Submitted by Audrey Sokol on the 2017 winter session program in Granada sponsored by the Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures…
In the blink of an eye, my first five days in Granada have already come and gone. In these few shorts days, I have already seen the most breathtaking views and have grown tremendously in my Spanish speaking skills. Coming into this experience, I was not sure what to expect about living with a host family. At first, it was hard to communicate with and understand my host mom. She speaks very little English and I speak very little Spanish. However, we have already found ways to improve our communication through taking our time and helping one another. I am excited to see how far I come in my Spanish by the end of this experience. Also, most foreigners are not very fond of Americans, but I have already come across some extremely friendly and helpful Spaniards who have allowed me to get a more authentic feel for the city. So far, my absolute favorite day has been my day in Almuñécar, which is a small beach town on the coast of Spain. The ocean was crystal blue and the weather felt like a summer day. We missed our bus home, which lead to us sitting on the beach and watching the sunset. This proves that everything happens for a reason and that our mistakes can lead to victories. Until next week!