AnnaInSpain

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)