Last Days in Granada

"Geo-Muggle" No More

After studying Spanish idioms with Aly all morning, Maria, Anna and I ventured up to the park that overlooks all of Granada, climbing shoes in our purses, to traverse on some cobblestone walls I had scoped out earlier, but to our great disappointment, the police cut our session short. Deciding to make the best of things, we hiked up further, strolled around the park, and admired the view while having a really good conversation about being caught between two worlds while studying abroad. I think many people study abroad to escape the life they are living, but for the rest of us, we have two lives that we are holding close to our hearts, which creates polarized emotions. I can barely describe the pain of being outrageously excited and alive while at the same time heart-breakingly sad. Missing and loving are more closely related than I thought; one can’t miss something without loving it, and missing something, I believe, makes one love more. Maria helped realize that I am actually really lucky to have people in my life that I miss so much, and that the feeling of missing someone is something to be treasured. For one, it allows me to realize how much I value the things in my life that I usually take for granted. Maria explained that she is trying to savor every unique experience about Spain, for example, since she is from Texas, she tries to appreciate the feeling of being so cold she can barely feel her fingertips. Although uncomfortable, I guess that the feeling of intensely missing people is to be savored as just another unique part of my journey. I know that I have only begun to discover the depths of the ache of missing people, but I am pretty sure that it only strengthens me and the relationships I treasure.
On our way down from the park we ran into Matt, interrupting the secret quest he was on. After cajoling him to let us in on the secret we went from being “geo-muggles” to “geo-cachers” as we ran around the Alhambra like pirates. You too will cease to be a geo-muggle as you read on, for it is the knowledge of geo-caching that transforms you. I think you could call Geo-caching a sport; it is a subculture of people that hide “geo-caches”, containers with notepads and knick-knacks in them, all over the world, and then log the coordinates or clues for the lute on a website. If you are “geo-cacher”, you try locate and write your name in as many of the notepads as you can, and then log your accomplishments on the website. The first and most important rule of the game is to never let a geo-muggle see you find or hide the geo-cash. Also, if you so desire, you can take one of the knick-knacks, but you must replace it with one of your own. After following the clues, and furtively running around the castle-ruins, we found our booty. Needless to say, Anna and I are officially hooked. I warn you, don’t laugh until you have tried it!

"Lo Que No Matas, Engordas"

"What doesn't kill you, makes you fatter"

There is only one person in my class that is not sick of some sort. This truth should give the reader an idea of various parts of our life here in Granada. First, the schedule is so different here, I think it is wreaking havoc on our weak American bodies. We just aren’t used to staying out until 5 in the morning on a weeknight, and somehow, the daily siesta just isn’t cutting it as a supplement. When you add the dangerous concoction of our lowered immune systems due to drinking, dancing, excessive smoke everywhere, and minimal sleeping with the fact that Spaniards are just a bit dirtier than we are (they admit this themselves, honest) it is a perfect recipe for sickness. 
Despite being sick this weekend, I attended a flamenco performance, visited the Alambra, and met up with Roberto for an intercambio. The flamenco was absolutely magnificent. I had heard flamenco on the radio, and seen it in movies, but never experienced anything before that even came close to this live performance. The intimate show was inside a "cueva", or cave, with candlelight and wine. The music and dance are so soulful; it is a beautiful exchange between the male singer and the female dancer, accompanied by very unique rhythms and guitar sounds. The Alhambra is a Moorish palace, that reminded me of the Arabian princess Jasmine’s quarters in the Disney movie, Aladdin. I kept expecting for Rasha, her pet tiger, to come walking around the corner, but unfortunately the palace is no longer in use. It was magical to imagine what this grandiose place would have been like in its day. One of my favorite parts of the palace were its gardens that were built low into the ground in the courtyards inside the palace, so that the fruit of the trees is waist high, making it easily accessible. I also loved a room named the room of secrets. The ceiling was curved such that if I stood at one corner, and my friend at the other, my whispers would be carried clearly across the room and to my friend's ears. The gardens outside the palace and the views were also impressive, and made me really want to return to see the flowers in the spring. I believe the intercambio with Roberto on Sunday was productive. We talked over churros and chocolate about the differences between American and Spanish families. Robert wants to be a flight attendant, so is learning English. I learned that it is definitely not easy to teach the English language… try explaining when to use the word “else” or the different uses for “may” and “maybe”! I am going to need more Spanish AND english knowledge before I can teach English in any sort of professional setting, that is for certain.
I am still trying to grapple with the idea that I am going to be so far away from home for so long. It still feels like a fun and exciting summer camp, it has not set in that I am going to be here for six months, away from the people and things I love. It seems like forever, yet at the same time, two weeks have already flown by. Most likely it will just as hard to leave Spain behind as it was to leave the States, I'm just not in that head space yet.
I am also having a hard time letting myself enjoy spending money. I have been saving for this trip for so long, that I am still in saving mode. In order to switch to spending mode guitlessly I need to learn how to feel like I deserve the things that I worked hard to earn. I could never justify spending 30 dollars for a Flamenco performance in the states, but the very reason I couldnt justify it there was so that I COULD justify it here! I'm working on adjusting my thinking to come to terms with the fact that this is a once in a lifetime opportunity for me to experience all that this other culture has to offer, and some of that experience is going to cost me monetarily.

Never Let School Get in the Way of Education

I learn more from going out at night than in my classes.  A person in a bar often helps more than my professor can. I learn best by context and repetition, and by wanting to communicate something meaningful, not by dry grammar lessons! Don't worry though mom, I have only skipped one class so far.

I just couldn't make it to a 9 a.m. class after being out all night until 3:30a.m. Aly and I have had a really easy time meeting Spaniards that are excited to have conversation with  non-fluent speakers. We met a group of people parked in the middle of the small cobblestone street and after talking for a few minutes established a friendship that if nothing else, lasted for 5 hours. They were absolutely ridiculous. They reminded me of the gang from Grease with their "too cool for rules" attitude, but they were very inclusive which Aly and I were thankful for. Aly and I couldn't believe this upon reflection, but we went to three bars AND a salsa club all in one night. Amazingly, the guys continued on to a "discoteca" without us, when we finally decided that the delirium we were experiencing could not be blamed on jetlag. They stayed out until around 7 a.m.! Basically, Spaniards pre-game all night long, never getting drunk however, and then dance the morning away. I met someone who wants to go climbing, and Aly met someone who wants to exchange english conversation for spanish. Now we just need to explain the value of our experience to our "profesora"...

Esclavos Unidos

While scoping out the small puebla outside of Granada, Monochil, with my new good friend Maria, we encountered several wonderful things that reminded us that life is good. Before the bus ride there we met two young spaniard men on their way to a rapping festival. Upon request they gave us a mini performance right there at the bus stop, and invited us to come to their show later. Once we arrived at the town we were accompanied by a lovely old gentleman (who was very insistent on giving us the traditional besitos on each cheek) to the long windy path that led to the rocks we wanted to climb. We discovered skinny cobblestone roads with horses, puppies and kitties. We couldn't believe we were walking in such a paradise, with olive trees growing around us like weeds,  and rolling orchards in the backdrop of impressive rocks. We stopped to have some fresh fruit from the fruteria near our houses, and check out the view. Along came two friendly hippies from Colombia and Germany. Matching the cliche, both had matching dreads, and offered us a joint. It was generous of them for sure, but they both expressed secret glee when they realized that they wouldnt have to share because we dont smoke. The old man shared funny jokes with us in an easy to understand accent. He told us that there really were only a few things that make Marajuana bad for you. One, it fucks with your memory, and also.....well, I cant remember what else. He also wanted to know if we were from "Esclavos Unidos"... Which means slave states. (It makes if funnier if you understand that the U.S. in spanish is "Los Ustados Unidos".) We didnt climb, but we did walk around and discovered awesome grafiti under the overhung cliffs, some sweet bolted routes, and a hanging bridge over a waterfall. Pretty magical day for me, Im beat, but the night is young. The plan for tonight is tapas, cervezas and a discoteca, that by the way, doesn't even open until 2:30 in the morning!