Kaytlin Johnston  

Last summer, thanks to the Gilman Scholarship, for which I wrote about the application process last week, I had the amazing opportunity to study abroad in Granada, Spain.  Not only did I learn during my classes at The University of Granada, but I also had walking tours around the city where I learned about its history and culture.  One of my favorite places that I visited was the Alhambra, which is a display of beautiful architecture that was incredible to see in person.    

If traveling to Granada, here are some places that I recommend visiting.  First of all, Hannigan and Sons is a pub that features pub quizzes sometimes.  I went with my group, and it was a fun experience.  Another place to visit is the Bohemia Jazz Cafe, which is a nice place to chill and listen to music.  Fair warning: pull the door, don’t push it.  My friend and I learned that the hard way, but we definitely had a laugh afterwards.  If you want to practice speaking Spanish or another language with a variety of people, Sala Premier hosts international language exchanges. At the entrance, you will scan a QR code and do a quick survey asking about which language you would like to practice.  Based on that language, you will be placed at a table with other people who want to practice that language.  It costs about 4 euros to enter, and you get a drink of your choice.  If looking for a sweet treat, Los Italianos offers gelato and the fruit flavors are dairy-free.  I will definitely be stopping by there again next time I am in Granda. If you like shopping, I’d recommend going to the Nevada Shopping Mall. They have clothing and shoe stores, a bookstore, and many fast-food places inside as well.  The best way to get there is to take the metro, which has a stop right across from the mall.    

During my stay in Spain, a cultural difference that I noticed is that it is not common to do a split bill when eating at a restaurant.  My group usually had one person pay by card, and then the rest of the group paid that person back later.  Another thing that I noticed is that during the summer, small shops close for a few hours in the afternoon during the hottest time.  

As for my experience as a student at the University of Granada, I didn’t feel like there was a big adjustment from my time at UNCG.  I took Spanish and Latin American literature and culture classes, which were taught in a similar manner to classes that I take here.  As a Spanish major in my final year, my classes are taught in Spanish, so I was used to that when I went to Spain.  For class work, my teachers utilized both paper handouts and projectors, and just like there can be technical issues sometimes in the U.S., it can happen in Spain too.  One day in the middle of class, we had a power outage, so the computers didn’t work, but the teacher pivoted and made it work.  Unlike here, where our campus has more definitive borders with where school buildings are located, The University of Granada has buildings spread out throughout the city, so I only ever visited the building that I had all my classes in.  But just like here, in the building where my classes were taught, there are vending machines with snacks and drinks.  

When studying abroad, I think it is important to find the balance between the 4 S’s: sightseeing, shopping, studying, and sleeping.  For anyone considering studying abroad in Spain or even just visiting, here are some tips that I learned through my experience.  

General Tips  

Bring comfortable shoes 

You will be doing a lot of walking during your stay.  Between exploring the city and walking to school—I was a 20-minute walk from the university— I averaged about 9,000 steps a day.  Depending on where you stay, to get to school, you might take a bus, the metro, or walk.  

Live in a homestay 

If you are majoring in Spanish or just want to improve your speaking, if possible, I would recommend a homestay.  It allows you to listen to the language more. My host mother only spoke Spanish, so it gave me a space that helped me rely on practicing.  Plus, it allowed me to make a connection, and I still keep in contact with her.  

Summer Tips 

Fans  

If planning to go to Spain during the summer, bring a foldable fan.  If not, you’ll want to buy one soon after arriving in the country.  Plus, something I learned is that homes in Spain usually don’t have air conditioning, so you might have a small portable fan in your room instead.  If that still isn’t enough, try filling a plastic water bottle and putting it in the fridge during the day.  Then, when it’s time to sleep, hold it against your face to help cool down.  

Refillable water container 

With all the walking in the heat, staying hydrated is important, so this is a must have.  Something that I was not used to was drinking tap water, but around the city, there are potable water fountains to fill up your bottle.  

Honorable mentions 

Before arriving in Granada, you will most likely fly through the airport in Madrid.  While there, if you go sightseeing and get hungry, El Mercado de San Miguel is a good place to buy a snack or a meal as it offers an assortment of food types. I got a fresh cup of mixed fruit, which was perfect to eat during the hot weather.  

While not in Granada, I went on a trip with my group to Sevilla to sightsee and we ate TKO Sevilla, which is a Mexican restaurant that sells tacos. I highly recommend stopping by there if you’re in the area. They were so good that I went back a second time.  Most of their tacos are gluten and dairy free, which makes them more inclusive for people like me.  

Overall, I encourage anyone considering studying abroad to go to Spain.  It was a truly rewarding experience that I will never forget.  I was able to meet new people, learn about another culture, and gain confidence not only in my Spanish skills but as a person.