Week three here in Granada has been full of amazing experiences. I am extremely fortunate to have been given the opportunities I have, through the efforts of various people here watching over me and the group I am a part of.
My host mom, Inma, is very involved in church services, and invited me to go with her to serve the homeless dinner. This is a service offered every Sunday. I went with Inma, her sister (my other host mom), and two other people I knew. The environment was very fast paced. The goal was to make 120 dinner packages for the homeless to come in and take with them. Each package had two hand assembled sandwiches, three pieces of fruit, and a dessert. Although the service was from 4:30-7:00pm, it felt a lot shorter because all of the volunteers were working together to quickly get the dinners put together for 6:00pm when the homeless arrived. Before the homeless took their packages, they sat at a table together and we offered pastries, coffee, and juice. It was difficult for me once the homeless arrived because I could not communicate with them effectively, but the process was rewarding to be a part of.
Throughout the week, a big event has been going on called Corpus Christi. It is a religious event for the people in Granada, filled with parades, processions, and a fair. It is easy to see that this brings the people of Granada together and gives them something bigger to be a part of all together. My friends and I went to the fair a couple of times at night. It has two big sections: the lower sections has what you would expect at a fair, like rides, food, and lots of lights. The upper section of the fair is rows and rows of bars and clubs. So many people were out dancing, singing, and having a good time. The people of Granada take it seriously, too, as everybody dresses very fancy, with platform shoes, lipstick, button down shirts, and flamenco dresses. There is a large bus system in Granada, and during the fair the city allots busses specifically to take people to and from the fair. It is amazing how well this small city functions in order to make every experience for its people as organized and fun as possible.
Together as a group, we all had the pleasure of going to the Bio Dome, a small indoor aquarium and zoo within the city's science museum. I loved seeing the animals because no matter where I am in the world, the animals that exist don't change; the animals don't speak different languages, they are just animals. I saw jelly fish, otters, tucans, sloths, and lemurs. The staff member feeding the otters was throwing food down by where we were standing so that the otters would dive down by us into the water to retrieve the food. They were SO cute! The sloths, tucans, and lemurs were not barricaded off from us, so we got to stand really close to all of them. It was fun to go there together as a group.
Again, as a group, we were able to go to a bull fight. Before this trip, I didn't understand what a bull fight entailed, but now I know. The stadium seemed to be built from wood and looked like what an old vikingesque stadium would look like. It had a big dirt ring at the base, and then had seats built up at a quick incline in a circle formation around the ring. We got to sit in a comfortable spot in the second to last highest section of seating. The fight consisted of three toreros, which are the bull fighters. Each had two chances (two bulls) to earn points from the judges by doing his planned routine in efforts to tire out and slay each bull. The particular details of the event are incredible, like the way in which the bulls move, the ways in which killing the bulls can go wrong, and how each bull reacts to the routine of the torero and his team. I wasn't sure if I was going to like the event because of its particular goals, but I ended up being extremely glad I went. The cultural experience was once in a life time!
I didn't work much this week, but when I did, it was fun. I am connecting more with the kids now, and still getting better at soccer! Marshall and I taught the older kids how to play paper finger football when they were finished with their homework but still had to sit quietly in their classroom. Sometimes it doesn't take words to be able to have fun with them! Another time, I was in a classroom with younger kids and they were dancing to a song and each kid had to stop and read some of the lyrics after they finished dancing. It was interesting to see them reading Spanish because they struggled. Coming here, it became lost on me that kids have a hard time learning a language, reading, and writing, just like they do in the United States with English. Since I am so behind the curb here with Spanish, I just assume that everybody around me is perfectly fluent!
Playing outside has become very fun because I have started talking to and playing with more kids. I like feeling integrated and as though I am making a difference. And as always, the views are unbelievable from their outside recreation area.
Some things I have learned this week: The women here dress to impress. My host grandfather watches the travel channel or Nat Geo every evening. It is very important to find "boss tree shade" when the sun is shining. I will never be able to drink orange juice in the U.S. ever again because here it is hands down the best. My grandmother makes the best food!
Until next week,
Emma
