Student Journals: AIFS in Granada, Spain

Ashley Fenton
Quinnipiac University
University of Granada, Spain

October

Ashley FentonThis past month was both exciting and hectic. The first week of October AIFS provided a trip to Madrid for three nights. On our bus ride to Madrid, we stopped in the medieval city of Toledo and toured its beautiful monuments including its famous gothic cathedral, synagogue and Santo Tome Church.

After Toledo, we then continued our journey on to Madrid where we checked in at our hotel and had dinner. The next day we had a guided tour of Madrid, and thank goodness AIFS had planned tours for us because the city is way too big explore on your own for only one day. We toured the Royal Palace in the morning and then the world famous Prado Museum in the afternoon. Honestly, I¹m not a museum enthusiast, but I really enjoyed seeing works by some of the world¹s most famous painters, including El Greco, Goya and Murillo, all of whom had their works featured in the Prado. The next day we took a short bus ride to El Escorial for a guided tour; the monument has served as a royal place, monastery, intellectual center and a library. Afterwards, we headed to the town of Segovia. We had lunch at a local restaurant, and then toured the famous Aceuducto Romano and the beautiful castle, the Royal Alcazar. After Madrid, AIFS granted us a few free days so my friends and I took advantage of some cheap Ryan Air flights and flew to Paris. It is very convenient with how close together countries are in Europe; it makes traveling to them much more practical. My friends and I had a ball while taking advantage of all the fun and places of interest that glamorous Paris has to offer.

Classes started on Tuesday, the 7th. So far, I love all my professors and my classes. I am taking History of Spain, Islamic Culture, History of Spanish Art and Spanish Grammar and Speaking skills. All are interesting and not too painful so far.

Ashley FentonTwo weeks later I went on AIFS¹s optional trip to Morocco. Wow, what an experience. We started our trip by taking a ferry from Spain to Tangier,
Morocco – the ferry ride only took an hour. Once we arrived, we hoped on a bus and met our tour guide, a local Moroccan. In three days we toured the cities of Meknes, Fez, Chefchaouen and Tetouan. All of the cities offered something unique about the Moroccan culture; personally I enjoyed Fez the most. Fez, the most ancient of the Moroccan imperial cities, was unlike anything I have ever visited before. We toured the doors of the Royal Palace, the Jewish quarter and lastly, the narrow and winding street of Fez¹s ancient medina quarter. A medina is a city-section that is mostly common in Northern African countries; the medina in Fez is the oldest in the world. I was hesitant to sign up for the Morocco trip at first, because I did not have a real interest in seeing the country, but I am so grateful I did! I doubt any other places I will visit here in Europe will be as educationally rewarding as Morocco was. Nevertheless, I was excited to get back to good old Granada.

2 months left!

September

I cannot believe we are starting our last week of our orientation classes – I have been in Granada for almost a month! There are so many thoughts and feelings I have experienced during my first few weeks here, it is impossible to write them all down. However, I will share my first impressions of living abroad thus far: Living in a foreign country, especially as a college student, is as exciting and overwhelming as one would imagine it to be. Even so, as every day goes by, I am adjusting to and falling more and more in love with this city. I cannot imagine a more perfect place to study: Granada offers the excitement and jazz of a large city, yet the intimacy and charm of a small town. The streets are crowded and loud during work hours, but when siesta hours begin, they are quiet and vacant. In other words, one can enjoy the best of both worlds here.

I am living in the residencia, “Hostal Jardines,” with 12 other people from AIFS. It is perfect! We live on a Calle Jardines, a great, central location downtown. I expected to be living in a college dorm-like atmosphere, but it is anything but that! In fact, the residencia reminds me more of a bed and breakfast. With its white washed walls, abundance of fresh flowers, decorative tiles and marble floors, it does not even compare to my college dorm! My roommate and I have two twin beds, a big closet, a HUGE bathroom with a full bathtub and shower, and two mini balconies. There is also a “guard” or someone at the door 24 hours a day so I feel very safe and secure here. We receive all of our meals here every day, except on Sundays. The students eat together for breakfast, lunch and dinner in the residencia’s “comedor.” Our cook, Scarlet, is awesome. For breakfast we are served “café con leche,” which is coffee with hot, frothy milk, and “tostado.” Breakfast is very light over here in Spain, compared to our gigantic breakfasts in the USA. Our main meal of the day is served at 2 p.m., and dinner, which is a lighter meal, is served at 9 p.m. I have loved all of our meals so far. My favorite has been the Spanish tortilla, which is similar to an egg and potato omelet. Also, the olive oil over here is incredible; I use it on virtually every piece of food! My favorite desert is the gelato, they practically have a “heledo” shop on the corner of every street. Thank goodness for the beautiful “Parque Garcia Lorca” where I run in the evening so I can still fit into my clothes.

My favorite things of Granada so far have been touring the delightful Albacin area and the majestic Alhambra, the view from the El Mirador de San Nicolas at night, eating delicious tapas at “POE” and “Om Khalsum,” people watching in Plaza Bib-Rambla and eating breakfast on Sunday mornings at Plaza Nueva. My least favorite aspect of Granada so far is all the noise! From the loud construction in the mornings to the sound of the mopeds speeding by on the streets, it is definitely the loudest city I have ever been in.

This past weekend AIFS planned an overnight trip for us to the Costa De Almeria. We spent the night at a lovely, 4 star hotel and relaxed on the beach all day Saturday and Sunday. Not only was it free of charge, but dinner and breakfast were included at the hotel so we didn’t burn holes in our pockets. We are off to Madrid and Toledo next week, then my friends and I are traveling to Paris for a few days after. Upon our arrival back to Granada, the fall semester of classes begins…Hasta Luego!