Completely kidding (don't freak out mom).
A normal week for me consists mostly of classes: 3 on Monday, 3 on Tuesday, 4 on Wednesday, 2 on Thursday, and 0 on Friday (hello 3 day weekend every weekend!). I am taking seven classes here totally up to be 16 hours. Mandatory classes are Phonetics, Grammar, Granada Seminar, Tutorials, and Production, Oral, and Writing. Since all of those sound like oh so fun! I'm also taking 3 classes of my choice- History of Spain, Islamic Culture in Spain, and Arabic. The classes that I have chosen are definitely the classes I enjoy most because they are more sit, listen, and learn as opposed to nitty gritty stuff (which is also good to have considering I'm in Spain to learn and speak Spanish). Well, actually Arabic is not a sit and listen class but a sit and have your mind go in circles class. It is so hard to triple translate. I'm being taught Arabic by a Spanish speaking teacher which I still translate in my head to English. Lets just say some classes, I go in a college student and exit a kindergardener since I'm relearning my letters, numbers, and words. After my first Arabic class, all I wanted to do was twirl in circles I was that brain dead. Its crazy hard but I know in the end it'll be neat to say that I know Arabic. My favorite class of all is probably my Islamic Culture class because I am finally getting a background in the formation of the Muslim religion and Islamic government type while learning more about Spain. The teacher is pretty laid back too and has some of the oddest cartoon drawings.
Also on Tuesdays, I have service learning at this place called Faicem. Faicem is a place for adults who have mental problems like schizophrenia, bipolar, and others of the same ordeal. I lucked out on my free time because when I come, its actually their English class so I'm able to help them with their pronunciation and spelling and everything. Its absolutely wonderful! The first time I went, I left feeling so good about myself because they were all so inviting and nice and they actually smiled! People don't necessarily smile at each other unless they know each other. Otherwise, as I found out one day, if you smile to man, it means you're interested...like real interested if you catch my drift. Back to Faicem, this place has been a get away from my normal life and brings extra interest to it and more relationships are being built. They're really patient with me when I'm trying to learn Spanish just as I'm able to be patient with them as they learn English. Although I have yet to experience a break down from one of the adults there, I'm sure I will be able to handle it and continue to love this experience I'm being offered. Its a great getaway from the stress of school and family life and where I'm able to laugh and relax in my Spanish to build more confidence. (minus the time where I mixed up the spelling of the word comb in Spanish and actually spelled penis..that was real embarrassing but we all laughed it off!)
My weeknights are nothing too exciting either. On Tuesdays and Thursdays Arabic goes until 10pm--brutal night class- so that only leaves Mondays and Wednesdays to really go out and they're not much of going out night types. Some Wednesdays, I and a couple friends go to a Teteria, which is a tea/cafe Moroccan or Lybanese influenced place, and spend a couple relaxed hours there catching up on life.
Therefore that leaves the weekends for traveling! If I'm not traveling, I'm in Granada getting to know its night life, whether thats going to a Tapas bar, going to a park, going to a movie, going to a futbol game, or going dancing. Its a beautiful city at almost anytime of day and always has something to do.
He explorado, soñado, y descubrió
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