I am done with my first week of classes! They are actually really great. I am taking oral spanish, grammar, spanish art history and spanish culture. Yeah they seem easy right now but I think its more because it is all so fascinating, interesting, and as nerdy as this sounds, really fun to learn about! I enjoy going to class and learning 10+ words/class. Although sometimes it is a tad overwhelming for my brain, but I know it will all be worth it. I've been filling my free time with shopping (rebajas will be the death of my bank account), walking, exploring, researching trips, and watching tv I don't fully understand with Josefina. It's wonderful, I'm learning how to relax which is a weird concept for me. Kelsey and McKenna have helped me to become unstressed and slow down, what great best friends :) Oh backtracking... rebajas- sales going on in the stores here in Granada. They have sales starting the 6th (or maybe 7th) of January because it is after they do Christmas gifts, they celebrate with gift giving on the 6th because that's when the Wise Men brought the gifts to baby Jesus. A cool cultural difference. And this info might not be 100% accurate because I asked Narea (assistant program director) about it and she explained it to me in Spanish, so that was my interpretation! And on my way home from school I basically walk by the entire shopping district and they always have great window displays so sometimes I get lured into the shops. Don't worry mom and dad, i've been spending responsibility. I got a pair of awesome, fitting, comfortable jeans for 7 EURO! Now that is a find.
My good friend from Chi O turned 21 on Wednesday so it was time to experience our first Chupeteria and discoteca visit!! La Chupeteria is a shot bar with over 100 types of shots and each cost 1E, very interesting place, kind of fun! It was cool seeing the bartenders mix all of them, you could tell they had it down like a science, very fast and methodical. Then we went to the discoteca, a little early then when you're supposed to. We were told that the discotecas don't get popular til after 2. But we got there and it was ladies' night! A very interesting crowd I must say. The discoteca is called Granada 10 (Granada Diez) and it is like an old movie theater that is a night club, very beautiful looking inside. But a VERY strange thing at this discoteca... it REEKED of sulfur. It might have been the worst smell I have ever smelled, it was almost vomit inducing, it was that bad. But we danced to some great american music (everywhere you go there is american music, its kind of refreshing to hear english!) Kelly had a wonderful 21st birthday, and most of us were home around 4am or later. I had to wake up at 7:30 to get ready for class at 9. Let's just say I think my discoteca days will be limited because I don't think I'm cut out for staying out that late! But hey, it was so fun, can't wait to go back!
Me and Kelly the birthday girl! Oh and thank you Grandma for buying me this great dress for Christmas, I love it!!!
On tuesdays and thursdays I have art history with Monica. On tuesdays we are in class learning about different spanish art styles and artists but on thursdays we usually take 'field trips' to really see the art. I love this class already!!! In Spanish 4 in high school we really learned all about Spanish culture and art, so this isn't the first time I'm hearing it. It's nice already having a little background info on things. So on thursday we went to La Capilla Real - The Royal Chapel. It is a chapel (almost like a small cathedral) that was 'sponsored'/paid for/dedicated by the Catholic Kings (Los Reyes Catolicos). It is a gothic -ish chapel and is absolutely stunning. Everything is extremely detailed and kept up very nicely. In the front of the chapel are the bodies and monuments of Los Reyes Catolicos - Isabel and Ferdinand and Juana la Loca y Felipe el Hermoso. What a sight to see. It is unreal that I've studied all of this but am now actually experiencing the things I read about. In the museum ish part of the chapel are old items of the royal family. I was about 10 inches away from Queen Isabela's crown! There is just so much to see and do here in Granada, I'm so glad I came here. One thing I've been thinking about lately though, concerning the history of Granada, is how all of these historical things from los reyes catolicos are stunning, all of the symbols and creations of their reign are just beautiful. I want to marvel in all of that and the meaning of religion they are associated with but I can't help to think of what had to happen for them to gain all of that power. Granada had tons of mosques because it was a very muslim city but then los reyes catolicos came in and replaced almost every trace of that history with catholic churches. And even forced the muslims to convert or else they exiled them out of Granada. It's so strange to think that religion was such a political force at one time and how those things just don't align. I still am in awe of everything I am seeing though. It is so humbling, I love being in a beautiful place. We went to a flamenco show last night in el Sacromonte (caves where some gypsies live) and they are nice caves made into houses and restaurants. The flamenco dance and music is really beautiful. I'll try to post a video of it somewhere.
The view from La Alhambra... what an amazingly beautiful place.
Flamenco en el Sacromonte
Room 6 goes to Granada... our sorority girl pose!
Love you and miss you all
-Bre
love the last picture :) this all sounds so fun!
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