Sorry, I only speak Spanish

What a week it has been. Although it feels like I’ve been at uni here for so long we actually only started on Monday. It was a horrendous day. All my classes were basically awful and I was left feeling extremely sorry for myself.

All the classes are supposed to last 2 hours but each one of these first classes only lasted maximum of an hour. Usually I’d be really happy about that but there is very little else to do, it’s not like Kent with loads of different places you can go. There’s one cafeteria and that’s about it. Not only that, a few of my teachers are old professors who mumble and expect me to not only understand their grunting but their grunting mixed with an Andalucian accent, nice one. I shan’t go into detail about every class I had, they were all pretty unsuccessful. I didn’t finish until about half 8-9 that Monday night and with a wifi-less piso I stayed on campus to (FINALLY) skype my parents for the first time since being here. I was pretty down in the dumps about my day but luckily my Dad gave me little sympathy and reminded me it’s not all that bad and it could be a lot worse. He was right. The following days did improve so hopefully with time I’ll learn to actually enjoy Spanish university. It’s not just the language that makes it different; the university itself might as well be an American high school; the teachers just stand in front of a huge lecture hall and talk at you for 2 hours, no presentation or interaction, and don’t even get me started on the seating arrangements. I know UGR is a really old university but that doesn't mean we should still have to endure these horrendous chairs for 2 hours. Not only do I get a numb bum...actually trying to get in to the seat is a serious task and one that is not able to be done with graciousness. Apart from all that,  all is well.

On Thursday we decided to reward ourselves after a stressful first week and party hard. A friend of mine who I studied Spanish with at school came out with us and we went to El Camborio. It’s a club which although is a little far out, gives the most fantastic views of the Alhambra at night. I was very impressed.

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On Friday I went to a town called Armilla just 2 miles out of Granada because I had seen a note at uni advertising for native speakers of English to teach children at a school there. I thought I may as well send a message and see what happens. I spoke to one of the women who owns the language school and arranged to go in for a meeting. I have a job! I’m going to be helping to teach 4-5 year olds through songs and games and another group of people taking their B1 level English for oral conversation classes. This is going to be great experience for me and give me something to do with my spare afternoons twice a week. I should start in a few weeks, wish me luck!

This weekend was a good one. I took my first trip of my year abroad! I got invited to Nerja with Ailish’s housemates who are all from California. We had a really great time and celebrated Shelby’s birthday with cake and lots of vodka. Unfortunately we didn’t have the best weather, every day since I’ve been in Spain has had scorching 30 degree heat but the minute we actually have chance to enjoy it somewhere else it turns overcast and cloudy. Nonetheless off we went, an easy and cheap bus ride and a hostel didn’t even set us back 50 euros. We had a wonder round the town and had some Mexican food which was really good. That night we went out and had cocktails, did some shisha and just generally had a laugh. The only thing that put me off was the amount of chavvy English people there were. 40-50 year old men should not be dressing the way they did, nor dancing the way they did. Today we had to get up early to check out, not before making the most of the free breakfast which had pg tips. I was in a happy place. Before heading to the beach we went to a flea market (which actually was just like a car boot) and I got a few English books for a euro each, and a necklace. We had a good day but I’m now left feeling ill with sunstroke and well, looking like a panda. Nerja is beautiful and I really had a great weekend with all my new American friends and their great English accents.

Sorority Squat!

Balcón de Europa

It was cold

I’m now gonna eat and try and catch up on some telebasura, my x factor withdrawals are making me sad. Another week at uni starts tomorrow but I least I can look forward to seeing my parents and nan on Friday. I can’t wait to see them and I’m sure we’re going to have a great weekend going to places like the Alhambra and Sevilla. I won’t tell them I’m secretly more excited about the tea bags and infinite amounts of porridge they are bringing out for me.

Besos.