Submitted by Sharon Ruiz on the 2020 spring semester study abroad program in Granada, Spain…
My first couple of weeks in Granada have been like a dream. I keep expecting to wake up any moment and find myself at home in Delaware but then I remember that I’m here for another four months and it feels surreal. I feel like in these last two weeks I have done more than I could have ever thought possible.
Upon my arrival, I met my host mother Nati, who is very kind and lets me feel comfortable within what will be my home for the next few months. She also has two cats of her own that also help with making Granada feel like home because animals, specifically cats, are my absolute favorite. The GRIIS program has also made me feel very welcomed and prepared for what to expect during these coming months, having all kinds of different orientations, jumping into class and having excursions every week so far has made Spain feel like a new home. We’ve gone to many different places around Granada like el Albaicín which is a very historic part of the city, the museum of Carlos V, the cathedral, and so many other places.
When it comes to leaving the city for the day, we went to a place called Archidona, where we visited ancient ruins, and a olivario which is a place where they grow olives for all types of things, but mainly olive oil (which is something I’ve come to find Spainards love putting in all types of food). The day in Archidona has got to be one of the most wonderful days here so far. We learned about the production of olives and even worked in the field a bit as a way of knowing what life is like for the people who actually work there.
So far, I feel as if Spain is a new home that has opened its arms to me and I am ready to discover all I can about her. Granada as a city is a place that has never made me feel more safe and I am so lucky to be able to call this place home for now.
