So I realize that I'm starting this late and my apologies for that. Because of that this entry will be very cursory and will basically summarize some of the more major events which have occurred since I got here.
I arrived in Spain at the end of last month after having been in Vancouver for four days visiting my friend Alee and meeting up with my friend Diane from Florida. The flight from Vancouver to Spain was long and included a stopover in Germany, but it was surprisingly non-brutal. I was flying with Lufthansa and hence attribute my comparable comfort (compared to the flight I took last year to Scotland with Air France) to the remarkable efficiency of the German people. Say what you will about them, but never doubt that the Germans run a good airline.
After a couple days in Madrid I took the train to Granada, which was about a seven hour ride. After arriving here my jetlag STILL had not gone away and I ended up staying up the entire night prior to taking my entrance test at the CLM (Centro de Lenguas Modernas or Modern Languages Centre in English). To my elation, and despite my lack of sleep, I scored level 6 or advanced on the entrance test (I had previously thought I would score intermediate) and got placed in the corresponding intensive Spanish class. The intensive class is what I am doing right now and is meant to prepare us for regular class which begin during the second week of next month. Because I scored advanced rather than intermediate that means that, provided I pass the final exam next week, I can take classes in the Hispanic Studies program in October rather than classes in the Spanish Languages and Culture program, the latter being targeted at intermediate speakers. The difference between the two courses is that the Spanish Language and Culture program is targeted more at teaching people who don't already have a firm grounding in Spanish about the language itself, whereas Hispanic Studies is more like regular university courses which are taught in Spanish. The Hispanic Studies courses also usually related to Spanish/Latin American topics. Examples of Hispanic Studies classes are 19th century Spanish literature, Spanish history, Latin American Civilization and Culture, etc.
As far as my living situation goes I'm living with a Spanish lady in her 60s named Sonia as well as two other international students who are also here to study Spanish. Both of them are from the states, one is a girl named Bridgette from Chicago and the other is a girl from New Mexico named Sonya. What I'm doing is called a "home stay" and was arranged for me by the accommodation service at the university. It's a pretty sweet setup as Sonia cooks and cleans for both me and my roommates.
So far my classes have been intense review of Spanish grammar and conversation. Almost all of my classmates are from the states with the key exceptions of one Dutch guy, one French guy, a German guy and a girl from Australia. I like them but have had few opportunities to meet many Spaniards aside from Sonia. Last week one of my classmates, Liana, and I went to a "fiesta de intercambio" which is basically a mixer for Spaniards who want to learn English and foreigners who want to learn Spanish and met a few, but nevertheless I have yet to really become close friends with any. Liana myself and now the Australian girl (Katia) intend to keep going until that happens.
I have no idea what else to say but no idea how to end this. Check back in the near future for a more substantive entry.
Seeya,
Graham.
