Birthday in Granada

          I woke up today, like usual, to my host mother squeezing fresh oranges in the kitchen.  For the first time in as long as I can remember, I enjoyed a full night’s rest but I still felt disoriented and exhausted.  Nevertheless, I dragged out of bed for my last day of “Intensivo” class before my excursion to Córdoba and the Canary Islands later this week.  After splashing a dab of cold water on my face (Spaniards are crazy about water preservation) and enjoying my typical Spanish breakfast consisting of a meager piece of toast, I rushed out the door and walked into the bustling Granada traffic.  It wasn’t until twenty minutes into my daily power walk to school that Evan, my housemate, reminded me that it is my birthday.  It comes on a perfect day in that, not only is it my last day of classes, but I am living in one of the most beautiful cities with some of the best people that I have ever met.

Fast forward one day, I have just returned from Córdoba, a city two and a half hours north of Granada, with yet more incredible stories to share.  Today is a day that I have been looking forward to for the city’s historical bridges, mosques/cathedrals, and Jewish district, but especially because we had two hours set aside for the Baños Árabes, a heavenly spa-like treatment consisting of a hot, cold, and tepid pool, a steam room, and a soothing massage.  Indeed, it was as relaxing and enjoyable as it sounds, and my friends and I have already discussed returning for round two.  As I am sure you can imagine, the spa was to die for, but it could not compare to the breathtaking Cathedral.  Begun in 784 A.D., it was originally a mosque until the Muslims were conquered in the 13^th century.  Starting the next day, it became a Catholic church and it took hundreds of years before the Córdoba Cathedral was completed inside of the mosque.  Yes, unbelievably, the Cathedral that, had it remained a mosque, would have been the third largest in the world, actually sits at the heart of the massive structure.  This tour was definitely the most impactful that I have experienced thus far, and it took me by surprise as my sights were set on the Baños Árabes.

Aside from Córdoba, I also visited La Alhambra on Saturday, which, with over three-million visitors a year, is the most visited site in Spain.  It too was awe-inspiring with its intricate Muslim palaces and incredibly-detailed gardens.  All in all, the past week has been full of yet more memorable experiences, and I could not ask for a better city to spend my birthday.  I certainly miss all my family and friends back home, and I hope that my stories are bringing Spain to life.  I look forward to posting next week as I will be sharing my pictures and stories about the Canary Islands.  Pray for my friends and me as we’ll be flying out on Thursday for a relaxing weekend on the beach before starting back with life in Granada next week.

e

Spanish Super Bowl

Evidently, you don’t have to be from the United States to experience a Super Bowl type atmosphere.  With two of the top teams in Spain, Barcelona and Real Madrid, facing off on Wednesday, it seemed that there were at least a hundred people crowded around every public television in the city.  Stores closed early, the streets were dead silent, and school professors picked up tabs just to lure us to the game.  If I experienced just a taste of the passion that the Spaniards display for their teams on Wednesday, I cannot wait for games to come. 

While experiencing a hyped soccer game is quite the experience, my class’s trip to the Albaicín this weekend was unforgettable.  As we trudged along the narrow streets of the Medieval Moorish community, I was struck by the reality that I was living in a city that was occupied by the Moors in the 11^th century, over one thousand years ago!  Although the Albaicín has changed since the Moorish occupation — the mosques have been transformed into Catholic churches — much of the small town tradition remains.  An open air market flourishes in the main city plaza and a short ten minute walk from the main road yields a quiet atmosphere away from bustling cars.  Sure, those who live in the Albaicín have to walk twenty minutes up mountain roads to drop off groceries, but they are living in a historical community that overlooks all of Granada and the Sierra Nevadas.  Modern day accommodations aside, I would love to live in the Albaicín and wake up every morning to the most beautiful view imaginable.

                Other excursions in the past week include a visit to the Arab bathrooms, one of only two left in the city, Sacramonte, another historical community that is carved out of the caves, and a hike up the mountainside towards La Alhambra, Granada’s jewel destination.  With every walk through the streets of Granada, I am reminded of how lucky I am to be in Spain.  One week of classes remain before a five-day break, and I am hitting the books before taking a trip to the Canary Islands next week.  Needless to say, I will have experiences to share.

Welcome to Granada

           I am excited to say that the past few days have been an indication that the coming months are going to be some of the most memorable of my life.  Oddly enough, this is the first time I have written or spoken in English, with the exception of some minor slip-ups, and the full immersion aspect of the program has already paid huge dividends.  In the short time that I have been here, I have enjoyed hours of conversation with my “madre” and made great friends while exploring the streets, all while improving my Spanish language skills.

After over twenty-six hours of restless travel, I finally arrived in Granada on Friday night.  I spent that night and the next day introducing myself to Carmen, my “madre” (home-stay mother) and to Evan, my housemate from the United States.  Although Carmen speaks very quickly and with a distinctive accent, I have familiarized myself enough to carry on conversations regarding politics, religion and my initial experiences in Granada.  She acts as my connection to Spanish culture, and I love the opportunity to improve my language skills while still enjoying incredible Spanish cuisine.  It is apparent that she is very proud of her meals as she puts so much time into feeding us and ensuring that we are well satisfied.  So satisfied, in fact, that there are times when I kindly share with her that a loaf of bread, a huge plate of paella, six whole fruits, and a salad might actually be more than my body can humanly consume.  So far, the typical response has been, “You’re full?  Well here’s another orange…it’s fresh and delicious, enjoy.”  If the food wasn’t so tasty and I wasn’t walking ten miles a day, her response may be concerning, but so far my home-stay experience has been wonderful.

Despite only having been here for four days, I have already learned a great deal about the Spanish social scene.  As opposed to American culture where our homes tend to be the main hang out spot, Spaniards live their social lives in the streets, plazas, and countless bars throughout the city.  It has not been difficult to adapt to this culture as my friends and I have realized how much fun it is to go out and kick a soccer ball or practice our Spanish in a local bar in our Plaza.  Our adaptation has been one that I have thoroughly enjoyed because the Spaniards, young and old, bask in any chance to show us around their city.  While walking out of a sports store last night, the store owner, an older gentleman, was so excited to meet us that he made sure to have us stop by later so we could go out with him.  Regardless of age, it is evident that the people here are friendly and open to any opportunity to have a good time.

While I have enjoyed every aspect of Granada thus far, the real fun began yesterday with the beginning of classes.  Today marked my first class of “Intensivo”, a three week course designed to prepare us for the rest of our time here, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.  I will continue to update you with school and all other happenings here in Spain, and I hope that all is well in the United States!

And so it begins...

There is nothing more captivating than boarding a plane in Los Angeles and arriving in a small city in southern Spain twenty-four hours later with an open mind and an unparalleled desire to learn and explore. In a few short hours, I will begin a new chapter of my life that entails studying in Granada, a small city in southern Spain with a small group of students from universities in the Northwestern United States. While preparing for this trip, I have asked myself more questions that I can count. These range from what the people wear, how they interact socially, and even basics like whether or not they expect tips at restaurants. Regardless of the countless unanswered questions, doubts, and even fears, I have never been more excited to throw myself into such an adventurous situation.

Before I flood you with pictures and stories about Europe, let me first introduce you to the adventure that I will embark on when I arrive in Spain on Friday morning. The study abroad program is designed to immerse students entirely into the Spanish culture as well as drastically improve their mastery of the Spanish language. Because it is a full immersion program, I signed a contract months ago stating that I will only speak Spanish while in Spain. This, in addition to 19 credits of Spanish courses, will surely benefit me in my quest to improve my fluency in Spanish. The program emphasizes the importance of traveling throughout Spain, so I plan to explore this new country with great ambition and curiosity. In addition to travel, I hope to connect with the Spanish people beginning with my host family in order to gain the most out of the experience that I can. I have heard time and time again that these next five months will be the most challenging, yet rewarding days that I have faced, and I am determined to apply myself, take risks, and return home with No Regrets.

I have set many goals that I hope to exceed while studying abroad, and throughout these next months, I will share my experiences as related to what I have learned and accomplished. First and foremost, I want to return home not only with improved Spanish skills, but with an educated understanding of European culture. With so many political, economic, and social issues in Europe that resonate with the entire world, I will make an effort to ask questions and become educated on all facets of European life. Aside from my experiences with the local Europeans, I hope to return home in five months with lasting friendships, both with the locals and with fellow peers. More people have encouraged me to appreciate and take advantage of every moment that I have in Spain, and I will capitalize on this encouragement by accepting challenges that will benefit me and make me a stronger person.

I ask you guys to pray for me as I branch out and immerse myself in a new culture, and I promise to update everyone with my experiences and lessons learned. In closing, this marks the beginning of a new journey, a new life experience. May it be as challenging and rewarding as I make it…and so it begins.

A young man without ambition is an old man waiting to be.
Steven Brust