While academics continue to debate whether our language affects our thoughts, I only know for certain that over these past few days, my thoughts have increasingly been in Spanish. Even writing this, in a way, feels unnatural after living in a culture where the default language is not English. My speaking skills, though, are hardly a match for those of the Granadinos. I am reminded daily of the challenge of adapting to a new culture, whether it be when I have to ask my host mother to repeat something multiple times because I can’t keep up with her pace or when I am trying to talk with a new friend who owns the tienda (store) down the street. When I can’t think of how to say what I want in Spanish, I, absentmindedly, use English instead, only to be greeted by blank stares and a “No hablo inglés” in response.
I close tonight reflecting on a day that in so many ways was memorable. I won’t list everything here—the new amigos I’ve made, the fun experiences I've had—but I will try to give a quick rundown of what I think you might enjoy.
- El Albayzín
El Albayzín is one of the three distinct neighborhoods in Granada. Tonight, with our Professor for orientation, Antonio, we walked up the steep, winding stone streets, on our way to a view that I will not soon forget (especially because I captured it in the picture above!). The rain had no mercy. Despite our best attempts with our umbrellas, we still had an experience that can only be compared to showering with your clothes on. On our way, however, we made a stop at El Monasterio de Santa Isabel la Real, which is a monastery built in the 1500s and active to this day. A powerful feeling overcame me as we entered under the presence of a nun somewhat hidden from our view by a wooden screen, isolating her from us and the outside world. Then, we entered a miraculous church. Ornate would be an understatement. Cameras were not allowed inside, which is unfortunate because I haven’t the words to describe what the church looked like and what the experience felt like. (Try googling El Monasterio de Santa Isabel la Real and you might see what I mean). After our ten minutes inside, we walked back outside. The rain had stopped. The sun tried to poke through the clouds. As we climbed to the top of the hill, the Alhambra in the distance overwhelmed our sight. Beautiful.
- Home
I feel fortunate to have been paired with a sweet, funny, and empathetic host mother. Kitty is always quick with the joke (even when she needs to repeat it once or twice for me to understand) and has a smile that lasts long after the joke is over. We can communicate very well in Spanish with each other, but her cooking has also been sending me a message that I am loath to understand—I think four months of this deliciousness might lead to my returning to the States a bit more pleasantly plump than when I left. Today when I came home from school, I discovered a piece of artwork on the table (Kitty says that in Argentina, where she is from, food preparation is considered an art form). I almost felt guilty eating the tomato that functioned as a bowl to hold the tuna salad topped with an olive and then the bed of lettuce with the vegetable salad lying on top. Then came the beefsteak and the omelet. To save your mouths from watering too much, maybe I should skip over the part where she served flan for dessert!
- Tapas
Having a siesta from 2 PM to 5 PM with a large lunch served at the beginning has been a new experience for me. I am growing to like it very much. Another new experience is going out each night for tapas. In Granada, drinking alcohol is very much a part of the culture. Alcohol consumption, rather than being something with an aim toward getting drunk or being a social taboo or even being limited to those 21 or older, is a natural ritual shared among friends and family. Tapas are small dishes of food that are served when drinks are ordered. In Granada, tapas are free, so dinner usually costs about 1.5 or 2 Euros.
- Weird Observations
There is a strange obsession with “The Simpsons” here in Spain. When I return home from school, “The Simpsons” is on the T.V. When I walk in the park, I see countless bags with Simpson characters stitched on the pockets. Many of my friends have noticed the same trend in their homes—a national phenomenon? I think so.
The other big difference I’ve noticed here is the amount of “wild” dogs roaming the streets. While I haven’t noticed that these strays have bothered anyone, I am just surprised by their volume, and the inevitable “waste” on the streets that comes from such a population of dogs. Until next time, may you grow only healthier and happier in your life.
