The Beginning
Well, my first almost-week in Spain has certainly been eventful: meeting lots of incredible people; eating tapas on the daily and of course, getting spectacularly lost. I also managed to break my Spanish phone in less than 24 hours, be locked inside my flat and my suitcase changed its combination on the plane. Oh, joy.
As naive as it may sound, I didn't realise quite how much of a culture shock moving to Spain would be. For a little British girl, not eating dinner until about half 10 at night was a struggle at first, along with the fact that EVERYTHING is closed on a Sunday and most things are closed between 3 and 6 in the afternoon. However, the slow pace of Spanish life is very appealing. Never one to turn down a nap, I've surprised myself by being quite active during las horas de siesta. By active I mean, of course, drinking tinto de verano with my friends in one of Granada's many squares.
The number of young people here on Erasmus or exchange is truly amazing, and everyone is so friendly and open. Granada seems to be a destination for mostly German and Italian students but there are jovenes from all over the globe! I count among my new friends, Spanish, French, Polish, German, Italian, English and Mexican people who are just as excited about this whole new experience as I am.
I can already tell that it's going to be hard to leave Granada in February as I am quickly falling in love with this cultural melting-pot, despite the stifling heat! My little flat is cosy and charmingly rustic, nestled in a quiet corner of a busy street. I love strolling about the city and discovering new things every day. I'll be quite sad for this little holiday to end although I am looking forward to beginning class (hear that, mum?). A little routine would not hurt.
Despite feeling homesick for my family, friends and lovely boyfriend at the start of this week, I'm feeling much more settled and really beginning to get a picture of how these five months are going to be. I've already been to a club opposite the Alhambra with astounding views, a talk about Buddha overcoming suffering, and explored the extremely steep Albaycín (Gypsy quarter). Talk about living the good life!
The rest of this week will involve registering as a foreign resident, sorting out my timetable and generally more grown-up things. Having said that, I'm sure that tapas and wine will play a big role too!
Here are some photos of my adventure so far...
More from me over the next few weeks!
Un besito!
P.S. I'll be keeping a close eye on the referendum news back home!
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