Kayaking in the Mediterranean at Nerja
Author: Bridget Wells | Majors: Spanish and Nursing
Two years ago, I said goodbye to Spain after completing a summer-long study abroad program in Madrid. Teary eyed and a bit dramatic, I cherished my last metro ride and dreamed of the day I would be able to return to my “second home”. I really had no idea that I would have the opportunity to return so shortly; just this summer, I hopped on a plane once more to pick up right where I left off in Spain.
I started off as a Spanish minor, but I fell deeply in love with the language and decided to pursue a second degree. Unfortunately, nursing school allows little room to take electives, so I needed to finish my nursing degree before pursuing Spanish over the summer. With just six remaining credits for my Spanish degree, I looked into every option I could. My advisors helped me find a language-intensive study abroad program that would enable me to truly learn the language and help me achieve my goal of becoming a bilingual nurse.
In July, the Universidad de Granada welcomed me with open arms. This historic institution is renowned for its linguistics programs. We wasted no time; the day after I arrived I sat for a proficiency exam. I was then placed into my respective courses with students from all of the United States, taught by some of the best professors I’ve ever had. I was in class for 5-6 hours straight, but I truly wouldn’t have it any other way. I was consistently encouraged to absorb every aspect of Spanish I possibly could. My notebook was overflowing by the end of the month.
After class, I was shocked to learn that siestas in Granada are not as common as they were in Madrid. I was rather fond of siestas, so this took some getting used to, but I quickly overcame this when I learned that all tapas are free in Granada. That’s right; the tasty appetizers that serve as a meal replacement (if you order enough, like me) are free of charge at every restaurant in Granada with the purchase of a drink. I thoroughly enjoyed trying every type of tapa I could—my favorites are croquettas—but this made it dangerously easy to reason with myself that it’s alright to consume three Coca-Colas in one sitting.
When I wasn’t sampling every dish (and gelato flavor) Granada had to offer, my friends and I frequented nearby beaches, hiking trails, cultural monuments, and karaoke bars. I definitely took advantage of slower countryside life in Granada by exploring the outdoors; I hiked dozens of miles, kayaked in the nearby Mediterranean, crossed swinging bridges, and swam in swimming holes. Though I love experiencing nature, one of my favorite experiences was visiting a traditional Arab Bath. Much like a spa, the traditional baths have three different pools: warm, ice cold, and hot. The instructions were to sample each bath for about ten minutes each in the order of cold to hot to warm. After, we received deep tissue massages. It was truly an incomparable experience.
I didn’t realize how much Spanish I had been learning (and using!) until I was reflecting with my friends in our last few days. We had been purposeful in how often we talked in Spanish together, and despite coming from different levels, we all had a firm understanding of the language. For anyone wanting to learn a language abroad, I highly recommend making friends who will speak the language with you despite being native English speakers. Even better, I recommend making friends who are native to your host country. I had the amazing opportunity to participate in Intercambio, which is a language exchange program at local restaurants where I met Spanish students my age. I helped them learn English and they corrected my Spanish. It may sound scary at first, but I learned how to talk like a native speaker. This also means I have friends that I can visit in Granada again someday, too!
For my last day in Spain, I had an 18-hour layover in Madrid. I said my goodbyes—for real, this time—and went to all of my favorite sites. I love to play guitar, so in lieu of all other souvenirs, I purchased a traditional Spanish guitar. I now have a piece of Spain that will forever remind me of extraordinary memories, unforgettable relationships, and a passion for the Spanish language.