I don't even know how I made Granada my home for almost one year. I remember that I just had to chose a city on a paper list and the few things I knew about this place made the choice for me. Had to wait some weeks and after that got the email that made all this real.
Spain never represented my first choice when I had to organize a trip, alone or with friends. At that time I was completely in love with Berlin and that magical atmosphere that only those who called themselves "Ein Berliner" even just for few days, can understand. All I wanted is to manage to spend the year abroad there but the language barrier made it clear that it was not possible. So I told myself : No Berlin? Then Prague : still Central Europe and a lot of great cheap beers. Once again, it was not possible so I had to look in other directions.
The only choice at this point was Spain, so I chose Granada : I remember I even had to motivate my choice on questions about what I liked the most from Spain and why this city - Truth is that I knew almost nothing about these places, maybe just some historical informations due to my studies.
I'm travelling with 35 or more kilograms and I am in Madrid. The back hurts me - It's the 5th of September, and can't even go to take a piss because I don't know where to leave all my stuff. I'm running to take the bus that is taking me South while cursing me for not knowing the language : "You had a couple of months to learn something, you did nothing"
Once I get inside, everything changed : I was exhausted for the day but ready to see what I can get from this new experience and what this little part of the world have to offer to me.
Stranger in a strange land
Goddammit, I was informed that this place is hot-but not that hot. This is hell. I have the address of the flat written on a piece of white paper and I pass it to the taxi driver. Such a friendly guy - asking me about Italy and why I am here, and giving me the first tips on how to spend crazy nights with foreign girls in the city clubs : he must know better.
I pay and try my first Hasta luego, gracias - it's not that bad as I was imagined.
I finally can get inside, take possession of my room in the apartment I will share with other students for the next months and finally was able to take an ice cold shower after all the odissey I've been through. No way to start visiting my new hometown with 43 Celsius degrees till late during the day ( I remember my dad called me after a couple of days asking me : How is the city? and all I said was Well, I don't know yet - way too hot to do anything)
I am hungry so I decide to leave the room and find the nearest supermarket. All I need is a beer and something to eat. I'm waiting in to pay, excited to be finally on my own and in a completely new reality when suddenly the cashier asks me : Quieres bolsa? Le pongo una bolsita? I don't know what she wants from me or how to even answer.
5 minutes after I'm home, drinking my cold beer : Reality hit me, and I have to start learning again just like a little child. But I let the fear out and I am just happy, excited and ready to immerse myself into this new adventure.
It's the 6th of September already, and I'm home
Nice post! Granada is a wonderful city, I hope you got to experience La Feria and took a trip to La Sierra Nevada while you were there. I guess we'll find out in your following posts...
I'm also looking forward to read more! Keep writing! Pls 🙏🏻