Q and A

I originally created this blog because it is a requirement for one of the two classes I am taking here. So, I must answer a few questions that you might be wondering about as well.

Prompt 1 :  What are some differences that you have observed between Granada and Newark, Delaware or your home town?  What did you find most interesting during the tour of the center of the city? Why? 

An inference I've made from the difference schedules that I mentored in my last post is that, in comparison to the Northeast, people in Spain do not seem to strive nearly as much to make money. You would think that restaurants would be open during lunch. And everyone takes naps! In the Northeast, "time is money." There is no time for naps. American employers only offer 2 15-minute breaks which is when people often eat lunch. We learned that workers in Spain are required, by law, to have a full month of vacation time per year. I know I'm not a full-time worker yet, but I'm pretty sure workers in America usually get just two weeks of vacation time. Our teachers have also mentioned that American students tend to take school more seriously too, which shows how much more laid back Spanish students are.

When we went on a tour of the city on our first full day in Granada, which I believe I mentioned in another post, I found the architecture the most interesting. Because of the different countries or religious groups that had control of the city over the past few thousand years, there is an evident difference in architectural style. Buildings are influenced by the Romans, the Arabs, the Jews, and the Catholics. The architecture is the reason I immediately fell in love with the city.

Prompt 2:  What would you like to do during your time in Spain? Where do you want to visit in Granada and outside of Granada? How are you planning on getting to these places?

Within Granada, I am going to an Arabic bath this week with some friends. An Arabic bath is practically a spa. There will be pools (both cold and warm), saunas, and massages. Some girls from our program have already went and said it was incredible so I am super excited for that! The university that we are studying with here also offers many cheap cultural excursions. The same friends with whom I am going to the "spa" are also going on an excursion with me which will be a bike ride along a river here in Granada. We might try to go on a hike or another bike ride with the university as well. I am excited for that too, of course. I am also really hoping to see the sunset from a place called el Mirador de San Nicolas which is said to be the place to see one of the most beautiful sunsets in the world because of the Sierra Nevada mountains and the famous Alhambra castle to add to the view. I also really want to bring my ukulele into the streets one day and spontaneously accompany a street musician. If I only do that and see that sunset, I will be content with my experiences in Spain. I also want to do some shopping as January is one of Granada's biggest months for rebajas and descuentos (sales and discounts).

Other than exploring what the city of Granada has to offer, I am hoping to visit Portugal and Morocco during out free weekends. I am planning on traveling to Portugal by train and to Morocco by bus, ferry, and camel! My friends and I were approached by a company that offers a full-planned trip to Morocco, so planning for that is just about finished! I am very excited to see, learn about, and experience only a small portion of what this beautiful world has to offer.