Hello… I guess. I’m Oliver and this is the first of I hope many blog posts about my experience on year abroad in Granada, Spain. Since this is my first post I’ll try to keep it short and sweet! I’m and English Language and Applied Linguistics student at the University of Birmingham and in the winter of 2018 I decided to enrol on an ERASMUS study year abroad. At the time, there were so many questions I had that went unanswered until I arrived. So, through this blog, I hope to provide the answers to these questions for others who also have them!
The idea of studying in a foreign country was one that terrified yet intrigued me. I think everyone can agree that escaping England’s dreary, dull and downcast weather is always great. However, two weeks in a tourist destination is fantastic when you can order your favourite cocktail or tapas in English, call ‘la quenta’ and be done with it. Living in that same place for a year requires some command of their language, an understanding of their culture and an acceptance that you’re not just a train ride away from family when you start to feel homesick.
I found that the reality of studying abroad didn’t hit me until I passed through doors of the airport terminal. With two cases in hand, it suddenly occurred to me that I wasn’t going to see the familiar faces I was so used to, I wasn’t going to hear spoken English when I switched on the TV or approached someone to ask for directions. Despite this, there is so much to look forward to. In my case, I was going to study in Granada which is located in the south of Spain. Granada is known for being traditionally Spanish and so I arrived expecting countless traditional tapas bars, copious amount of sangria, traditional flamenco and amazing paella. I was not disappointed!! However, I’ll save that for another post.
This may be an abrupt finish to my first post but I think I’ve said what I wish to. I’ll finish by saying that my first week in Granada has been better than expected. The fears you face heading into a year abroad are often the worst case scenarios. However, I am more than aware that there is time for a few of my fears to come true and if they do I’ll make sure to write about them!
For now,
Adiós!
