Week one of my Granada summer internship has been filled with many adventures, tapas, and learning. For myself, this is the first time I have been on a trip without my family. It was also the first time I've had to navigate an airport without my mom. We ran into a few setbacks, but we made it on to our plane on time. I had no idea what to expect before coming here and I had many reservations about spending a month in Granada. However; it has proved to be an incredible and interesting journey so far. I am so beyond happy that I decided to jump out of my comfort zone to go on this crazy adventure.
For the first week, our tasks were to overcome jet lag (I’m still working on that one) and to visit our internship sites. My internship site is San Rafael Hospital, where I will be working with disabled children. Having been a certified nursing assistant for over four years and having just one year left of nursing school, I was very happy to be given this specific opportunity. Living and working in Maine does not always give me exposure to other cultures and ways of life. The part I am most excited for is learning about their healthcare here in Spain. I am very interested to see how it might differ from healthcare in America. I am hoping to bring that back to Maine with me to be able to better understand and to become more aware of other cultures.
Within the first couple of days, everyone in the group was excited to start exploring the city. While wandering around, Emma and I found a craft/art fair. We ended up stopping at one of the tables and talking with two of the artists, Núria and Bárbara. Núria offered to paint an abstract portrait of each of us. We both had so much fun doing this and we also enjoyed getting to know them.
During our walk to Carmen de los Mártires (pictures below), Mike asked each of us why we came to Granada. As I thought about that question, I realized there wasn’t just one reason for coming here. I truly was excited to travel and get away from the hustle and bustle of America, but after being here for a week I can tell it is going to be much more than just a getaway. Being a nursing major, there are very few study abroad opportunities available to us due to the structure of the major. I always had in the back of my mind that I wanted to study abroad, but I never thought it could actually happen. The Granada internship is offering me the chance to slow my life down for a few weeks before going back to work. It also made sense financially for me. I could not have come here without the Connections money that the school offered me. It also made sense to use it before I graduated – after all, who doesn’t love free money?! I also thought about how I probably won’t have the opportunity to travel when I graduate because I will be busy studying for the NCLEX, finding a job, and paying off student loans. I also came here to challenge myself. I do not speak much Spanish (next to nothing), so there has been a learning curve for me to overcome. Little by little, I have been learning new Spanish words and learning how to communicate with people that have no clue what I am trying to say. Overall, that has probably been the most interesting and challenging part of Granada, so far. I think the challenges will make me a better person and a better nurse in the long run! Being able to get through difficult things by myself is a good skill to acquire.
This walk was filled with SO much history. I never used to be interested in history, but by being immersed into the history here and
seeing it first-hand has really made me want to know more. We got to climb into the prison watch towers that were from the war. It was interesting because the prisoners were actually held underground when they were captured. The entire walk was just breathtaking. We were able to see the whole city and of course all of the nature that surrounded us! When we got to the top, we were greeted by some peacocks. We were able to get really close to them to get some amazing pictures. I loved seeing them in their natural habitat. We even witnessed the male doing his mating call (he was ultimately rejected by the female, but it was still cool to see). I am excited to continue learning about the history around here and to be able to then share that with my family and friends.
For fun this week, we went to a Flamenco dance show. This was very different than what I expected. We all gathered into a small cave and watched a singer, guitarist, and dancer preform. It was probably the most intense hour of my life. The singer uses his body to make a beat while the dancer stomps her feet and claps, all while the guitarist plays his music. It was amazing to see this part of their culture. It was definitely different from American dancing, but I truly enjoyed it!
We also went as a group to the Cathedral. It was about a five-minute walk from my host family’s apartment. It was absolutely beautiful inside and out. There was so much history in that one building. We did a tour together and saw all of the art, statues, and gorgeous structures inside. It was simply breathtaking. There is a piece of the cross that is kept in there. One of the coolest things was to see a small statue that was so priceless that no company would insure it if they wanted to move its location.
Overall, week one was a wonderful experience. It has gone by so fast, which is a reminder to take everything in and to not waste any time. Monday we start our internships which is very exciting!
Adiós hasta la próxima semena!
