Una Aventura Nueva

On the way to class every morning I would look to my right and see the breathtaking Sierra Nevada mountains. Directly in front of me, the stunning Alhambra. And all around me are people enjoying the morning. The IES center building has a terrace from which students enjoy the view of the Alhambra above and Plaza Nueva below. During the day I attended a Spanish grammar class as well as other content courses (in sociology, economics, and political science). A majority of the classes offered at the center were also in Spanish which was a great way to practice the language in an academic setting; wonderfully complemented by the practice with my Spanish mother. Most students would walk back home for lunch to eat with our families and enjoy siesta. The afternoons and nights were filled with walks around the parks and other parts of the city. We would discover a tapas bar, order some drinks, and enjoy the free tapas that come along with it (as mandated by law in Granada).

Advice:
-Take advantage of the opportunities that are provided through this program.
-Talk with the students that you meet in intercambios (language exchanges with University of Granada students).
-Invest in getting to know your host family.
-Go on the guided trips that IES plans. You will see some of the most beautiful places in Andalusia and Morocco AND know what the buildings are too!
-To most improve your language skills while studying abroad, speak it with everyone, not just the people who you know don't speak English. Practicing with other students in the program also helps because you can correct conjugations and refresh vocabulary in a setting where everyone is learning and presumably wanting to improve. I practiced a lot in everyday life with my host mom, which was set up through the program. The program also set up intercambios (language exchanges) with local people who are learning English. During these exchanges you would talk with your partner in English for about an hour and in Spanish for about an hour to improve together. There were also lots of opportunities to practice in content classes that were conducted in Spanish. One of the nice things about Granada is that in most places you could use Spanish and people would respond in Spanish although it is obvious that you're not from Granada. However, it is common for shop keepers to know English in the touristy parts of the city if absolutely necessary. The students tended to speak English between themselves because we are all American students and it was more comfortable. However, when we were out around the city I spoke Spanish with several of my friends and that helped us improve our own skills and showed that we were interested in really being in the culture and interacting with the people too.
-Step into the new culture with an open mind about it. Don't expect simple things like eating times or showers to be the same as they are back at home. It didn't take very long for me to feel acclimated. There were always new things that I noticed as different, but that doesn't mean that they are bad things. It's important to recognize before you leave that you're walking into a new culture. Things will not be the same as they were at home, but it's incredibly worth it to step a little bit out of your comfort zone and appreciate this new culture for what it is. I liked being abroad for a semester and, retrospectively, I think that was the right amount of time for me.

Challenges:
At first it was hard to motivate myself to get out of the house after siesta because being able to nap just felt so nice, but then I realized that there was so much to see and do. It was also wonderful to make friends outside of the program. It provided opportunities that I wouldn't have had otherwise and even more wonderful friendships!

Final Thoughts:
I absolutely loved Granada! It had a central location (halfway between the Sierra Nevada mountain range and the beautiful beaches in Costa del Sol). It was small enough to walk around in, but large enough to have things to do. It has several outlying parts of the city that are more rural and further into the mountains and so beautiful. I enjoy being outside a lot and really enjoyed the amount of parks throughout the city and places where I could see the mountains instead of being surrounded constantly by buildings. Also, make sure that there is a range of classes that you are interested in and can take for relevant credit at your university (if that is something you are looking for) before you get to the program. You want to allow yourself room to move once the schedule is released so you're not regretting your decisions because class times conflict. Not only do the classes and trips matter, but also the city in which you will be living. Pick some place you think you will enjoy and maybe a place that is different than where you live currently to expand your life experiences more.

My experience in Granada gave me a greater understanding of myself and of the world.