Student Bloggers

STUDENT: JAMEETRICE WAH

PROGRAM: ARCADIA IN GRANADA SUMMER

HOMESCHOOL: CLARK ATLANTA UNIVERSITY

Our wonderful Jameetrice studied in Granada this summer, and has some tips and suggestions for your semester in Granada - keep reading to find out!

Are you thinking about studying at the Centro de Lenguas Modernas? Is it your first time traveling to Andalucia? Don’t worry! Here are 10 things you can expect when spending the semester or summer here in Granada.

1. TIME DIFFERENCE

If you’re traveling from a different continent, the time in Spain will be a couple hours ahead or behind. For me as an American who lives on the east coast, the difference is 6 hours. This means that the time that I go to bed in the U.S is more or less the same time that I would wake up in the morning in Spain. If you’re planning to study abroad, you should make a plan to adapt yourself to this time difference. Some things that you could do are:

• Take some melatonin to help you relax 2 hours before the time you wish to go to bed.
• Avoid taking naps for the first couple of days in Spain so that you can fall asleep easier at night.
• Get used to the eating schedule to adapt your body to the new rhythm.

If you do these things in the first couple of weeks, you’ll be sleeping like a baby in no time!

2. Business Hours

Spain has a very distinct work schedule in comparison with the United States and other countries. In the U.S, the majority of restaurants and clothing open around 9 in the morning and don’t close until 11pm (23h). It’s typical for people to work 4-8 hours with one or two short breaks of 15-30 minutes before leaving for the day. Upon leaving, someone will replace the worker and complete that person’s daily tasks. On the other hand, most businesses and shops in Spain are smaller and are led by only a few workers. There are hours dedicated to resting or napping which are roughly 3pm (15h) until 5pm (17h). This gives workers time a break before having to finish off the long workday. If you have plans to go shopping or eat at a restaurant while in Granada, make sure that you’re aware of the opening and closing times.

3. Food

Another important aspect is food. Here are some things that surprised me about dietary habits in Granda:

First, the main choice of meat in restaurants is ham! This is a big difference in comparison with the U.S, whose main protein is chicken. In Georgia for example, there’s a variety of different local and chain restaurants that are dedicated to the consumption of chicken. While here in Granada, the majority of tapas and dishes include ham or pork, so be mindful if you don’t eat it.

However, if you want a different type of meat, there’s a couple of options to choose from. And if you don’t eat meat at all, there are vegetarian and vegan options also. In Granada, restaurants typically serve chicken or lamb. You can also choose from seafood such as fish or shrimp. You can even try rabbit, Spain’s specialty dish. It’s often served in paella and has a very rich flavor. If you try it, you’ll love it!

4. Sustainable and Respectful Tourism

Studying abroad to learn about new things that you’ve never seen is always a good idea. However, it’s important to practice sustainable and respectful tourism. If you want to know how, keep reading!

If possible, you should choose the option to stay with a host family. Most of the students that I’ve spoken with at the CLM have been able to live with families for the month or two that they will be here. This way, you can experience the beauty of Granada without negatively affecting any local communities. If you want to protect the environment as well, make sure to practice sustainability. While you’re staying in Granada, try to use water and electricity in a conscious manner to reduce environmental harm and maintain the country’s beauty. Finally, there’s many historical sites to visit and explore, but there’s also local businesses you can support. There are local restaurants to eat at and artisan markets where you can buy clothes, jewelry and gifts for your loved ones. This way, small businesses can benefit from your stay, and you have the opportunity to enjoy local culture.

5. Culture and Traditions

If we’re talking about culture, Granada has many fun traditions! It’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with them so that you can fully enjoy Spanish culture and participate in these exciting events! If you’re planning to study abroad in the summer, you will probably hear about Corpus Christi which is a Catholic festival that normally takes place in June. Its celebration depends on the dates of Holy Week, so it does not have a fixed date. During this time, schools will close early. On the day of the parade, the main streets are blocked because there’s always many children and families walking and buying balloons, food or ice cream. Also keep in mind that the trains and buses could be very packed during this week. But if you like flamenco and dancing, you should definitely study at the CLM during the summer session to see the festival. You won’t regret it!

6. Heat Wave

Summer is a beautiful time to come to Spain, but you have to prepare yourself for the heat. In the afternoon around 2:30 (14:30) the temperature can reach highs of 98° F (36° C). Your health is very important during a heat wave. But don’t worry! There are things you can do that will help. First, try not to cover your head with anything if you don’t have to. If you do, make sure to use a thinner material. However, it’s very normal to wear a sunhat to provide a little bit of shade and some people even use umbrellas. If you need a little air, it’s very easy to find a hand fan (called an abanico) in a shop within the city or the artisan market. During a heat wave, it’s best to avoid hot foods like soups. You should look for something to keep your body cool like cold water, ice cream or a slushy. While outside, don’t forget to put on sunscreen! It’s very important to hydrate with water when walking and you should never walk long distances in the heat if you haven’t eaten something first. If you start to feel sick, pouring a bit of cold water on your arms helps a lot. The heat is very manageable if you take proper precautions!

7. Transportation

One of the great things about living in Granada is access to public transportation. The trains, buses and metro all work perfectly and can take you to wherever you’d like to go.

There are reloadable green cards that you can buy to use for buses and metros in the city, but they will not work for long distances. If you forget to bring it or run out of money, buses also have Applepay. If you would like to travel outside of Granada, you can buy a bus ticket online on the ALSA website.

Another option for short distances is a taxi service. Uber does work, but taxis and buses are much more secure options. And they’re cheaper! The streets are also very accessible for walking if you’re able to do distances of 15-30 minutes. So, plan a trip to the Alhambra or to the beach, because you don’t need a car here in Granada!

8. Culture Shock

Since you’re going to be in a different country, it’s guaranteed that you will experience some culture shock about various things. In Spain, community is very valued. People love to socialize. You can find terraces in almost all the restaurants where you can sit outside with your friends. It is also very normal to drink a glass of wine or a beer with your food (as long as you are 18+). Drinking alcohol is a social activity that is associated with eating and normally is not done with the intention of getting drunk. After eating, it’s very typical to do a “sobremesa” where you spend a couple of hours chatting and sharing laughs. And because dinner in Spain is eaten later at night, it’s very normal to see children in bars or playing in the street pretty late, but this is normally only during hot summer nights. So.. get ready to make lots of new friends and socialize! 

9. Social Norms

In this community centered society, greetings are very affectionate, and many times are done with hugs and kisses on the cheek. The motion and sound of a kiss is the most important thing and it’s not necessary to actually touch the lips on the face. It’s an aspect integrated into social life, but if you don’t feel comfortable doing it, that’s okay! There’s nothing wrong with a simple handshake or a verbal greeting. It’s a cordial gesture, but it’s not required.

10. Keep an Open Mind!

Congragulations! You’ve reached the most important part which is: enjoy your time in Spain! There are many things to experience and see for the first time. Remember not to be scared of unfamiliarity. Different cultures exist and it’s a beautiful thing. People in Granada are very friendly and will allow you to practice your Spanish freely. If you have an optimistic attitude, you’ll return to your home country with many funny and entertaining stories to tell your friends and family. Welcome to Spain!