I could tell you all of the details of my experience here and give you recommendations for my favorite tapa bars and late night schwarma, tell you how much every night you should study and how much time to spend with your host family- but I think this would only do you a disservice. For me, the most exciting and challenging parts of this experience were having to figure this stuff out on my own. In fact, I wish I had not asked friends of mine about their study abroad experiences because I arrived with too much expectations. My biggest advice is to try to get out of your head and process your experiences differently than you normally would in an environment you are familiar with, like in the US. For example, if you witness your host parents in a yelling argument, don't use your American brain to try to interpret this and fit it into a larger context. I found that at first I thought these arguments meant that they were disrespecting each other and actually upset, because thats what I'm used to it meaning in the US, when really it's just more common here for people to raise their voices with "passion" and not anger. It's hard not to use your past experiences to try to make sense of new ones here but it's necessary because this is a totally different country with a unique culture and history that we do not share in the US.
Another thing, don't let yourself compare or try to mold your experience into what you have heard about other people's study abroad experiences. What I have learned looking back on the past six weeks is that I feel very differently about my time here in Granada, my class, the people I have met, and Spain in general now than I did while it was all happening. It is impossible for you to know how this trip will inspire you, change you, and influence your world view until you have the whole picture to look at.
Lastly, remember you're not in Ann Arbor anymore!! The way and the amount you study doesn't have to be and probably shouldn't be the same here. It is summer and you're in Spain. Don't feel like you can't explore the city because you have to constantly be doing homework. There is time for both and that's why you are here instead of taking the same class in Ann Arbor. Also, only take a siesta if you really need one. Not only is this prime study time where you will have the whole afternoon to go on adventures, but I felt like napping messed up my sleep schedule, making it very difficult to go to bed at a reasonable hour at night.
it's been real,
natcat
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