It's Wrapping Up...

There’s about one month left here in Granada, give or take a few days. The countdown to my flight on the Delta app haunts me. 

In trying to pre-emptively reflect on my time here, I am constantly thinking about what I’ll take back home with me from my time here. Too many clothes, yes, improved Spanish skills for sure… But also a greater sense of independence. I lived in a foreign country! For months and months!

I think there’s a lot that I hope people have taken away from abroad, but also stuff I hope people will take away from Spain as a whole, and Granada (specifically IES Abroad Granada) for me. 

Spanish Stuff

1. A culture of leisure is king!

I love the laid back style here. “No pasa nada,” as they’re always saying. I hope that I can keep trying to brush things off as well as the Spaniards do. A little late? No pasa nada. Forgot to do something? No pasa nada. In the end, everything gets done, and everyone will be fine. 

2. Tapas ROCK

I’ve always said that my dream life is one where I can eat 8 small meals throughout the day rather than just 3 big ones. And here my dream has come true! And these small meals come free when you buy any drink! Every little meal tastes a lot better with a tinto de verano, which I will certainly be attempting to make (likely unsuccessfully) back home. 

3. Anyone can watercolor

When I first started my watercolor class here, we had a month of drawing lessons before even touching the paints. This was my worst nightmare. On the first day, I drew a “lemon” that was likely the worst drawing anyone has made ever. Now, I’m painting almost every day, LOVING it, and hopefully I’ve improved from that terrible blob-fruit in September. 

Study Abroad Stuff

1. You can do it alone

At the beginning, I was pretty nervous about all the free time study abroad grants you. But it’s truly been one of the greatest gifts of the whole semester. I feel totally comfortable walking around and talking to locals all by myself now. This certainly wouldn’t have happened if I had just relied on others the whole time I was here. I love my friends here a lot, but I think it’s also important that we all know we can have solo time in Granada, too. 

2. Be kind to locals, because they’ll notice it

You just don’t want to be that person that everyone can sense is a tourist. I’m sure people can tell I’m a tourist when I’m wearing my backpack, or carrying my water bottle everywhere, or when I speak my unconfident Spanish. But it doesn’t really matter as long as you’re showing that you are excited to be here, and ready to learn. I’ve befriended a bunch of store owners and café workers just by sheer enthusiasm. Kindness really does (sometimes) work. 

3. Walk everywhere!

I love walking. You just can’t miss a thing when you walk around. And I get so many good ideas for future walks, and you can just do it forever and ever. It just never gets old. Walk everywhere. Yes. 

I’m sure these are all things you knew, but it’s nice to be able to reflect on concrete things I’ve learned from time here. I think more reflections will come as the time actually draws to a close, but for now, this is what I’ve been thinking about.

¡Hasta pronto! 

Lily