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!