Arcadia Spain

PROGRAM: Arcadia Granada, Environmental Studies and Spanish
HOME SCHOOL: Macalester College

Last September, I received an email from former Arcadia Granada student Jordan Katz. The message had no text, but only a picture in which I could barely see Jordan on a bike, next to a highway, and a big sign that read “Jaén- Andalucía”. This was a shock, as according to the picture, Jordan was only 60 miles away from Granada. I knew he had accepted a teaching position at a high school for the academic year, but that was 500 miles north of Granada! The next day, he was knocking on the door at the Arcadia Center. On his way to La Rioja, he had not been able to resist the temptation to visit Granada, his former home for almost a year (after all, the only way to get rid of a temptation is to yield to it…). So he got off the plane in Madrid and did not hesitate to ride his bike to Granada (hey, it was just 300 miles!).

Jordan is one of those students determined to make the most of his study abroad experience. There is traveling, of course, getting out and about, meeting people, partying, testing how long you can go without a proper night of sleep; and then there is learning; being genuinely curious about anything and everything around you: new words you hear, different food you get to try or even cook, unique people you come across, new places you never dreamed of; new learning experiences every day, everywhere. That is where true learning, the one that sticks with you, really happens. And Jordan was able to get immersed in all of this.

During his first time in Granada in the spring 2015, he would stop by the Arcadia Center just to chat with us (in Spanish, of course!). I remember him asking me every other week: “So when do you think I will start thinking in Spanish rather than translating every word from English? How long did it take you to be fluent in English?” How do you tell a student this is a lifelong process without completely discouraging them? I am still learning English after 30 years! Jordan was determined to make the most out of his semester, and by the time he left Granada after 8 months he had a great command of Spanish, including impossible slang that he could only have learned with “true” native speakers of Granada.

Almost against his will, he finally went back home, finished his degree in Political Science, and then returned with a one-year position as an English instructor at a high school in Northern Spain. Once he has completed his duties, he is spending a few weeks back home in Granada, where I am amazed at his impressive command of Spanish –not just the grammar he learned in the books, but his amazing intercultural competence, and his ability to live and behave as a true Spaniard. Jordan is the walking proof that, when it comes to language acquisition, you can only get as far as you are determined to get. It is a true pleasure (and pride!) to see how far he has become. His next challenge? Learn a new language!

Having him around, and considering the perspective he now has on his study abroad experience, I could not miss the chance to ask and learn from his process while studying and living in Spain, and I am sure it will be an inspiration for future Arcadians all over the world, as he is to me. Please enjoy his personal reflections below.

Why did you choose to study abroad? Why Arcadia Granada?

I was actually all set to study abroad Fall of 2014 in Haifa, Israel, but due to conflict at the time, I decided to reconsider my options.  I studied Political Science and Classics, and thus for the Classics major, I had elected to study Arabic (which I had planned to pursue in Haifa).  I had previously been to Barcelona with my family, where I was quickly fascinated by the city--the narrow cobblestone streets, the tortilla española, the way the language sounded.  After a little bit of research, I learned that in fact the South of Spain, Granada in particular, offered opportunities for continuing my studies of Arabic.  That's initially how I ended up in Granada –to learn Arabic.

I ultimately chose the Arcadia program for its size and lack of language requirement.  It's unique to find a study abroad program in Spain that has at most 25 or 30 students –this would later prove to be a huge advantage of the program. 

Was your semester in Granada what you expected? In which ways?

No, not at all.  Like I said, I originally came because of Arabic.  Given that I had only one semester of Spanish language under my belt, I enrolled in the language intensive pre-session course.  After that, or perhaps my first cafe con leche, I fell in love with the Spanish language (a love affair that has only intensified with time), and never studied Arabic another day in my life.  Well that's not exactly true...the little background in Arabic that I do have has helped me better understand Spanish language and culture, especially in Andalucía.  For instance, all Spanish words beginning with “Al” come from Arabic, which is super cool. 

What do you wish you had known before studying abroad in Granada?

I don't know.  To be completely honest, I did not even know what the Alhambra was (the ancient Moorish palace and fortress, the most visited monument in Spain).  I kind of liked that.  There is something charming about unlocking a foreign city from the bottom up, especially one as magical as Granada. 

What was the most challenging aspect of your transition from American college life to Spanish University life?

I would say it is the relationship with the home.  In the U.S., we spend a lot of time socializing inside, often inviting friends and even distant acquaintances into our home.  For the most part, the home is a much more private place in Spain.  I remember on the rare occasion that my host mom had guests over, she would always give a tour of the house, it being unusual for her to kick her feet up on the couch with a friend and watch TV. That being said, the city, the streets, the patios, the cafes become your playground so to speak.  The life in the streets is vibrant.  There is a lot more intergenerational “hanging out” because of this I think. 

What were your semester highlights?

Certainly too many to even know where to begin.  I distinctly remember, however, coming home from visiting Sweden during our spring break, getting out of the airport shuttle bus on Gran Via and feeling like I was home.  That was pretty cool. 

What is one thing that every Granada student should do?

Go to a plaza, perhaps Plaza de la Trinidad or El Campo del Príncipe.  Find a bench with a good view of your surroundings.  Open your eyes.  Open your ears. Open your mind.  Maybe bring a notebook to jot down a few thoughts. Try to do this for an hour every couple weeks –trust me, you'll have time.  It’s simple, but you can get a lot out of it. 

Why would you recommend Granada to other students? What kind of student would you recommend for Arcadia Granada?

Granada is paradise, especially for students, but of course I am a little biased.  It is definitely a city that has a lot going on –music, nightlife, an incredibly rich history, beautiful architecture –but, everything is walking distance and it only takes a couple weeks to get acclimated.  That being said, I am currently living in Granada, and I continue to stumble upon new look-outs, cafes, and much more. You are less than an hour from the beach, and even closer to the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Besides, the University of Granada is one of the biggest in Spain and has a very international student body, which serves as a great resource and source of excitement. 

As for Arcadia, it’s a relatively unique program for Granada.  Given the small size of the program, you have the opportunity to develop close relationships with the program directors (look at me: it’s been two years since I studied abroad with Arcadia and they still put up with me).  Also, it’s a comfortable program for those who may not have a very high level of Spanish going into the program, such as myself at the time.  However, if you want, you can really make huge strides.  I remember I used to go to the Arcadia office during the afternoons to chat in Spanish with Marta and Eugenia (the staff). 

What have you been up to after your semester abroad? How did Arcadia have an impact on your experience?

First off, I ended up staying in Granada the summer after my semester with Arcadia.  When I went back to Macalester College in the fall, I ended up taking nearly half my courses during my senior year in Spanish.  I was able to take a bunch of upper level courses (such as History and Politics) in Spanish without having studied Spanish during my time at Macalester prior to studying abroad.  This past year, I have been living in Spain –first in the north, and now in Granada– teaching and continuing with my studies of Spanish –I’ve learned foreign language acquisition is a lifelong pursuit, there's no way around it.

What are your future plans?

I am not exactly sure.  However, I am currently in the process of applying to graduate programs on International Studies.  If I don't exactly end up in this field, I have also considered trying to work in international education –certainly a good excuse to allow me to continue returning to Spain.