Life Before Granada: How Did I Get Here?

I leave for Granada tomorrow. No, I cannot believe it. Yes, I am super excited. And yes, I am terrified. My flight leaves at 6pm tomorrow and while these last few days of packing and last-minute shopping have been hectic, the work and decisions made to get to this point began months ago.

The first step was deciding whether to study abroad, but for me, that decision was made back in middle school. For anyone reading this who’s still deciding whether study abroad is for them, I might not be the most helpful since my mind was already made up, but I can say that I think it is for you. Study abroad is for everyone. I haven’t even gone yet, and I can’t emphasize enough the number of people who have told me I’ve just made the best decision of my life. I’ve seen so many fellow students come back as more confident, worldly, and happier versions of themselves. And you know what, even if I don’t end up having the time of my life, I know I will come out stronger, more responsible, and a better version of myself.

The next step was deciding where to study. I knew I wanted to study in Spain because I wanted to improve my Spanish, and so I looked on my school’s study abroad page to find out what the options were. There were programs in Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, or Granada. I ruled out Madrid and Barcelona early on because I wanted to go to a smaller city that had fewer tourists. I had gone to Granada when I was younger with my family and we all loved it, so the choice felt obvious. I also saw that Granada was an IES Abroad program and having seen my brother do IES Abroad Amsterdam a few years ago and have a great experience, it felt even more perfect. After taking a look into the program specifics and seeing the reviews that said the academics and staff are awesome, I made my decision on the spot!

After the decision was made and my application had been submitted and accepted, the scary yet necessary process of getting my Visa began. I ended up applying for one on my own because I also had to get a new passport, and while the process was complicated and took a lot of attention to detail and trips to copy machines, my appointment at the embassy was not long and my Visa was ready only a week later. I recommend starting the process early, but it is not as horrible as it might first seem.

With the Visa secured, my summer tasks before Granada included choosing where to live, taking my Spanish placement test, and selecting my classes. 

But now, with that done and all my bags packed, all that’s left to do is get on the plane. I can’t wait to get to Granada, but with nothing else to do in preparation, the nerves are also setting in. I’m filled with questions that can’t be answered until I arrive. Have I forgotten all my Spanish over the summer? Will my room have a view or will I be staring at another building’s wall? Will I be able to sleep on the plane tomorrow? Do I have the appropriate clothes? Did I pack too much? For all you who are reading this in preparation for your own study abroad trips, I will answer these questions in future posts. But rest assured, along with all these nerves, I’m getting more excited by the minute.

See you in Granada!