Submitted by Eleanor Helm on the 2023 fall semester program in Granada, Spain…
Now that I’ve been here in Granada for over a month, I feel like I’m beginning to
understand more of the nuances of life in Spain. In my classes, I’m learning about the history
and civilization of Spain from different angles (eg. the culture, ancient and modern history, styles
of art, language, etc.), so now when I listen to the news or walk around the city, I feel like I finally
have enough context to understand why things are the way they are. I’m glad that I’ve been
able to transition away from being just a tourist to someone who can appreciate this culture on a
deeper level.
Another awesome development for me so far has been that my Spanish is really starting to improve. I noticed this especially when I came back to Spain after visiting Italy, and I felt this peculiar relief to be able to speak Spanish again instead of trying to communicate in Italian. It’s amazing that after such a short period of time my understanding of another language has been able to improve so much that it has become familiar by comparison.
While the Spanish language has become more familiar to me, the sights and sounds of Andalucia has not. I still am amazed each time I see a new monument in this beautiful country, and I can’t comprehend how every town here has some incredible cathedral, palace, or plaza. There is such a richness of architecture and history on all sides, and this was especially evident when I visited Sevilla. There, we got to see la Plaza de España, los Reales Alcázares, and la Catedral de Sevilla along with its Torre de la Giralda. These three landmarks were all extremely distinct, coming from different eras and traditions, but each was extremely beautiful. I feel very fortunate to have been able to visit this amazing city, and I am excited to contrast it with Córdoba when we visit there in November. There is so much to look forward to, and I plan on experiencing as much as I can in the months to come. (Submitted during Week 6)