Why I Chose Granada, Spain

Coming into college, I knew one thing for certain: I wanted to study abroad. I mean, when else would I have the opportunity to live and study in a different country for five whole months, no strings attached? My love of travel, culture, and politics even impacted my decision to pursue International Studies as one of my majors.

Completing my IES Abroad application was like fulfilling an old promise. I remember reading The Alchemist in middle school and being enchanted by Paulo Coelho’s detailed descriptions of the sun-drenched Andalusian countryside. Being a starry-eyed preteen girl in the Ohio suburbs, Spain felt impossibly far away, another one of my many daydreams.

Ever since I was a child, traveling has been one of my earliest fantasies. I dreamt of someday leaving home, wandering through unfamiliar streets, and immersing myself in a hundred different cultures. Now, it’s no longer simply a dream, but a commitment. I’m beyond excited to study in Granada, Spain, this spring––a city that combines my study of the Spanish language with my Arabic roots.

I was first introduced to IES Abroad’s Granada program through an alumna in the same sorority I was considering. Though I ultimately didn’t end up rushing, I’m so glad to have met her! I ended up falling in love with Granada through her second-hand accounts of the city; the impressive Islamic architecture, the quiet Andalusian serenity, and the warm companionship that permeates from Spanish culture. I eventually settled on Granada not only because I had a contact who knew the ins-and-outs of the city, but because it perfectly marries both my areas of study.

At Miami University, I’m currently studying two languages: Spanish and Arabic, my mother tongue. Though they’re spoken in different regions of the world, both languages in actuality share extensive similarities. Many Spanish words are rooted in Arabic vocabulary, with Al-Andalus itself being an Arabic word. To this day, Granada remains a testament to the vast Islamic empires that existed centuries ago, with historic monuments such as the Alhambra Palace––the beautiful lodging of past Muslim rulers. Not to mention the North African influence in food, architecture, and nearly every aspect of life, thanks to Granada’s proximity to the Arabic-speaking country of Morocco (located just across the Strait of Gibraltar!).

During my time in Granada, I hope to engage in both academic and social experiences that improve my Spanish-speaking skills, while being simultaneously immersed in elements of Islamic history that remind me of my native country, Egypt. It’s because of my heritage that I’m hopelessly drawn to beautiful, serene, and ancient locales imbued with Mediterranean soul. And, of course, the numerous Arabic teterías are calling my name.

Like the Andalusian shepherd boy I once read about in my seventh grade classroom, I am eager to leave home on my own personal journey; though the treasure promised ahead may not be a pot of gold, I will infinitely cherish the memories I make in Granada more. I hope I’ll gain stories from my time abroad that I can pass down for generations!