IES Abroad Granada

Honestly, I could talk about my wonderful experience with the IES Granada program forever- I had the best time of my life during the semester I was studying abroad in Granada. I think that there are a few things that sets IES programs, and especially their Granada program, apart from other study abroad companies.
First, the support staff at Granada is AMAZING. The professors are so dedicated and enthusiastic- you can't help but be inspired! They really take the extra mile to make sure that your study abroad experience in the very best that it could be. I always felt that if I ever had a problem (be it with culture shock, housing or anything) I could come to anyone on the staff and they would do their best to help me.
Second, IES makes it possible for students to take classes at the local university and to do internships. I regret that I did not take advantage of this opportunity myself, but I do know people on my program who got to were able to explore a wide variety of interests, including wedding planning and photography! IES does a fantastic job finding opportunities that their students respond to and helping them have these amazing and unique experiences.
Third, they really encourage you to be involved in the community. Throughout the semester there were numerous presentations on extra-curricular activities and volunteer opportunities in the community and they highly encouraged us to participate. I took a tango class at the local university, for example! It was a lot of fun. They also provide fun one-time-only classes (cooking, wine tasting, etc.) and Open Mic Nights for IES students which really encourages a sense of community within the group as a whole. Almost all of my classes took field trips or made an effort to show students hidden gems in the community, which really helped make Granada feel like home.
I actually ended up staying in Granada for 2 weeks after the program ended- I just couldn't bear to leave. It truly is an amazing place. People were friendly and always willing to help. I raved so much about my time there that my cousin is actually studying abroad there now! For more information about the daily going-ons of life in Granada, please feel free to check out the blog that I kept while I studied abroad: http://buenviajegranada2012.wordpress.com/

I had the opportunity to spend an entire academic year in Granada. The two semesters were different in their own ways, but the whole experience was nothing short of amazing.
IES Granada does an amazing job of choosing interesting courses that take advantage of all the city has to offer. They offer a great crash course to culture and life in Granada as well as to its incredibly rich history. It is difficult to put a year into a blurb, but I will try.
A day in the life. My amazing host mother (with whom I stayed all year) made sure breakfast was ready by the time I showered and dressed. Then it was off to class - we all had grammar in the morning. By the second semester, I took advantage of time between that and my next class for a coffee, hopefully with a friend but sometimes to get a head start on homework (much to the dismay of the locals - you are not to mix eating--pleasure--with work!).
After morning classes, lunch at home was definitely a priority because host mothers always make the best everything. Lentils out are never as good as lentils at home! Siesta became sacred. It took a while to get used to, but that time of rest is precious. It definitely got to the point when it was a struggle to get through my 4pm class twice a week because I needed that break!
I took most of my classes at the IES center with some at the local Universidad de Granada, too. That was a great way to challenge my language skills and meet non-Americans. Regardless, all my courses were in Spanish.
IES did an excellent job of offering suggestions for things to do. There were organized events as well as listings of other ways to get involved more. They offered a very supportive audience for our flamenco dance class, too! The trips to Morocco, Cádiz, Córdoba, Sevilla, Ronda, Cabo de Gata, Málaga, etc were informative and so much fun. I was able to get involved with the Universidad de Granada choir and meet friends through that. Each time I go back, I still hang out with them.
I took advantage of IES's internship offering, too, and had an internship in the cultural diffusion office at the Biblioteca de Andalucía where I did translations as well as work with cultural events. I was able to help with translations of other publications, as well.
I very much appreciated that my year there was a year of normal events and activities, just elsewhere. The night scene and the tapas and leisurely strolls and hikes were absolutely an essential part to that, too. Everything had its own Spanish and, more importantly, Andalusian flair.
My time there had its challenges, absolutely. It is tiring learning a new language and cultural differences. The closer I got to the locals, the more those differences came to light. People thought my life was like the movies and sometimes I just wanted to not have to charge through old ladies with umbrellas stopping to catch up in the middle of sidewalks. It can be a real challenge to join well-established social groups, so making local friends had its challenges. The university system was an adjustment, too, but, again, these all pale in comparison to my overall experience.
I never thought I would try my hand at directing--in Spanish--or dance in the middle of a plaza trying to learn Sevillanas. I never thought I would tour around Andalucía with a choir or be called 'half Spanish.' I never thought I would fall in love with a culture, a city and people the way I did. To this day I call my host mom and friends every so often and I do not think I will ever have to stay in a hotel there.
The Alhambra is an obvious draw to Granada. It is stunning and you can never go there too many times. Buying cookies from the nuns at a convent around Christmas is the whakiest, coolest business transaction you can find anywhere. You cannot go wrong with shoe shopping. Flamenco is everywhere. I went there looking for immersion, not really knowing what that would mean.
Long story short, my year there was amazing and I think I found out what an immersion experience is.

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.