Granada- 1st Week of Orientation, Albaycín, y Alhambra

So things went really great my first week here in Granada. Lots of things that are keeping us busy!  We have had a couple meetings with Veronica regarding how we are feeling and what to expect.  We also have learned about different service learning programs, I am planning on volunteering at a daycare center for children infant to three years old.  I actually just got back from touring there and the woman in charge was so nice, so I'm pretty excited to get my class schedule and plan the days I'm going to go.

We have grammar class from 4-7 everyday, my professors are Aurelio and Susana.  Susana speaks REALLY fast, and Aurelio is simply hilarious.  We went to el Albaycín in Granada and got some fabulous pictures of la Alhambra as well as the city of Granada.  Aurelio was our tour guide, along with Veronica, so they led the way up the steep steps all the way to the top.  I went to my first discoteca in Granada...Granada Diez.  It was awesome and sooo beautiful inside.  Got lost on the way home with my new friend from school, Katherine, but I asked someone for directions and we managed to make it to our apartments haa.  We didn't have a meeting the next morning, so I got so extra time to sleep during the day haha- I decided it was a bonus siesta for being out so late the night before.  It was a bit cooler towards the end of the week which was a nice break from all the heat.

Had a HEAPING plate of paella (mainly rice, with some meat, veggies, and shrimp mixed in).  It is considered disrespectful if you throw food away in Granada, but I was big time struggling to eat it all.  Kelsey sat with me after everyone else had finished and left and said that I had gotten A LOT more than she did.  I managed to eat most of it, but could not eat it all, so I had to throw a little away but I tried to do so very discretely haha.

Went to Los Grifos and El Botellon on Friday night with some of the new girls I have met from class.  I learned about El Botellon in my Spanish class a couple semesters ago, so it was funny to actually be there.  It is basically a big plaza where young people gather to socialize and drink before they go to the clubs or bars.  It was sooo packed! Madness! But really fun with the big group of girls I was with!

Up early for our trip to la Alhambra.  It was so beautiful, and fun with Aurelio y Jose as our guides.  I really enjoyed the palaces and gardens, especially the Arabic writing on all the walls inside of the Alhambra.  I enjoyed my bocadillo (sack-lunch) in garden, then headed back to meet with my group.  We had to find Alhambra Teatro, and we did! It's right near el Centro de Lenguas Modernas (where we have class).

Thinking I should get a good nap in, I decided to go shopping instead.  I found a lot of cool shops, especially shoe stores:) There are sooo many here!!  Enjoyed dinner with Jorge and Alicia (Kelsey had gone out with friends), then met up with Mel, Sarah, and Abby Lu.  Feel like I haven't seen them in forever!! We went to Los Grifos (it's pretty much our place to go) and met up with others before Katherine and I took off to meet Abby N and her American roommates at El Botellon.  We went back to G10 and didn't get home till early Sunday morning.

Needless to say, my first Sunday in Granada got off to a slow start.  Ha! Had breakfast, went back to bed, had lunch, took another quick nap, then headed to the park to study a bit. Later that evening, Abby and I went to Paddy's (an Irish Pub that shows certain NFL games and soccer games) to watch the Cubs v. Cowboys game...go bears!:)

The start of this week has been similar, lots of class and random meetings. I think my Spanish is picking up a little, as I am beginning to understand more and more of what my host mom is saying.  She told me today that if I ever had an extra time that we could go and get some coffee sometime!:)  Excited to see the Flamenco show tomorrow night, then to Morocco on Friday through Tuesday!!! Hooray!!