospital in a foreign country, balancing classes, socializing, and more.

Puentes: I also recommend to anyone traveling to book tickets well in advance for holidays and puentes. A puente is a day off to bridge the time between and weekend and a holiday. For example, if there is a holiday on a Tuesday there may not be class or events going on Monday. This would be a four-day puente, Saturday to Tuesday. A five-day puente for students studying abroad most likely since we tend not to have class on Friday’s unless it’s a makeup day.

In the few weekend trips, I have done I have found hostels are a cost-efficient way to travel while also remaining budget conscientious. There are a few hostel chains in Spain that in my experience have been comfortable, safe, and reasonably priced. In these hostels I could book an individual bed in a room of 6-8 beds. Hostels also generally offer mixed gender, female, or male only options. Hostels are a great way to meet new people especially from around the world. In Malaga I shared a room with four women each from France, Switzerland, Brazil, and Argentine. Some around my age and others older. My new Brazilian acquaintance and I agreed the next time we run into each other we said we will have to get coffee. It’s always a joy to know people around the world.

This Friday I leave with my program on a three-day weekend trip to Morocco. I’ve very excited and fortunate to finally be able to say I’ve been to the continent of Africa. This will be four continents I’ve been to already at the age of 19 and seventh country I’ve visited. One of the many benefits of study abroad is the close proximity of other countries and excursion opportunities. I’ve fortunate as a history lover that my studies in Spain have shown a particular focus to the Muslim influences and the history of Al-Andalus which I have highly enjoyed. In the US I have been primarily exposed to Christianity and it’s refreshing to learn about a different perspective and religion. I am hoping my trip to Morocco will continue to enlighten me.

If you have topics or information that you would like blogged about, feel free to comment!

I’ve now been abroad for three weeks. In these short three weeks I’ve started making a lifetime of memories and had about a hundred new experiences.

Madrid: My first weekend in Spain I went to Madrid with my new friends. A few memories from this trip include touring the royal palace, the Prado with the famous portrait “Las Meninas”, rooftop views and drinks, and a friendly conversation with a kind French woman. A key moment in Madrid was I had the opportunity to spend time with my Spanish friend Ricardo who I met during Covid on a language exchange app called Hellotalk during the pandemic. A moment we spoke about for three years, and it finally happened. I also was able to meet up with Anna who I also met on Hellotalk a few years ago. She happened to be in Madrid at the same time as me, what a coincidence! Two core memories.

Cordoba: One of my favorite parts about studying in Spain is visiting the places I have read about in class and seeing them for myself. I will say that reading and seeing photos of these places can never compare to the in-person experience. I learned about Cordoba during spring quarter back at Western Washington University and I had the opportunity to visit the city with my program on October 7th. It is a beautiful city full of ancient history and the Islamic influence is very present in the architecture. (A quick history lesson) During the reign of the Muslims in Spain from 711-1492 Cordoba was the capital of what was known as Al-Andaluz. La Mezquita is one of the largest mosques in the world and within it is also a cathedral instilled after the Christians reclaimed Cordoba. One thing I have learned from visiting these historical places is that they are always bigger than photos can show, it is jaw dropping. On the bus ride back home to Granada on my Facebook popped up an article with the 46 most beautiful streets, and the same exact street I had just walked on in Cordoba was on the list.

Granada: I love Granada. It’s as pure and simple as that. It’s one of the few cities in Spain that when you order a drink you get free tapas at most places. My daily routine during the week Monday-Thursday sometimes Friday consists of waking up for 8:30 am class and attending my two morning classes until 12:30 pm. Lunch at the residencia between 1-3 pm then a siesta and homework/work time. Monday’s and Wednesday’s I have class from 6-8 pm so I return to the school and afterwards either eat at the residencia or I go out with my friends for dinner. The nights are open to whatever pops up, music, flamenco shows, karaoke, tapas, etc…

Aside from daily classes and my normal routine we had opportunities to join sports depending on the season, volunteer, and do extracurricular activities such as a pottery class, painting, yoga, and more. I decided that with my class load of five classes, traveling, and socializing I would just volunteer. We had a few options to choose from, the primary one was working with kids at schools to help them learn English. I decided to volunteer with the elder population with the Albihar Foundation. My primary goal will be to provide companionship to individuals in lonely situations. This may involve walking with them to the pharmacy, going on walks, but most importantly listening to them and being a companion for them to talk to and yes, this is completely in Spanish. I’m very passionate about working with the elder generation and past experiences with my grandparents makes me very grateful for this opportunity.

I’ve started to become comfortable in my daily routine. The locals I’ve started to know and greet on a daily basis and the little things always make my day. There is Claudio the Argentinian empanada vendor who I always buy my merienda and late-night snack from. The German Shepherd across the residencia who is always barking and drives some of my friends crazy. I’ll find out its name eventually. The prices in Granada compared to Washington State are helpful as well when it comes to trying food and drinks. I have a love hate relationship with Sunday’s here in Spain. Sunday’s everything is basically closed excepts for restaurants, the bank, hospital, and a few other essential places. It can be disappointing when I feel like shopping, and Zara is closed but at the same time Sunday’s give me time to just relax and explore the city and not worry about time or getting lost for the most part. I find I go in circles a lot and it’s actually hard to get lost in Granada, for now at least. Sundays are very slow and it’s time to spend with family and friends.

While Spain has felt surreal, I was reminded that it’s real since I’ve been sick for the past few days. I decided to go to the hospital to get some medicine as not to worry my mother any further lol. I am feeling much better and will be back to taking my two-hour siestas soon. I’m proud to say I also made it through the hospital experience without a translator:) Speaking of language skills I’m slowly making friends with the local Spanish students. It’s been difficult to practice Spanish outside of class when I’m surrounded by fellow Americans, so I’ve started to make a concerted effort to get to know the Spanish students. All the Spanish students I’ve met are from different parts of Spain studying at the University of Granada, so I am experiencing a plethora of Castellano. I also understand most of them for the most part, so I have a great start. Anyways keep an eye out for updates!

Future Trips:

Malaga- 8 hours

Morrocco- October 21st

Barcelona/Andorra- October 28th (My first solo trip)

 

I’m in Spain! I finally made it, after years of thinking about studying abroad and months of planning I made it to Granada, Spain. It is now day 10 of my three-month study abroad journey and Granada has been more than I ever dreamed of or expected. Granada has been the perfect city for me, it is large but at the same time everywhere is walkable. The city has everything I need from shops, bars, cafes, nightlife, terraces, and more. In the few days I have been in Granada I have already memorized certain areas of the city, from my residencia to the walk to the language center where I take my classes. One of my favorite parts about Granada is how safe I feel, even more so than in certain parts of the United States. I went to Madrid this past Friday for three days and in comparison, I found that I prefer Granada for the size, smaller population, and feeling of safety. One other aspect that I love about Spain in general is the difference in lifestyle. I am a night owl and Spain fits me perfectly for that reason. Breakfast is something small generally, lunch is between 1-3:30 pm, merienda (snack between lunch and dinner), and dinner can range anywhere from 9-11 pm. Meals are extremely important in Spain and are taken seriously. In the US we rush to eat and return back to school or work but in Spain it is a time to spend with family and friends. In Spain exists the meal then sobremesa (time spent after the meal to talk, relax, and spend time together). Therefore, lunch or dinner can take anywhere from an hour to three hours or more. I appreciate this aspect of the Spanish culture greatly.

I started class this Monday and it has been my third day but so far, I enjoy my classes and the professors have been very welcoming and kind. It is easy to forget the “study” aspect of study abroad, but it is just as important. I feel very confident that I am receiving a good education at the same time. The professors that I have for my classes, have decades of experience, taught in other countries, and are experts in their field of study. The University of Granada specifically is in a European group of universities called “The Coimbra Group” or “Grupo Internacional Coimbra.” The equivalent of the Ivy League’s in the United States. The University of Granada is spread out across the city so while you are walking to class you also have the opportunity to see the city. I am currently studying Political Science and Spanish with a double minor in the honors program and international studies. In Spain I am currently taking five classes with the minimum requirement being four classes. Since, I am a Spanish major I need to take my classes in Spanish for credit, so all of my classes are in Spanish. I am fulfilling a mixture of all of my majors and minors with some classes counting for more than one major. My classes are in El Centro de Lenguas Modernas where I take classes with other Americans and international students, a few international students I have met are from Sweden, Japan, China, and Palestine.

In the residencia I live with fellow Americans, international students, and Spanish students primarily from different parts of Spain studying at the University of Granada. During mealtimes I have the opportunity to talk to other students and form stronger connections. One benefit of my program is a meal plan. This meal plan however isn’t cafeteria food like in the US, instead we have a Spanish chef named Antonio who is amazing and cooks homemade Spanish meals for lunch and dinner. If I don’t feel like eating at the residencia I tell Antonio ahead of time and I go out and try a new restaurant. I may even go out after eating at the residencia for tapas and a drink with my friends. My residencia is also in the perfect location, right in the heart of Granada on a typical Spanish street with everything around me. I am able to walk to class 13 minutes away and come back to the residencia for lunch. I also take advantage of the famous Spanish siestas. Even though they are supposedly 20-30 minutes mine are more like an hour to two hours (Oops). Either a siesta or coffee, or sometimes even both.

When I first arrived in Granada, I was a bit surprised at how modern the city seemed. I knew Granada was an old city with history, but I didn’t realize it would look so modern. The Albayzin and The Alhambra reflect some of the oldest parts of Granada and the historical aspects. However, when you have a majority of the same brands in the US a few hundred feet from you and more, you realize it’s very modern as well. In many ways the expectations I had for Spain regarding my daily life are similar to what I imagined. I go out with friends, visit new places, go to class, etc… but what I didn’t expect was how exhausting the first and second week would be adjusting to everything. They told us but I still didn’t expect it. I think all in all you can prepare for something for months, but you will still experience shock in different ways whether it be mentally or physically. There is much left to learn about the rich Spanish culture but overall, my first week in Granada I would say has been highly successful and I look forward to the next three months and sharing my journey and experience abroad.