¡Mi Primer Post!

Well, I've been out of the country for about a week right now, and I am lonnnng overdue for an update.. Although I've had a decent amount of time to relax, I still do feel like I have been pretty busy.  Blogging had to wait. But now, it's time to catch up! I'll start from the top...


January 12th- We arrived at "Hostal Atenas".  It was my first time in a hostel, and it was somewhat like I expected: small, cold, internet was shitty.. but something about it was endearing.  I think it had to do with 2 main components: 1-The fact that I was finally doing something completely independent really made me feel good the whole time I was there. The fact that things were uncomfortable, and I was still able to survive, made me feel more mature and confident in myself. 2-The hostel was the perfect way to become closer with everyone in my program. And I really love everyone in it.


The three days in the hostel were a lot of fun. Meg and I shared a tiny room with only two outlets and barely any heat, but we ALL ended up going out together and had a great time.

January 15th- Drumroll please....... We met our host families! I was extremely nervous, but overall, the first meeting and the rest of the first day were not bad at all! It was hard to understand my host mother at all in the beginning, but now, several days later, I'm more comfortable asking her, and the rest of the family, to please repeat or talk slower and I'm understanding more and more every day. Also, I am absolutely in love with my family.. There is the mother, father, and two little boys, Javi (age 4) and Alejandro (22 months). The little boys are ADORABLE and I already feel attached to them.. The mother and father are also two of the sweetest people ever. I don't know how I plan on leaving them.. Pictures of them soon to come.


The past week has been great. We started out by going on several tours throughout Granada. We visited the Alhambra and all sorts of other touristy spots in Spain.. Unfortunately, I don't have time tonight to list all of the specifics, but I'll show some of my favorite pictures:

I am in love with the palm trees here. I didn't know they could grow in areas that can get as cold as 40 degrees at night.. There are palm trees, next to orange trees, next to evergreens, and you can see the snow-capped mountains in the distance...all while its a perfect, 60 degree day. What could be more perfect than that? This picture is the of the path I walk down to class every day. The river is another one of my favorite parts.

Granada is gorgeous in every way.

Even the city at night.

And the Alhambra was unreal.. Buildings from the 1400-1500's, at the highest point in Granada:

And then, of course, going out in Granada is great.. It's just the beginning and we've mainly only gone to English-speaking bars so far [which needs to change.. and hopefully it will starting tomorrow], but the few places we have gone so far have still been a lot of fun.  A big part of it being fun, besides the city itself, is the group that I'm here with.  I definitely have a great group of old friends that came with me, and now new friends I've made here, that are making this experience so amazing:

Well, that's all for now! More later.

Me encanta Granada <3