My New Home: Granada

It’s been over a week since I arrived in Granada and moved in! I love this city already; it is full of energy, beautiful nature, centuries of history, delicious food, and vibrant people.

I am living in a homestay with another girl from my program and our host madre, Maite. I am so thankful for my roommate (we are already great friends) and for Maite’s delicious cooking! I have my own room here, which is nice for studying and relaxing and just having my own space. It has already started to feel like home!

One of the things that has taken some time getting use to here is mealtimes: breakfast is flexible, but people eat lunch between 2-3pm and dinner between 9-10pm. The hours after lunch are reserved for siesta, when most stores close and people can rest and stay out of the heat. I like the schedule, but it is definitely an adjustment from what I am used to as more of a morning person!

We took a placement exam the first Monday morning, and afterwards everyone was placed into levels from 1 (beginner) to 9 (bilingual). I tested into level 6, and we started our month of intensive language classes the next day! Each morning we attend class from 9:00am to 1:00pm (yes, four hours in a row), walk home for lunch, and have the rest of the day free. It’s a long time to sit in the same classroom, but a small café con leche from the vending machine downstairs helps (if you know me well, you know it’s a big deal that I tried and LIKED coffee!).

One of my favorite things about Granada is the walking culture – while there are taxis, buses, cars, and a metro system, people usually walk wherever they need to go. I have a 25 minute walk to school, a 12 minute walk to the gym, and countless stores, restaurants, coffee shops, plazas, heladerías (ice cream shops), and parks within a 30 minute walking radius. I have hit over 10,000 steps every day so far, some days closer to 20,000! It’s wonderful to get exercise, breathe the fresh air, and explore the city.

I can tell how much my Spanish has been improving, and it has only been one week! I’m excited to see the difference after four months here. It really is so different living in a place where Spanish is the native language, compared to taking classes in America. I am so grateful for this opportunity!

Hasta luego,

Cora