First Impressions

I've taken the plunge and decided to blog. After one round of e-mails telling everyone I made it, I decided it would be way easier just to blog than telling everyone what I was doing.

I would like to address that I know my Espana needs an tilde but I couldn't figure out how to get it in there. Sorry.

I got here on Sunday and of course was very tired. I flew on British Airways which was pretty nice. Somehow I didn't know that wine and liquors are free on BA (and probably all airlines outside the US) so I didn't get anything and the steward serving me pretty much looked at me like I was crazy. "No sir, not crazy, just a stupid American." I don't know how my international traveling friends failed to tell me about that, but oh well, I wouldn't have taken it anyway since I do a pretty good job of feeling ill on a plane on my own and don't need any red wine to help. Anyway, that flight wasn't too bad and I had an open seat next to me. Then from London to Malaga I had a whole row to myself. That was great. Once I got here I willed myself to stay awake in the 1 hr taxi ride to be able to take everything in.

My first impressions of Spain is that the countryside is very green. I was surprised at how green it is. The city of Granada is just that - a city. It doesn't have much green but it does have great architecture. What has surprised me is how much graffiti there is. Some of it is very odd graffiti and says stuff like "Fuma mata" (smoking kills). I have also been surprised at how cold it is. When I checked average temperatures it said around 44 degrees. Which I knew meant it could be warmer and colder but it has been quite chilly and it seems central heat hasn't really caught on. Rumor at the residence is that some rooms are really hot and others are really cold - however, I've yet to find someone in a "really hot" room and sleeping in a 55 degree room stinks.

I don't know what the first impressions of me have been, but it's day two and I've already decided I'm fine with being the stereotypical American. Before I came here someone told me they always know the Americans by their big, white tennis shoes. Well Spain, lucky for you I bought a brand new pair before I left. I was going to try and wear nice shoes and nicer clothes but now, no thanks, they can know I'm an American by my shoes. It's too cold for the nice clothes and I walk everywhere so I find my nice shoes aren't functional.

As for my Spanish, I definately understand much better than I can speak it. I haven't used my Spanish in the last four years and it's definately rusty but hey, that's why I'm here. I have classes every morning from 9-1 and then an optional class at night from 7-8. I don't know what I'll do with all the time in between but for the next few weeks it will be sightseeing and for tomorrow it's finding some sort of grocery store.

Hopefully, I'll have lots to blog about and they'll be good stories and not misadventures. We'll see.....
:)