Granada!

Just got back from an amazing weekend in Granada.  This small city in the south of Spain is one of the largest tourist attractions in the world, all because of a little castle on a hill. Just kidding.  The thing is massive, the grounds are about 5 miles in diameter and come equipped with bath houses, prostitute houses, fountains, living quarters, and one BIG castle. The whole area has a panoramic view of the entire city of Granada and I could even spot the crane that was next door to my hostal!! Even though we trekked through the Alhambra in the pouring rain it was an amazing experience and I recommend it to everyone! In addition to the castle, we wandered around town, like the cultured students we are, and spotted beautiful cathedrals, pastelerias (pastry shops), tapas bars, flower filled squares, and even a children's carosel (I wanted to go on but I was too big :( ). The rest of the trip was filled with eating and discotechas (my new favorite activity)!  I will post pictures on facebook later!!

Party Animal

After a 40 minute train ride and an hour waiting at a Pub across the street, we finally made it to Kapital (the hottest night club in Madrid).  This 7-story dance party is nothing but ordinary.  Hundreds of people filled the stair cases as hundreds more were dancing into the wee hours of the morning.  Each floor had different types of music to appeal to anyone and everyone.  I enjoyed dancing and lounging with my friends! After the club closed at 6 am, us party animals (and just about everyone else at the club) headed across the street to a Kabob restaurant where I had the most delicious falafal wrap and french fries (what a combo!).  After a long train ride back to Alcala I managed to hit the hay around 7:30am! Just call me Party Animal!

Today  it was decided that the Arizona crew would make our way down to Granada this upcoming weekend to visit the Alhambra and everything else the wonderful city has to offer.  I am very excited! Hostel booked at all (it's really official).  Now I just need Mommy to help me find some fun stuff to do! She knows everything!

 After a long, hard day of napping and planning my exotic life, i'm off to have some paella for dinner and catch some zzz's...

Viva Espana!

I am enjoying my time here in Alcala de Heneres! My classes are great.  I am taking Spanish vocabulary which should be very helpful when searching for the correct words to use! Also, I am taking literature which is proving to be very difficult right now but should teach me a lot in the long run.  My third class is taught by an adorable lady and it is simply intermediate Spanish; i've only had one class and I learned more than I have learned in years of spanish!  My last class is theatre.  I haven't been to the class yet but it is supposed to be very fun and informational.  At the end of the year the class puts on a play for the entire university in which everyone attends (you even get school off to watch the show!).  The classes are fun but the teachers speak very fast, but im sure i will learn to catch up!
After my trip to the Doc to get my Dormidina (sleeping pills), the lady at the pharmacy invited me to be a part of her conversation group. The group meets once a week and it allows Spanish speakers to learn english and visa vera.  The couple speaks in Spanish for one hour and English for the other. It sounds like a lot of fun and plan on being a part of that in a couple of weeks.
I'm planning on taking a Yoga class on Monday nights, but there's only one problem.  I don't really like Yoga.  Gotta learn to love it!
Off to take a siesta before tonights activities including free Sangria!!
Ay Ay Ay!!!!

SLEEP!

Sleep finally found me last night after a long, hard week of nothing but tossing and turning.  Hopefully this will make my days here less foggy.  I have been enjoying school, picking up a majority of what the teachers are saying (considering it's all in Espanol). I love everyone on my program and everyone that goes to my school. Today I will have breakfast, consisting of cafe con leche y un manzanita (baby orange) and probably some sort of pound cake. Then I will walk for 15 minutes to get school.  I have two classes everyday from 9-12 and they seem very interesting but I know will be quite difficult!  Thank god for translators and friends! After school I may hit up the centro commercial (mall) to go shopping for some goodies. But not after having my new favorite meal of eggs on top of french fries, DELICIOUS.  Well that's all for now, off to escuela.
Adios!!

I've been spending my nights out until the wee hours of the morning in bars socializing with Spaniards and people from all around the world. The bars included, La Media Pinta, Migas, Can Can, and Manamana.  People don't go out here until around 12 am and don't hit the hay unil around 8am.  Spaniards are night owls!! Today I went to Madrid with my classmates and toured the area. There is a lot of rich history in that city and the buildings are beautiful (pictures on my facebook). Tonight I went out for tapas with some girls and decided to take it easy tonight, maybe catch up on some sleep.  My sleep schedule has been way off so I hope to get that all cleared up this weekend!!

My first day was a success! Although a little homesick, I got by.  The father of the house works all night and left around 6 pm and the daughter went out with her friends.  I had a dinner of fish, rice, vegetables, and bread with the mother and we talked for close to 3 hours (all in spanish!).  I feel asleep reading my Fodors Spain 2011 book for some travel ideas and hit the hay.  After taking my lunesta I still managed to get up every 3 hours!  This morning I arose to a knock on my door, it was churro time!  It's not a common breakfast food but we had churros dipped in chocolate for breakfast! It was delicious.  Now i'm heading to the main square (La Plaza de Cervantez) to take some pictures and walk around!
Hasta Luego!

Viva Espana!

Hola Todos!

I just touched down in Spain and am ready to begin my seven month European adventure! The 14 hour travel time wasn't so great, however my fully reclining chair, meal service, and personal television made the time fly by (first class isn't too shabby).  The taxi driver had some trouble finding the apartment but everything worked out.  Alcala de Heneres containes a lot of rotundas (who would have thought?). The family that is hosting me is great, they don't speak much english but I seem to be getting by.  That's all for now.  Off for a much needed, jet lag induced nap. Then almuerzo a las 2:30!!