5 weeks in
So it's been a while since the last time I posted. Things have been... fairly routine since the last time. Classes are going pretty well- grammar and POE are great, and I'm learning a lot. Translation's also very informative, if a bit tedious at times. Islamic Culture and Sociopolitical Events are the more boring of the five, but you can't be lucky all the time.
I started volunteering work- spending an hour twice a week speaking English to older Spaniards who need the practice. It's all right- highlights the difference in how we interact, though. They have much less personal space than we do and they touch more freely. I have to keep reminding myself that they're not trying to suggest anything by their behavior, but it is a bit strange/uncomfortable at times.
I've gone out to see a couple movies- Annabelle (which was a bit of a disappointment, tbh) and Gone Girl (though it was in Spanish, obviously). I understood both of them all right, though Gone Girl was harder and I had to google it afterwards to make sure I had understood things properly. Movies are much less expensive here, so I may go to a few more.
I've been going through a few bouts of homesickness. Life isn't as exciting here as it was in London, and I'm not really enjoying the weather- it's still 80+ degrees here, where it's 50 at home. I miss sweaters and Halloween activities and fall. I know it's not the end of the world but it still makes me feel a bit sad.
On the plus side, today was exciting. We got to go down to the coast of Almuñécar, which is only about an hour/90 minutes from Granada. We spent the morning walking around the town, visiting the aquaduct, seeing the terraces where they grow fruit trees and tasting tropical fruits (pomegranates, mangos, guavas, avocados, papayas, and something that I can't remember the name of, but it tasted like figs and was quite good). We had lunch at a seafood place, which was delicious (though the fried seafood wasn't my favorite- I couldn't tell what a lot of it was, and I wasn't in the mood to eat octopus or calamari, and I was also really full), and then we got to spend some time on the beach, which is what we were really waiting all day for. It was AMAZING. The beach was made of tiny rocks, not sand, and it was actually very comfortable to lay on. I buried myself in rocks, which were very warm from the sun, and collected a few pretty ones to bring home. I stood in the water, which was crystal clear by the shore and beautifully blue and green further out, and climbed rocks with my friends. Didn't go swimming, cause I didn't bring a bathing suit, but oh well. I didn't need to. I feel a little bad that I didn't spend much time with Sherlock/John while at the beach itself, but I'll save it as a spot in the wonderland for us to go to together. It really was quite lovely. :)
Tomorrow I have to get up really early because we're going to Sevilla, and that's a 2 1/2 to 3 hour trip from Granada. I'm excited, though, because it's a new place and I like the lady who's going to be our guide- I know that with her I'm definitely going to be learning something. :)
See you guys hopefully soon.
I started volunteering work- spending an hour twice a week speaking English to older Spaniards who need the practice. It's all right- highlights the difference in how we interact, though. They have much less personal space than we do and they touch more freely. I have to keep reminding myself that they're not trying to suggest anything by their behavior, but it is a bit strange/uncomfortable at times.
I've gone out to see a couple movies- Annabelle (which was a bit of a disappointment, tbh) and Gone Girl (though it was in Spanish, obviously). I understood both of them all right, though Gone Girl was harder and I had to google it afterwards to make sure I had understood things properly. Movies are much less expensive here, so I may go to a few more.
I've been going through a few bouts of homesickness. Life isn't as exciting here as it was in London, and I'm not really enjoying the weather- it's still 80+ degrees here, where it's 50 at home. I miss sweaters and Halloween activities and fall. I know it's not the end of the world but it still makes me feel a bit sad.
On the plus side, today was exciting. We got to go down to the coast of Almuñécar, which is only about an hour/90 minutes from Granada. We spent the morning walking around the town, visiting the aquaduct, seeing the terraces where they grow fruit trees and tasting tropical fruits (pomegranates, mangos, guavas, avocados, papayas, and something that I can't remember the name of, but it tasted like figs and was quite good). We had lunch at a seafood place, which was delicious (though the fried seafood wasn't my favorite- I couldn't tell what a lot of it was, and I wasn't in the mood to eat octopus or calamari, and I was also really full), and then we got to spend some time on the beach, which is what we were really waiting all day for. It was AMAZING. The beach was made of tiny rocks, not sand, and it was actually very comfortable to lay on. I buried myself in rocks, which were very warm from the sun, and collected a few pretty ones to bring home. I stood in the water, which was crystal clear by the shore and beautifully blue and green further out, and climbed rocks with my friends. Didn't go swimming, cause I didn't bring a bathing suit, but oh well. I didn't need to. I feel a little bad that I didn't spend much time with Sherlock/John while at the beach itself, but I'll save it as a spot in the wonderland for us to go to together. It really was quite lovely. :)
Tomorrow I have to get up really early because we're going to Sevilla, and that's a 2 1/2 to 3 hour trip from Granada. I'm excited, though, because it's a new place and I like the lady who's going to be our guide- I know that with her I'm definitely going to be learning something. :)
See you guys hopefully soon.