down and a little defeated if I'm being honest. BUT I'm trying to keep those thoughts as aloof as possible.

These are just some thoughts that I wanted to share as early as after my first spring break (beginning of May). While here the words that pretty much epitomized my life here abroad were "new appreciation".
I have a new appreciation, enthusiasm, and inspiration for everything I've already seen and lived in life and what the possibilities exist for the future. For culture, people, places, different things..
Maybe I can't say exactly RIGHT now in this moment since I'm feeling a little out of things BUT because I am here in Spain away and have walked away from everything I know, I have grown, changed, and become better. When I return I need to keep being ambitious and commit to taking myself even further to the next level, this includes academically, physically, emotionally, and in the labor force.

I have one suitcase packed and sitting at about 46-47 lbs. It's Tuesday dinnertime (although no one is in the house yet...), right now I'm going to spend some time going through the STACK of school documents etc. to decide what I should come back home with/what I can go without. In addition to the list of MUSTS before I leave every day I'm constructing lists of daily MUSTS.
Little by little we can achieve lo que sea.

It's that time! To check things off of my to do list. They suggested that we physically make this list so we can make our "lasts" a reality and not leave with any regrets! It seems like it was almost forever ago that my parents were here but they left just over 2 weeks ago!

Want to keep me accountable?
Here it is. [And we're in finals week SO, there's a lot to get done in addition to this list I've created of priorities :). Three more essays to turn in and three exams left.]

.Federico Garcia Lorca (as much as possible.. without burning and changes 5x shades..)  ✔ As always, everyyyyday. Going to try to see how many miles running I can rack up in 4 days! Days 1 & 2 - 10.4 miles
.At least one photo shoot (in the park? with the family?)
.The Last: Churros / the famous tart ice cream from Los Italianos / the not as equivalent, yet still famous schwarma? (if I do I'll go for the cheaper, smaller, and therefore less harmful minirollo (mini schwarma)
.Letras! - to future students / people that need to know how much I've learned, grown, and appreciated from my time here!
.Mercadillo  ✔ 
.Serrallo Plaza (the new mall!)  ✔ 
.Tour / workout in YO10 once!
.Haircut? OR Zaidin one last time?
.Run Albaicyn..
.Buy souvenirs and gifts!  ✔  & in the process of finishing up:)
.Finally decide if I want to buy a UGR sweatshirt!
.Successfully ride the bus without confusion ;)  ✔  
.Apply for more jobs/find more opportunities for the fall - ALWAYS IN THE PROCESS
.Pack my bags..  ✔ One done!
.Get refund for bus card previously purchased!
.Get rid of as much change/exchange as much change as possible! (Today I counted 18.08 euros in change...)
Print it and frame it!
.Goodbyes :/

I feel closer than ever with my relationships with my family. The past few weekends my host family has been in and out of the house with previous engagements --communions to attend! One day (Sunday May 13) Marisa had 2 to go to and while she had a millisecond of time to rest between the two we got to talking and I felt like she really confided in me with the information we were sharing and stories she was telling me. It felt really good. Close. I just wanted to shout in English, you can confide in me! Clearly there are many things that I sometimes don't feel comfortable expressing myself in Spanish still. Part of the reason why I wish I was enrolled in a year program here ;) 

During the week on Wednesday we had scheduled the inter mural awards ceremony. I wasn't expecting it to be a big deal or anything and figured I could come right at 1 when it started because as the stereotype goes (that I have physically witnessed and lived here), I figured it would start later than planned. When I arrived the main patio of the CLM was filled with a horseshoe of people around a main table with people talking on a microphone. I arrived just in time before they started giving a little background about the volleyball inter mural league. They called the first place team and they accepted their trophy and t-shirts. Then "IOWA", my team, was next! As the captain when they called IOWA as the subcampeon I knew I had to go up in front of everyone and give a little speech and thank the people. As soon as I grabbed the mike I was comfortable and the words flew naturally and suavely from my lips. It was a good feeling. I did make ONE mistake, and say estamos en vez de somos but that didn't matter. That feeling felt better than holding the big trophy in my hands! Well, maybe equivalent to. None of us were expecting winning ANYTHING for second place but of course we were pleasantly surprised. Our t-shirts serve as the memory we will take back with us of when we competed in Spain at the Fuente Nueva campus. Although the Central College Iowa program and Veronica have many other trophies from past years, we felt honored to present it to Veronica and take pictures with her and it even though it was just an inter mural league.

After the crowd settled down and the awards ceremony was over I planned to go join some friends for their "good bye" lunch at a local Mexican restaurant. They had just finished their final exam and were celebrating with margaritas and had invited me to join. Little did I know that the famous graffiti artist, El NINO, was coming to the CLM to work on a piece of art and have all who wanted to, watch him in action! It was a sight to see. ( www.elninodelaspinturas.com/ ) He didn't end up leaving his work at the CLM which was a bummer but he ended up inviting two girls from my program to drinks afterwards! I hear while being extremely talented he is a very nice guy. Little did I know that when I returned from the restaurant, there was a tapas celebration in the CLM with food and free beer! For lunch we were invited to margaritas and had discounted meals so it was alright in the long run. The celebration was hosted on the patio of the CLM for the CLM students that had finished their courses for the semester. I wonder if they'll have one for L&C students and CEH students (like me)!

This past weekend my Spanish sister had another recital and I was so excited that I could have a chance to see her in action with her rhythmic gymnastics, it was honestly like nothing I had ever seen before! Many of the participants are dancers committed to the sport year round. Paloma just joined the team at her school and this was her first year participating. I was SO proud of her! To watch the recital I was with Marisa, her mother, Juan, and met his mother for the first time. There were sooooo many children, mostly females, ranging from 3 to probably around my age, so it was a long show. It started late, and of course we had to wait until the awards ceremony. It was a competition and not just a performance so of course some are going to get awards and some aren't but they gave so many out that it would have made sense to give something to all of the participants :/ Paloma's spirit was a little down but I sincerely hope that she commits to this sport because I even told Marisa that I think she could have a lot of success in it if she keeps going! While we were in the car on the way home she asked her mom if next year she can join the club team. :) She's always dancing and moving in the house so it's easy to see the passion that she has for this art. It was fun to see her put into action all of the seemingly odd moves that she's doing in the house. She has talent!

Honest, There's always so much to tell! I've been writing essays for class reflecting on my time here, completing assignments on assignments on assignments, watching Spanish historical movies, watching American movies translated into Spanish, and literally never resting! I've been dreaming in Spanish for a while now and losing common (and not-so-common) English words. Besides making travel itineraries for people coming I've also been making travel recommendations in other cities of Spain and for other travel abroaders. The weather's changed so much here many have been started to say that summer's well on it's way. I've been spending time with my family and friends to take utmost advantage of the time we have left together. So I've been doing cultural visits around Andalusia and spending MORE than enough time in the sun! And I've been trying to grasp as much Spanish as possible while focusing on what's NEXT after I return to the states. In doing so I've acquired a summer time internship, much needed to keep me busy as well as help me have some source of income, AND serve as the confidence boost I needed! Amazing how one thing can do all that:) 

El 3 de Mayo – HOLIDAY
Dia de la cruz, celebrated all over Spain involves construction of magnificent scenes of elegant crosses of all shapes and sizes with religious replicas and pears! (Yes, pears; to cut the ‘peros’, which means to cut the BUTS, or negativity out of life this day. For example, “Yes, it’s very beautiful BUT (PERO) it could be better in this way…”) For one of my classes my classmates and I walked around the city to see some of the nearby displays of crosses. For lunch my parents invited me to private property for lunch and another Spanish BBQ. Unsure of where we were going I dragged my heavy bag of stuff I had kept in the apartment with my parents for the week to to Paseo de los Tristes. I would soon find out that we would be dining, exploring, and celebrating the holiday hidden in the “secret” gardens hidden underneath of the Alhambra. It was another group gathering and goodbye party for one of Antonio’s workers so although I recognized many of the faces I didn’t know what constantly be talking about. Either way, I was glad to be able to see that beauty. Truly felt like VIP and royalty living in Granada. After we climbed the property to really embark on a true adventure, weaving in and out of caves, finding bats and secret garden doors, I found myself really tired from the day of activities. To go home from the secret fardens of the Alhambra, most host father, Antonio and I rode his Beemer motorcycle ride down. It was awesome! First motorcycle ride ever through the city of Granada. I had imagined this more so to have happened on the back of a cute Spanish boy but the security of my host father I'm sure was the safer bet.

It was a tiring week, full of class and things like that. With the forecast of weather for the weekend we knew we wouldn't be as lucky as we had earlier in the week. Rain.

Saturday, May 5 - CULTURAL EXPERIENCE
A program friend and I, Malissa, finally took advantage of one of the school-led cultural trips. So on Saturday with our umbrellas and bocadillos for lunch, we met at the Paseo de los Bosilios with almost 15 other students at 740 in the morning. With one of the most knowledgeable and amazing teachers I have encountered at the CLM, we were off. We learned countless things from our professor (although we might not remember them now if you asked us) because she is LITERALLY like a book! A history book and knows every detail about essentially everything. It’s amazing to hear her talk about history but also about life because she has a wonderful, although sometimes negative point of view, but always humortistic and still full of life! For 35 euros each we had transportation back and forth as well as paid entrance intro the cultural sites. On the way we passed: real alcazar de Los cristianos and some other places but I was awake in fullllllll slumber ( ha ) from the early rise and busy week.
First stop 1) Madinat Al-Zahra 2) La sinogaga 3) La mezquita: we were instructed to not act in manners that could be seem as distespectful, for example, taking silly pictures in the had-been mezquita, but then transferred into a cathedral in siglo XV. Of course when we were there I felt every urge to dance! It was a cool experience to see the ranging contrasts between the Arabic and catholic pieces of the immense structure. I always get inspired by the new place at at..here, especially after all of the history I have learned (heard) over the semester with the Islam and muslim influence in my hometown (Granada) and all over Andalusia, I wish I would have taken a Islamic history class or something of the sort.

CENA DE DESPEDIDA
Thursday May 10 -Something we were looking forward to yet dreading at the same time.Everyone looked amazing I'm glad we kept it a happy atmosphere:) We met at 9 in Plaza de Trinidad to take pictures and then walk  I don't even really know/remember the name of the place where we had dinner but it was a great time and the food was genial as well. Best dressed awards dress awards (if they really existed ha) would definitely have gone to Fatima and Gonzalo!First we got the beer, tinto de verano and water. (Unlimited amounts....) then we were served bread, then a cheese dish. Then a salad with chicken! Mini-meat wraps for everyone. AND THEN we got our main meal (which was salmon for some, tenderloin for others, and pasto (pesto) for la demas. AND THEN we had dessert, to share among groups of 4/5 depending on your table. I left uncomfortably and unnecessarily full :) but delightful. After we left the restaurant we went to go have a drink and dance off our full stomachs with our program director and staffer Jose. We exchanged words in Spanish, of course, and danced to the DJ's mix of well-known Spanish/American music. We called it a night right before 2am!
Pictures up on facebook, and hopefully to come here soon if you cannot access those!

SATURDAY MAY 12, CENTRAL COLLEGE IOWA (2012)
TAKES IT TO THE SUN & TO LA PLAYA - NERJA!
The following weekend on Saturday we had planned a program trip to the beach. I finally made it to Nerja and on the program's dime (included in our program fees), we even got to see the famous caves in Nerja! I'll admit I didn't do my homework on much other than that and additional historical and cultural significance. I don't think any of us really did. Our minds were completely set on the day we would spend soaking up in the sun. The bus from Paseo de los Basilios left at 9 in the morning, it was about a 1 1/2 hour ride to the cave site and a little further to the beach. So before 12 we had picked our spots in the sand. We would have until 6:30 to chill out. With the sun beating directly over us from basically 12 pm until 6:30, I tired out fast and wanted shelter, fast! I spent a good amount of time applying and reapplying sun screen and going in the freezing cold water to cool off but I really wasn't feeling the sun after a few hours. I always tire in the sun easily! It's a known fact. But I made it, although a shade or two significantly darker. We shared food, laughs, and sun burn (not me but MANY of the program). With a sun this strong, no one can afford to not cover-up and wear strong, protective sun screen! One of my friends, who will remain nameless, started peeling from every corner, crease, and direction on her face... she was shocked and slightly embarrassed when it appeared three days after her weekend getaway in Nerja. After 3 days in the sun, she had not applied sun screen once.

Speaking of the sun sometimes I feel like the heats so extreme/I'm not well adjusted to it yet that my hands (well, fingers) swell a little! It's actually kind of uncomfortable, as you can probably imagine. What's also crazy to think about is the fact that, the weather hasn't reached it's PEAK yet. June temperatures can reach up to and above 100 degrees in Spain!  Earlier in the semester I was never applying sun screen to go outside for my daily runs. Now I have awknowledged the fact that every day, when I'm walking for nearly a half hour to and from school, I have to apply it everywhere. I apply in the morning before my run and after my shower before I leave for school. If I have to leave again I make sure to reapply my 70 SPF! I've probably used what's equivalent to what I've used over years. My 70 SPF bottle (I didn't come with it full) is now empty! I have a 50+ SPF left but that's better than nothing, for obvious reasons.

Having my parents and aunt in Spain was a great experience for me. When it was the day for them to leave and I had already sent them off I realized how much I really missed them! My experience in Granada has been an eye-opening one. Every day I come to the realization that there is something that I am grateful in my life or something that I develop a new apprecation for. But these are all things that I can revisit in another blog. For now, to get up to date! Vamos a actualizar este blog!

It was a task trying to plan a week long experience abroad for 3 people! I felt very accomplished after ¨completing¨ the day-by-day schedule. The remaining day for that week where I would have class (Thursday, with classes at 10-11:30, 1-2:30, and 6:30-8), I didn´t realize how OVERWHELMED I would feel! Having it be my family´s first full day visiting my hometown, the last thing I wanted was for them to be sitting around in the apartment disappointed/bored all day. In addition to that, on Thursday my little host sister invited me to her dance recital ¨actualizacion¨, I believe she called it. She had asked me I think three weeks or so in advance and I took some time thinking on it because my parents would be here their first very day/night and the chances weren´t high of them being able to join us! Marisa, Marisa Madre, y Juan (Paloma's father) found out when we were at the performance that the entire performance was set up as a charity event to help a school in Haiti! I felt so proud that together we were able to share this and represent Haiti!

So I had to ask myself when was the next time I would be able to see my little sister perform in a show? When I did that, I found it to be a no brainer. I would skip class and of course, my family understood my thought process as well, and I was grateful! We arranged it so we could also have our first family meeting :) Although it was a little bit of a hassle to figure out the Granada bus schedule (because I KNOW I was ultimately useless in deciphering the stations and bus ¨map¨ my host father had emailed me...because I walk EVERYWHERE! So there are pros and cons to that... I get more exercise but when people are visiting me and we have limited time to get places...I felt very inutil and frustrated / embarassed! No matter how many times I intended to use that bus map to try and configure other routes other than the 11 Circular that seems like it takes you to the edge of the earth and back, I could never be certain what I was looking at exactly.) So next best options that we found as an alternative to walking? Taxis, duh. Thankfully since Granada is relatively small, making the small trips with the 4 of us wasn´t too much of a burden, I don´t think. Hope you can say the same/can vouge for that, Dad?

First family encounter:) Elevator up to floor 7! My host family was in a bit of a rush to get Paloma ready for the recital but she was dressed in her bright green Flamenco dress (she has to get a new one every year because she´s constantly growing!), glowing and practicing her steps. Marisa helped her with her makeup and luckily for me Marisa Madre (my host grandmother) had arrived just arrived my parents and I. Antonio made us all coffee and sat and spoke with my parents. It was fun to see all of the interaction, meaning..my mom speaking with Antonio y Marisa Madre y my aunt adding in some Spanish comments too, and then there was my dad, who was speaking at what probably seemed like 1,000 words a minute in...wait for it, ENGLISH.  It was also a little bit difficult to try to coordinate schedules with my Spanish host family too to make sure that both of my parents met one another and were able to spend a little time getting to know one another, but I felt we were able to do the best with what we could :) 

To recap the trip that could be described in millions of words and many different posts. Over the course of the week: We were able to have a Spanish dinner together with my Spanish parents and grandmother although my Spanish sister was away for the weekend) and we had a Haitian dinner, thanks to my mom and my aunt. We spent a day, a night, and an afternoon in Sevilla during Las Ferias annual festival although it was raining part of the time. Before we left for Sevilla we were able to try some Spanish churros although they were the best Spain's ever seen. When we returned to mi hogar, my parents came to support me in my very first race ever! Although it was only about 3.2 K and it was raining, it was still a cool experience for me to have in Spain. I was standing around the crowded starting line not knowing anyone and at the end of the race it was crazy trying to find my parents again out of what felt like millions of spectators and participants! Unfortunately in the apartment at night it was a bit uncomfortable with the cooler weather during the day, so the weather at night was much cooler than we desired. Luckily, when we went to our first REAL BULL FIGHT EVER --my family was able to experience some serious Andalusian sun in the Plaza de Toros de Granada. In our seats the sun was shining on us from essentially beginning to end. It was like we were the center of the show with my program.

We did do some shopping and got some souvenirs and were able to try the infamous Los Italianos ice cream, and of course TAPAS throughout the tour. To end the week tour of southern Spain we went to Mirador de San Nicolas, where we were able to see what is arguably considered one of the best sunsets of the world. The next and final morning, we had to wake up at 4am to make sure we could prepare all of their suitcases and etc. to leave the apartment clean. To catch the 5:20 airport shuttle bus from Calle Gran Via de Colon (right smak dab in the middle of the city), we made sure to leave the with all of their suitcases and necessities by 4:45. It was a very chill morning and as a family we sat outside at one of the bus stops. After the shuttle came to pick them up and we hugged and sad our goodbyes I returned to the apartment to get some more sleep. We had all gone to bed after midnight that night so when I woke up I didn't feel very refreshed. And when I woke up (because I had class at 10am), I woke up to voices, but I was saddened that they were not those of my parents. :( It was a different feeling that I had not experienced all the while while here in Spain... Obviously I've missed my family and friends and certain things about life in the states but I haven't been home sick or been so saddened about the life I've left behind (for a chapter of my life) to where I was moved to that feeling of sadness and teary eyes. I love you Mom, Dad, Yanick, and I'm so glad that you guys came to see me. I know it was a vacation for you guys (I sincerely hope that it felt like it..for the most part!) but having people visit me in a foreign city was a learning experience in itself for me. 

Here is the official schedule of the week to give all a better idea of WHAT we did as well as what type of plan I constructed!
You say you're coming to Granada? (Which is a must..) These are things that you should definitely intend to see! I recommend a week and a half, although a week could be sufficient (to see the main areas and must-sees of Granada) if you don´t do traveling within that week, as we had. And skip classes! (as I hadn't.. :P) To sell you some more, Granada is the ONLY city in Spain that gives FREE TAPAS with every drink ordered!

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