The Beautiful Alhambra and Some Spanish Superlatives

We have a shortened school week and aren’t required to blog, but I thought I’d provide a quick update this Wednesday, as it was a crazy-fun weekend and we have another busy week now.

Favorite Spanish phrases learned so far: tiquismiquis (picky), Qué guay (how cool – this is used a lot)

Hardest moment: getting lost – almost every day!  I think I might be becoming known for my lack of sense of direction.  Granada isn’t a huge city, but its streets meander and curve, not following a clear grid.  Plus, because I’m so new here, all of the streets still look the same!

Favorite Spanish foods: paella (rice dish), tortilla de patatas (con huevos y queso – a bit like a quiche), sandwiches con huevos y queso, sopa de verduras

Best reminders of home: Skyping with family, keeping in touch with US friends, pictures on my nightstand, running and keeping in shape, a few products from home (like my treasured sunscreen! Please wear sunscreen!! I think I might just start including a sunscreen PSA with every post)

Best deal: just two euros for a huge bag full of fresh strawberries!

Most embarrassing blunder: I accidentally asked my host mother if she went to the bathroom (baño) often, rather than the beach (playa)!

Best view: the Albaycίn.  This spot also wins “most pictures taken by the silly Americans”. 

Most beautiful building: Iglesia Virgen De Las Angustias, a Catholic cathedral.  A few of us went to this weekend’s mass, and it was breathtaking as well as uplifting:

Tastiest sugar rush: CHURROS CON CHOCOLATE!

Best group member: All of them!! Seriously, this group is the best and is really bonding. I feel like I’ve known them all for forever, and every single person brings something different to the group dynamic.  I’m very lucky to have been placed with such wonderful, supportive people.

Best hugs: from my host mama!

Saddest finding: during a language exchange with a local middle school, we had a chance to speak with Spanish students who were trying to learn English, switching languages and sharing stories.  Which was GREAT, I can’t wait to do it again this week!  But I asked each of my groups what their stereotypes of Americans were, and every single group said gordo (fat), hamburguesas, and McDonalds L

Best purchase: shoes with traction!  The beautiful streets are very slippery (nothing like US cement), and today (our first day with rain) was terrifying!

Most excited for: the Alhambra and Generalife, the two most famous sites in the city!  We’re taking a tour this afternoon, and I’ll add some photos below before posting this blog. !Hasta luego!

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Update: the Alhambra was even more beautiful than we imagined!  See some of the hundreds of gorgeous views below:

The Rain in Spain Falls Mainly on the Plain, Monica in Spain Falls Mainly in the Shower

By the time I arrived by taxicab to my host family's apartment in Granada, Spain, I was jet-lagged and exhausted. They immediately made me feel welcome and their warmth and friendliness lifted my spirits and gave me energy. I did struggle to understand much of what they said to me. In fact, one of the first things my host mother said to me (in Spanish) was, "You don't speak a lot of Spanish?" to which I admitted reluctantly no, I don't. 

After a delicious lunch and long walk around the city with my host family, I went to take shower. Just as I am finishing rinsing my hair of shampoo, I take a step to turn around and slip on the bathtub floor as the bathmat slips out from under my feet. As I fall, I catch the shower curtain and the whole contraption comes falling down with me. It was loud. The type of loud where you know they heard you. And sure enough from the other room I hear, "Monica?" called in a way that, in addition to having a Spanish accent, seems to include multiple question marks after my name. I am able to answer that I am ok, but I panic as I try to figure out how to tell complete strangers that on my first day in their house, I have broken something this big and in Spanish no less! 

After trying to fix the metal rods that hold up the curtain and failing miserably,  I am able to dress and open the door. They are crowded around it as I am forced to show them what happened. As soon as they ascertain that I am ok, they can't seem to stop laughing. I am relieved that they are not angry but I have never been more mortified in my life. My host mother could tell and she grabbed my head and kissed it, before helping me wash the rest of the shampoo out of my hair in the sink. 

As I tried to reason through my immense embarrassment, I realized the silver lining to this situation: it can't get more embarrassing than that! I had experienced the embarrassing event, my family was more nice about it than I could ever hope for, and life moved on.

 New experiences are just like riding horses, (which I have done for years). You need to practice riding the horse but you also need to practice falling off, otherwise, you spend your whole ride worrying about falling off just because you don't know what it's like. I had fallen, literally in the shower, but figuratively off the horse, and it wasn't that bad; I survived. In fact, it is still a bit of a joke in my house here in Granada, and now I am able to laugh about it with my host family. We ended up actually bonding over a situation that at first seemed only negative.

The same idea applies to learning a new language. Because I can be a bit of a perfectionist, for me it has been important to accept the fact that I am going to make mistakes when trying to communicate in Spanish. I’m sure that I have butchered many syntax, gender, grammar, and other Spanish language rules, when I have spoken in class, with my host family, or at restaurants and stores. However practicing the language and making those mistakes is preferable to not trying to use the language at all for fear of making them. And I have noticed that my Spanish is improving, I am making those mistakes less often. I am making new ones. I am learning more and more and I am becoming more effective at communicating in Spanish. So to mistakes, all I have to say is, gracias.

Aventuras en Granada

Arriving in Granada I was filled with the anticipation of the finally being in a country that I only dreamed of going to and found myself feeling a bit apprehensive as well.  A large foreign city, the potential difficulty  of communicating, and living with people I've never met or even communicated with.  All these things, while initially uncomfortable, quickly dissolved into an enriching and amazing experience.  My first impression of the city was of its beautiful architecture.  Simply walking aimlessly through the city's narrow stone streets is an enjoyable experience in itself.  You'll find yourself staring up at the buildings while encountering centuries old cathedrals and open plazas filled with cafes and pastellerias.  In my opinion its one of the most enjoyable parts of being here. Just absorbing the energy and feel of the city.  The people here also add significantly to how great the city is.  They are incredibly nice and friendly.  You can ask anyone for directions and they'll gladly help you with no hesitation.  They don't even seem to be frustrated by your obvious lack of Spanish speaking skills.  This includes people in all shops and restaurants.  Its really great and quite refreshing.  Its also great to see the influence of the mixture of cultures that resulted in the beautiful buildings of the city.  This most readily can be seen in the Albacyin which has a spectacular view of the Alhambra (another highlight of the city for me!).  Aside from that theres also obviously the amazing food they have here.  Churros con chocolate, gelato, excellent cafe, Mediterranean,  and huge selection of tapas!  If you love trying new food like me this is definitely something you'll look forward to.  One possible frustration is navigating the city.  I feel like its made to get lost in. For this reason its best to always have your map with you or take some time to study it (or have a friend with you that has great intuition!)

As far as planning my trip, I wish I paid more attention to the airports when getting connecting flights.  I actually had to get a shuttle from one airport to the other in New York to catch my flight to Madrid.  Something I hadn't noticed until the day of.  I also wish I packed some basic hygiene items in my carry on (toothbrush, toothpaste, small face wash).  To me it makes all the difference when getting off that overnight flight from the U.S. to Madrid (which you'll only get a few hours of sleep anyway and freshening up will make all the difference with that jetlag).  I also wish I took the time to call my service provider to unlock my phone for international use.  Buying a SIM card here through Orange (a spanish cell phone and service provider) is a great way to use your smartphone and still have data.  Therefore being able to use Googlemaps and circumventing that whole getting lost thing.

I'll leave you with some pictures of Granada!

Saludos!

Mat

Yo Encontrada Granada's Tapas (Eminem watch out, Te Veo!)

If you talk to anyone in my 230 group, they'll tell you I am "el tapador". I like to think of myself as an aficionado in tapas (free appetizers that come with a drink in Granada), after only 4 days. I like to, but maybe my thoughts are a little out there. Seriously though, Granada has so much to offer it is ridiculous. It was a little difficult to adjust to the little things we take for granted in America at first, but after a couple days I now feel very comfortable in Granada. I didn't just find Granada's tapas, I found it's culture, it's people, it's food, it's drinks, and of course it's way of life (which is frickin' awesome).

My first impression of Granada is this, the way they live their life is genius. Almost everywhere closes in the middle of the day for "siesta" so families can have their biggest meal of the day for lunch. Yup, ya heard meh. Lunch is their biggest meal. The benefits for their metabolism are quite obvious, but it's more than that. They take a break during the day to spend time with the people that mean most to them, sus familias. I'm not going to sit here and compare Granada to the United States and rattle off superlatives for days, but I am seriously in love with this culture. Other than their siestas, I'm a big fan of tapas culture. I can order 2 cervezas and get two tapas for 4 Euros. Are ya kidding meh Baby Jesus?! Don't make me go back!

I'll leave you all with one of my favorite pictures from Spain so far. It was taken in Madrid, actually. We went to a large street market called El Rastro when we laid over before our flight to Granada. I can't take all the credit, as Patrick spotted this gem of a citizen. I call him, "hombre del banquillo" (Man of the Bench). 

P.S. - This was taken at 8 am...

Things I like better in Granada -
Cheese
Cafe
Aceite
Cheese
Fashion
Light Switches
Tapas
Pizza (it helps when your host family owns a pizzeria - I'm in love)
Architecture
Gelato
Cheese
Summer drinks
Money
Pretty much all the food let's be honest...

I can't believe that I've only been in this city for less than 5 days. I'm used to moving around a lot and relocating often with the necessity of quickly becoming accustomed to a new place. I didn't expect it to be quite as simple for me here. Obviously I still get lost on a daily basis but if I walk in enough circles I can find where I'm going - and obviously I can barely talk to anyone but if I move my hands enough it seems that the point comes across a bit more quickly. But already this city feels something like a home, and I can see myself becoming even more a part of Granada. It helps that my host mum reminds me of a talkative combination between my own mum and grandma - and cooks just as much and as deliciously.

Even though the career I am currently pursuing requires traveling the world - this is the first time I've been out of my home country and I was extremely nervous. Attempting to be as prepared as possible I talked to friends that had studied abroad in Spain and other places, with my aunt that travels a lot and pretty much anyone else I encountered that had been out of the country for any extended period of time. From all of that and all of my expectations I learned one thing - don't have expectations. The suggestions and necessities of my friends may had been pertinent for them, but I have found many of their information to be the contrary. Unbelievably - they have tampons in Spain (believe it or not Spanish women have the same time of the month), ponytails, tanktops and booty shorts exist, there aren't pick-pocketers at every corner waiting for you, everything in the city is closed during siesta, and the people are wonderfully welcoming. Among many other things I have discovered about this city in the few days I have been here I am sure there are many more of my expectations that will be dashed before too long.

When In Granada

Granada is wonderful. My host family is wonderful. This class is wonderful. Everything here is absolutely breathtaking. I was incredibly nervous to be coming to Spain because based on what everyone I've talked to stressed, I'd be spending a ton of time watching out for pick-pocketers, and struggling to communicate with basically everyone here. The pick-pocketing thing hasn't been a problem for me at all (and fingers crossed it doesn't become one) but I'll admit, the communication part has been a bit of a challenge. Definitely not as bad as I expected it to be though. I almost feel as if it is just as difficult for my host family to communicate with me as it is for me to communicate with them. Something I've noticed however, is that when they are trying to find a way to circumvent and describe something to me and that's not working, they use a lot of hand motions and sometimes act out what they are trying to say. It definitely works too, so I should try this out sometime.

During the first two days we were given tours of the city, and oh my goodness is it beautiful. A lot of history and information was said in quickly spoken Spanish, so understanding all of it was a bit difficult. Nonetheless I enjoyed the tours and loved seeing the different parts of the city.

If I could change the trip or do something over, I would more thoroughly look over words and grammar rules before leaving. I did a few online study activities, reviewed old notes, and had a Spanish songs or news channel playing in the background while I did homework, but I really wish I thoroughly studied the different verb tenses and exceptions for rules. It definitely would have helped for the class aspect, as the class moves very quickly.  It would have also helped my speaking ability, as my host family has been constantly correcting what I say. They've been so patient with me, and while I don't necessarily see it now, they said I've improved since the first day.

Apart from that, I don't think I'd change anything. I'm happy with how the trip was planned, and I'm pretty sure I didn't leave anything home. Scratch that, I would have ordered my textbooks earlier in advance, because a few weeks was not enough time to have one of the books delivered. My workbook came in the mail as expected, so I've been able to use that, however taking a fast-paced course without a textbook is not ideal, and I find it a bit of a bother to have to look at pictures of the book on a computer. So if any future Spanish 230 students are reading this, order your textbooks immediately after the first orientation!

Why Granada?

Granada is amazing! The city is so beautiful and it only gets better every day. At first I was very overwhelmed and I was so confused on how to get anywhere but it only took a couple days until I was able to get around the city.  The people hear are so nice and are willing to try to help me even though my Spanish is not very good yet. My host family is amazing and only after a few days I'm able to understand most things that they say. It is hard for me to adjust to the eating habits here because lunch is my least favorite meal, but it's the most important meal in Spain. The food here is very good though! I love going out for tapas and trying many new foods. 

My trip has been great so far, but I wish I would have done a few things before I left. First, I wish I would have booked a flight that arrived in the morning, not the evening, so I could have explored the city the first day I got here. Additionally I wish I would have done some more research about Spain,  about Granada particularly, so I would know more about the culture and be able to talk about it with my family. I also should have reviewed my Spanish more before I came because the language barrier is especially hard the first couple days, but it's amazing how quickly it comes back. My voice in my head is starting to say things half in English and half in Spanish; it's quite weird!

There is nothing thing in particular that I wish I would have brought from home, but I'm sure I will fins something shortly that I forgot! I would recommend comfortable walking shoes in addition to tennis shoes because The city is very similar to Ann Arbor in that you walk everywhere.

Overall, this has been a wonderful experience and it's only been a few days. I cannot wait to see what adventures I'll have during my time here. It's going to be a life changing experience!

"Hola Claudio, me llama Juan y me hijo se llama José". After living in Granada for a few days, I have absorbed so much that looking back to the first day here is like peering down a tunnel filled with scraps and vivid recollections.
      I can remember the anxiety that I had while flying in from Chicago, nervous and with little idea what to expect. Getting on the bus to Granada, meeting my host family for the first time, even the first meal, where I spoke with my broken Spanish to Juan and Jose over a lunch of gazpacho, salad, and a small glass of sherry, the traditional drink made in the town where both father and son were born. Already it feels as if I have appropriated another identity and fashioned a story for myself, and that the way I live now is how I have always lived.
    Granada is amazing. The small and well-paved streets, the cafes, and weather, the language, and the people. "Me encanta Granada;" I love Granada.
   No doubt, there are things that are irksome, like the high prevalence of American fashion and English, but there is a wealth of conversation and enjoyment in the activities of the everyday. I am unconditionally glad I came here.

First Impressions

I am not good at titles, so I decided to be very generic. So far my first impressions are very good. I love the food and the people, particularly my host family. My host sister is great and I find it very easy to talk to her since she is only 9. I look froward to having more free time to explore the city and see what it has to offer. I also love the food. I used to be rather picky but during the past year I have become what one would call a foody. The host family is great at understanding this and makes me many different types of typical dishes for lunch and dinner.

I have only had a few difficulties and one is definitely the accent. The family I live with talks very colloquially, often cutting off the end of words and conjugating things in ways that I do not recognize. Even though this is difficult for me I also think it will be a great help once I can understand them.

Ahh, Granada!

I still can’t believe that we’re in Granada!  We’ve been here for just three days, but somehow it feels like home already.  I wake up to sunlight streaming through my window, pad down the narrow hall in my slippers, and greet my sweet señora with kisses.  After chatting with her, sipping on cafe chocolate (like hot chocolate, but less sweet), and nibbling on pan, the day begins!  I love the walk to class: stepping out of the apartment, the air is still cool and calm.  Navigating the bustling, colorful, cobblestone streets, taking in the businesspeople and children in their school uniforms and vendors already opening their shops, I can’t help but think that some passerbys – or at least other tourists – might mistake me for a native…

Until I open my mouth, that is!  Still, I can feel my speaking and listening comprehension increasing with every conversation, and CGIS truly creates an immersive experience for us.  At first I was apprehensive about living with host families and speaking almost exclusively Spanish, but it truly is the best way to learn.  The adjustment was easier than I expected, and I’m constantly surprised by how much I appreciate the Spanish schedule, customs, and attitudes.  I love the big lunch and the late dinner, the beautiful parks and architecture, the slower pace and the frank Spanish attitudes.  And the tapas, oh my goodness!  Our UM group is a great bunch of friends, and our professor and program assistant are so helpful.  This evening we’re visiting the Albaycin and a traditional tea house (class is in the morning, and our afternoons are filled with activities!).  I’m so grateful for the opportunity to be here and so happy to have ended up in this beautiful, thriving city.

Tips for future students:

• Don’t worry if you haven’t taken language classes in a while.  It’s been two years for me, and I’m amazed by how much I’ve retained!  Still, definitely study before departing.
• Make an effort to talk with your host families, even if you feel frustrated with the language barrier.  I try to bring a few conversation topics to each meal and make sure I know the important phrases to convey those.  I’ve learned so much from my host mother, and I can tell she appreciates the effort and company.
• Be considerate of your host family.  My host mother likes when I turn off lights, unplug chargers (utilities are very expensive here), close doors, and greet all of her guests.  Offer to help (with dishes, laundry, etc) whenever you can.
• SUNSCREEN!  Sunscreen, sunscreen, sunscreen.  Also comfortable walking shoes, as we walk a lot.
• Our host mothers love to feed us!  I’ve found the phrase “Estoy llena” (“I’m full”) very helpful!  My mother cooks delicious traditional Spanish food, but some classmates’ families serve more Americanized meals.
• Don’t forget that you’re still taking classes.  Honestly, the course load has been heavier than I expected (but it’s okay, because Professor Noverr makes it fun!).  This is an intensive, University of Michigan course.  Don’t get so caught up in exploring that you neglect your schoolwork. 
• At the same time, don’t stay holed up in your casa.  Granada is such a vibrant, unique city, and you will never run out of things to do!  Immerse yourself in the culture!  !Buenas suerte! 

Granada? More like Naranja (Bad rhyme ......Doesn't make any sense..... My Apologies)

Hello yall, my name is Patrick Wilson and I am going to be writing weekly on this blog for the next 6 weeks!

So first off, if my parents are reading this, all is well. No problems that couldn't be resolved with a little bit of patience and/or that sweet sweet sweet cash. Not really sure why I said that last bit there but yes it is about 4 AM here. You could call it poor time management or you could call it better immersing myself in the local culture but regardless of the name, I still have plenty of homework to do before our first test on friday. Anyyyyway, back to the fun stuff.

First Impressions of the City of Granada?

1. Beautiful. It is hard to describe with words the atmosphere in Granada. The people, the food, the architecture, the mindset, the weather, the kindness.  I would maybe describe it as the fun of disney world + the tranquillity of a forest + the love and joy of a family reunion - ALL the negatives of the above mentioned. Im sure my reality is not the same as everyone else here (I have been so spoiled by my house family) but seriously, its like something out of a fantasy novel. Despite suffering from something like a 25% unemployment rate (I believe this is spain in general), the city is bustling and it seems almost like a fairy tale. I think it is also slightly healing too as I can physically feel the weight of stress being lifted off my mind as the days roll by.

2. I guess I basically just put most of my first impressions in that first bullet point.

Do you wish you had planned your trip any differently?

Not really. To be honest, I did not do too much prep before coming here other than the basic travel tasks but I think that is maybe adding to my experience. Having no expectations or prior mental constructs of how things are has really allowed me to just let the culture run through me. Every day I am reintroduced and fall in love again with the city and the history and the culture. I am beginning to develop some ideas about how things are around here but right now, I remain in this sort of dream state where it is difficult to accept how things are here because they are so different but my mind just skirts around that and just immerses itself in the atmosphere.

If one thing, maybe do a little reading on the history of Spain first. All the culture stems from certain events in history and its a really fulfilling experience to see it all come together with your own eyes/ears.

Is there something you forgot back home that you wish you had here?

Uhhhhhhh well I forgot one little piece for my laptop charger but one of my wonderful classmates gave me hers  for the trip! On that note: In addition to everything the city has to offer, I believe my experience has been greatly influenced by my classmates. Honestly every single one of them are wonderful people to their cores. Usually like there might be one or two people in a group this size that kinda irk you but these people really raise my spirits and I love spending time with them!

Its possible/probable that the above text slightly skewed due to my current state of delirium but for the most part. es verdad. paz y amor yalll

- Patrick Wilson

Aw… Granada!!!  Granada, Spain is ABSOLUTELY one of the most beautiful places to visit.  There are stores EVERYWHERE, and they have great fashion sense.  The buildings are spectacular!  They are big, beautiful, and historic.  I love that many of the places here have so much history.  Learning about the history of the buildings and its religious significance is one of my favorite things.  I am a little sad to know that I will have to leave before I learn about all the great and historical events that made this city what it is today.

If you love granted or marble, you will quickly fall in love with this place!  The sidewalks are made from these materials.  Most of the city walkways are clean, so you will be able to see the ground as it glistens.  This is one of my favorite things to observe so far - I just love staring at the ground when I walk because I love the sparkles in the ground.

Also, when visiting Granada, please make sure you look at the buildings for the street signs.  I didn't know it, and got lost many times, and thought to myself, “man this place is CRAZY!  They don’t have signs for the streets!  How does anyone get around?”  I soon realized that this place wasn't as “crazy” as I thought - American culture (social constructions) hindered me from being able to become open to the possibility of the street signs being elsewhere.  After locating them I thought to myself, “they weren't where they were suppose to be” lol.  Then I thought to myself - “who/what makes our American culture the standard.”  Meaning, It was normal for me to overlook the street signs because of my culture; however, I should never dis their culture simply because it’s different from mine… this experience (so far) is teaching me that.

I’ve learned that the people here are so friendly.  Before coming here, I was often told that there are lots of thieves here.  Well, it’s only my third day but I don’t think the city or it’s people are as bad as people tried to frame in our minds.  It reminds me a lot of Detroit.  People like create a certain image of others in people’s mind, but I find it to be safe.  I’m not implying that we should be naive; I just don’t think people need to be as scared because of the ideas that were perpetuated about the people in this.  My advice…. don’t listen to everything that’s said on facebook.  For example, I am an African American women and youtube said that the people here will be extremely racist and sexist toward me.  I have found that to be far from the truth - thus far.  everyone is extremely friendly and approachable.  

Coming to Granada was one of the hardest things to do; not because I would miss my parents or friends - no!  It was hard because of the dang customs and language issues!  I wish I would have packed differently when coming to Spain.  For one, I wish I would have fit everything into one big suitcase rather than three separate suitcases.  I had one for my shoes, another for my clothes, and one to carry on.  The carry on was extremely heavy so I had to carry it everywhere, I also had to carry the shoes case because I could not check it in or it would cost me 100 dollars.  So, you could only imagine the stress and aching that I felt because I had to carry them around through all the customs, etc.  They even made me throw out my shampoo and conditioner that I purchased for the trip.  Next time, I will not bring ANYTHING with me.  

When coming on this trip, I made the grave mistake of forgetting to exchange money through my bank.  I was dealing with graduation, graduation parties, and preparing for this trip all during the same time (this trip was a week after graduation, and the party was in the middle of the week).  Now, however, I've learned from that mistake because I didn't have money to spend when I came here.  The bank was suppose to put a notation on my account but didn't so I had to go online and send my bank a message before I could receive funds.  Also, I only had $500 dollars in American bills because I thought, “everyone accepts American money.”  Nope!  Not so!  When I tried to purchase something with dollars, the vendor told me, “NO!  Este es inefectivo.”  Bottom line….. exchange dollars for as many euros as possible before coming here.

Let the adventures begin!

Hola! I’m Lia and I’m here to share my experience traveling abroad to Granada, Spain with the CGIS: Spanish 230 program from the University of Michigan.

The Trip:

This was the first time I flew internationally by myself. The week before my flight I wasn’t worried about the trip, but after boarding the first flight, I felt the nerves kick in. Luckily, it didn’t feel like traveling alone since I was with other CGIS students, but it was a different experience not having mom and dad directing me through the airport. 

Over the years I have developed this awesome ability to fall asleep in any moving vehicle. So, for each of the the four flights to Granada, I slept. The most difficult part was sleeping on the overseas flight from Boston to Madrid. As one might expect, it is extremely difficult to sleep in a cramped space directly next to someone else. Luckily, I was able to sleep for about 3 hours.

In Madrid, a group of us had a long layover so we went out to explore the city! At this point it was about 2am Michigan time, but because of the excitement and beauty of Spain, I found some energy. The fact that I was traveling to Spain to study abroad never really hit, but when I reached the streets of Madrid and was able to explore with my new friends, it all felt real. Despite all my naps throughout my 24 hours plus of travel, I was able to adjust well to Spain time and avoided jet lag altogether.

The City and culture:

It’s only been a few days here and I have fallen in love with the study abroad experience. In fact, I’m already thinking about my next trip abroad! It is so amazing that I have moved here and already I feel like part of the city and culture.

The city of Granada is so beautiful. It has the feel of a college town since the Universidad de Granada is located here but of course, it still feels very different from Ann Arbor. One difference that I find very humorous is the crosswalks. All of my classmates agree, in Ann Arbor, the pedestrians have the right of way (even if the light is red) and we all just cross whenever we please. However in Granda, EVERYONE stops when the light is red and only crosses on green. This has become tedious and annoying, especially when running late to class, because the lights for pedestrians here take a super long time and only provide a short span of time to cross. But I have learned to live with it along with all the other unfamiliar and different cultural aspects in Spain.

As expected, my shopaholic cravings will be satisfied in Granada. There are shops EVERYWHERE. I need to find time to shop at Zara and Mango soon or I might develop shopping withdrawal symptoms! The fashion here is amazing and most dress very well every day. I sometimes miss wearing leggings, UGGs, and an oversized crewneck every single day, but I appreciate that the Spanish culture is forcing me to dress well and look like the fashionista I really am.

For my homestay family, I have one host mom. I am disappointed I only have a host mom since I was really hoping to have a home with other children, but she is very nice and friendly. I am so grateful that she has become very patient with my poor Spanish skills and is very flexible. I have learned that Spanish moms want you to EAT. Even when I eat to the point I am past capacity, I am told to eat more! This is the case with all the host moms though so I’m not alone. 

The best part of Spain -- ciesta! Ciesta is a time in the afternoon, usually 2-5pm, when you eat lunch and rest. I’ve taken a nap every day since I’ve been here. I come home, eat lunch, and then my senora knows that it is time to take my nap!

For future students -- Tips and Advice (so far):

• Handle your money BEFORE the trip 
• I talked to my bank before my trip to set an alert so I can use my debit card here, but I wish I took more euros out in the states so I could avoid transaction fees in Spain
• Bring everything you need
• Yes, you can buy a lot of products, linens, and other items at stores, but it is so much easier to have all these things with you. The first few days you need to become acquainted with the city and you don’t want to have to worry about where to buy shampoo and toothpaste the moment you arrive.
• Don’t expect your time here to be all about tapas and wine
• Going in to this program I expected to have fun every day and every night, along with a little homework. Yes, there will be time for going out and exploring the city, but there is a significant amount of work outside of class and you need to dedicate time for studying. So far I have not had free time to explore or get tapas with friends because I had homework. But I’m hoping this is because also we had a lot of evening activities planned this week in order to become aquatinted with the city and in future weeks I will hopefully have more time. Luckily, the weekends are completely free to have fun!
• Cell Phones and Communication
• In our program, every homestay had wireless internet connection. This was very convenient for doing homework and being able to acess e-mail and other online materials. This is also fantastic because apps like Viber and GroupMe allow you to make FREE calls or texts to anyone that has the app, even in back in the states! This makes it super easy and cheap to call family back at home and your classmates in Granada!
• I do recommend buying a cheap cell phone here though just for safety and convenience when walking around the city with no wifi (I got mine for 22.50 euros)
• Be patient
• I know it can be super overwhelming and scary the first few days. At times I just wanted to scream because I was so frustrated with the language barrier and my lack of sense of direction, but I promise it gets easier. My senora commented today that I'm understanding much more of what she says (I still have to work on the speaking Spanish part though!)

I look forward to updating everyone on my adventures next week!

Adios,

Lia

Granada week 1

Granada is FABULOUS. The city itself is beautiful, and everyone is very nice and helpful (even if they make fun of your accent or limited vocabulary). I was a little apprehensive about communicating with my host family and it's still a bit of a struggle, but patience is a virtue. All that talk you'll hear of "full immersion" is absolutely true. And yes, it's a little overwhelming especially for the first few days. An accelerated eight credit course is probably unlike anything you've ever experienced, but it definitely is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. In my opinion, you don't need to be too concerned about different meal times. It's pretty easy to adjust, and I guarantee no Spanish mother will ever let you go hungry. Eat breakfast even if you're not used to it because lunch isn't until late afternoon, but it very well may keep you full for days.

At the moment, I can't think of anything I'm missing or anything I would have planned differently. It's super important to be flexible and open to new experiences, but the program staff/organizers are really good at helping you settle in and making you feel comfortable. Don't take yourself too seriously if you make a mistake, whether that be taking a wrong turn or forgetting how to conjugate. There's always a way to get your message across, and there's always something new to discover. Speaking of discovery, do everything in your power to travel around other parts of Spain or Europe after the program or on weekends. You'll be hearing a lot about Spanish culture that will definitely pique your interest, so take the opportunity to see things for yourself. After all, you're already here!

First few days in Granada

That one time in Granada...

My name is Ian Beck and I just finished my freshman year before I left on this spectacular journey to Spain! Granada is currently blowing my mind and I have only been here for 2 whole days! The city is beautiful and it seems like every corner that we turn there is a grand cathedral with breath-taking architecture or an open plaza with fountains and tables for tapas or ice cream.

Also, I cannot believe how much progress I have already made with my communication ability. I was first a little awe struck when arriving and the only word that could come out of my mouth when talking with my host family was "Si" (I accidentally agreed that I would go to a Zumba class with my señora sometime). However, now I have been able to open up with my family a lot more and actually have some type of broken and fragmented conversation. I can understand so much more than I thought I would in the first few days and the speaking is coming along as well. I was very nervous prior to arriving that my host family would not receive my poor spanish well, but they are extremely understanding and want to help in any way that they can.

I cannot think of anyway that I would have wanted to plan the trip to Spain any differently. I probably would have brought some pictures of my family in order to have some easy conversations with my host family when they ask about my life in the States, but other than that, most anything I didn't bring I really didn't need. I think that it was super awesome that many of us students planned the trip over together and go the same, or very similar, itinerary. Talking with my classmates prior to any stressful interactions in Spain relieved many of my fears and feelings of inadequacy.

Everyone here (my classmates, the professor, the CEA staff, my host family...)  is so helpful and nice! It will definitely be the most memorable and exciting 6 weeks of my life!

Vamos Azul!
Ian

Arrivals and doubts.

Granada in the spring. 2014. What will we take from this experience? How will we manage the adversity of living in another country with a different language and cultural norms? Will the accents prove too difficult to follow? The food too exotic to stomach? The heat too much to bear? Let's document our experiences here so that future programs in the city can learn from our observations (and perhaps even more from our mistakes).

My first observation of the program focuses on how diverse Spain is. Just two days ago, my wife and I were watching the news in another language (galego) from our little apartment in Santiago de Compostela. After 48 hours in our Rover 25 (full of pit stops to change the diaper of our 3 month old son), we traveled from one corner of the country to another. Our journey of over 1,000 km took us from green pastures in low-lying valleys to olive groves reaching up the sides of mountain. Politically, Spain is one country but, culturally, one could argue that it is several independent states.

Galicia

Granada