AnnaInSpain

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.