Reflecting on Travel and My Homestay Post-Granada

This fall semester, studying abroad in Granada facilitated my greatest use of free will to date. I traveled to seven Spanish cities and six countries, scheduling some questionable transportation arrangements to pinch a few pennies. I tried out a psychobiology class taught entirely in Spanish at the local university while taking four IES Abroad Spanish-taught humanities courses as a chemistry major, hoping for the best. I also signed up for a homestay, despite loving dorm life and independence, with zero worries about what it may entail. 

Overall, I am deeply satisfied with my extraordinary semester. Let me break it down for you: 

Travel

I traveled to six countries outside Spain, including:

Germany

• Oktoberfest! Expensive and busy; if I revisit Europe, I wouldn’t go back.

Austria

• Absolutely gorgeous in early fall. The lush hills and the sparkling lakes are spectacular.

Ireland

• Every strange girl is drawn to Ireland, as they say. The rainy weather and gray skies facilitate reflection on the cliff's edge.

England

• London is American at heart. I love it. Also expensive. And it has a ridiculous amount of monuments and landmarks to visit. You won’t be bored.

Morocco

• My favorite trip. Do the IES Abroad Morocco field trip. It is an invaluable cultural immersion experience, my host family was loving, and the food was fire. 

Portugal

• Lisbon is the city of fish and tiles! They delivered on both. Definitely buy some ceramics if you go. And visit the tile factory!

I also traveled to seven cities within Spain, such as:

Cabo de Gata

• Beautiful seaside hike.

Ronda

Córdoba

• Rich history.

Mallorca

• Island boys for the weekend (and a round-trip $40 plane ticket to top it off).

Almería

Madrid

• Lit as hell, visit friends so they can take you out on the town.

Seville

Exploring Granada

Living in a homestay allowed me to try delicious new food regularly. Although I often made myself sandwiches for dinner to save money, I found some exquisite restaurants, like Papas Elvira and Kasbah, that serve amazing food on a budget.

Homestay

I didn’t always get along with my host mom, and it definitely had its ups and downs. But I cannot imagine my experience without living in a homestay. I learned so much about how Spaniards view the United States and the rest of Europe, I felt incredibly cared for even when things were awkward, and had an adorable little room to come back to that was clearly decorated with love. I bolstered my Spanish competency by practicing at home after a day of Spanish classes, and picked up a lot of colloquial language. 

The discomfort of living in a homestay came from my discomfort with conflict. My host mom was incredibly direct, an uncommon trait in United States households. Practicing healthy confrontation was healing. We left some disagreements not seeing eye to eye, and it was okay. 

Coming Back to the U.S.

Now that I am back home in the United States, I am appalled by how much we drive. Like, you can’t get anywhere without a car. It is a three-hour walk to froyo from my house. What are we doing? Also, most of the workers I encounter are exhausted—whether it be a hairstylist, a cashier, or a flight attendant—something I rarely saw in Spain. I learned that a better work-life balance extends your lifespan (take notes, America!). 

At the same time, I am thrilled to be home. Study abroad was amazing, and I urge you to do it, too!