Our very first week in Granada has been quite an adventure. It starts from meeting our host parents to getting lost. As far as the first week goes my experience in Granada has been great! At the beginning it was foreign to me. In a sense, however, it reminds me of Mexico. In my opinion it is the European version of Mexico. We have to walk from point A to point B if we want to get there sooner. I guess I could ride the bike but I don’t own one. The bike and motorcycle are a very popular method of transportation here in Granada. We have visited the Alhambra and walked its pathways, which are gorgeous. I can’t put into words the beauty of the palaces.  I feel as if I would ruin the beauty of it by even trying to attempt a description. The tour bus that took us around the city and being able to see the different sites that there are to visit is incredible. We have walked down a former Jewish neighborhood and up and down Recogidas, which I walk at least six times a day. The Medina shops and the souvenirs that there are to buy. We have also found thrift stores and that was so much fun. My favorite part is the walking that we all do which decreases our dependability on cars, I wonder how fast I will adjust to using my car once I am back in the US? I will worry about that later. For now I am going to enjoy every moment of this experience that is awaiting all of us.

Our very first weekend was spent at La Herradura beach where we encountered rocky sand instead of dusty sand to which we are used to. The meals are exceptional, and the ice cream at Los Italianos is the best here in Granada. It’s quite shocking to see how Burger King has a security guard at the entrance door and how the dollar menu here is the Euro menu. There are countless differences that I have come across in Granada and many of them stand out more than others but the one that I have seen the most of is the different languages that are spoken on the street. Today as I was walking on my way to class I came across another tourist who didn’t speak English and she asked me for directions. I tried my best since the road to where she was going is the one close to where I live, however, I wonder if she made it to her destination?

The one thing that I believe I have mastered is getting from one place to another. I just walk up the streets as if I know where I am heading to and when I am completely lost I can just go into a store and ask for directions. By doing so it sort of gives the idea that I am not a stranger to the city. I have enjoyed every single activity we have done as a group and have made friendships with people from our group that I might have never come into communication with, but thanks to this experience we are all creating a bonding among each others. So, it’s time for a siesta here and I must take one and be ready for this Sunday since we are heading to Cordoba. I am loving my cross cultural. Thank you EMU!

-Ana Jimenez