Granada: Week 1

The first week here in Granada has flown by faster than I ever could have imagined. When I arrived the first night I felt like time would creep by. I was terrified to be living with a family I didn’t know a single thing about. Throughout this week my entire perspective has changed. My host family has welcomed me into their home as if I have always been a part of their family. I couldn’t be anymore great full as they are making this experience so much more enjoyable. Their children love playing with me and my host parents are so excited to share their community with me.

On the first day in the city we met the Arch Bishop of Granada. It was a great pleasure as he was the one who invited us to his City. We then went to view the cathedral. The detailed work inside was magnificent. My favorite part was the pipe organs. I could have stared at them for hours. I hope to hear them play before I leave this beautiful City. In the afternoon my host family was gracious enough to take our entire group to a viewpoint above the city. It was a breath-taking view and a perfect way to set the mood for the trip. I knew then that my host family was going to be an amazing fit for me.

The following day we began viewing our internship sites. That is when it hit me that there would be a massive language barrier. Everyone was speaking Spanish and not a single word of English. I realized how spoiled I had been with having a bi-lingual host family. It was difficult to follow along with presentations in a foreign language. Not to mention we were all still suffering jetlag and wanting to fall asleep. I forced myself awake and was truly inspired by Caritas. I wish there was an organization local at home like it. They focus on helping the homeless in anyway possible. As they put it, it’s like the Titanic. Women, children, and elderly are the first people they help. They go as far as training these people so they can get a job and become self-sufficient again. After the presentation we went to a local college to see where we would be eating lunch daily. The priest of the school gave us a tour and talked about the plan for semester abroad there in the spring.

Wednesday we visited the place where I would be interning, San Rafael Hospital. Upon getting a tour of the facility I was terrified. I chose to work with children of disabilities. I was afraid I bit off more than I could chew. I spent the next couple days wondering if I had made the right choice. I decided I would try it out on Monday and switch areas of the hospital if I was uncomfortable. After the hospital we visited another place I would be volunteering. It was an after school program for at risk youth. It made me heart wrench walking through the part of town where the children lived. It made me thankful that someone created a safe positive environment for the children. Hopefully I can help be a positive influence for them during the short four weeks I will be around them.

On Thursday morning we spent our time in a beautiful garden. The garden itself was spectacular and so was the view over the city. My favorite part of the garden was the small tower-like castle and the beautiful roses. The landscape made me realize how amazing Granada is. We had walked along the Alhambra on our way to the garden and it made me extremely excited for the next day.

The Alhambra has by far been my favorite part of our trip so far. Everywhere you looked there was detailed tile work and carvings. You could see the history of the building through the artwork. My jaw dropped when I walked into the first room, but the more I explored the more beautiful the structure became. The best part of the Alhambra, in my opinion, was a fountain with twelve lions. The lions stand for the twelve tribes of Israel and were given as a gift from the Jewish community. I hope I can find time to visit the Alhambra again before leaving this beautiful country. As it is said, you need to see it more than once to truly absorb it and it’s magnificence.

I was beyond relieved when the weekend came around. I was exhausted from walking all day everyday. I slept through half the day on Saturday but couldn’t have been happier about it. On Saturday night our whole group gathered to watch a soccer game. It was relaxing and fun to hangout with everyone and eat delicious food.

Looking back on this whole week I am very thankful to have been given this opportunity. I have been blessed with an amazing host family and group of people to share this experience with. Although, I am very anxious yet excited to begin my internship next week. I’m afraid I will experience culture shock once I am fully emerged into my work where they only speak Spanish. I will have to learn the language quickly so I can understand and help the children as much as possible. I am as nervous as I am excited. I know helping children can be extremely rewarding despite how difficult it can be. I hope that this opportunity not only makes me a better person but improves others lives as well.