Day 4, May 31st

Today we woke up early and surprised our host mom by not sleeping in! She talked with us this morning about the importance of resting on Sunday. She also made it very clear that she wants us to be happy while living here and does not want us to complain or be upset about anything. So far so good!

We met up with the other students at the Cathedral. Our walk was very quiet, the streets and sidewalks filled with very few people.




Our first adventure was to walk to Las Cuevas del Sacromonte, the caves where the Gypsies reside, which was about a 5-6 mile trek from our home. It was a beautiful walk along the riverside, down La Carretera Antigua, past the Alhambra, and into the Islamic influenced architecture of 14 century Spain.

The caves - though part of a museum - resemble modern caves where people actually live, complete with electricity and home furnishings!


We stopped for a short while near the caves and rested at a small cafe. Here is the menu from the restaurant...the second to last line really made me smile :)



After walking through the museum, we walked to La Plaza del Mirador y La Vista (view) from St. Nicholas of Granada, La Alhambra, and the mountains.



After taking a picture together, my roommates and I looked out at the view and realized our house was clear across the city...on the other side of the Alhambra!


We only had an hour to get back home, but luckily we found a kind man who showed us the way down through the alleys and stoned streets to the center of the city. We made it home in time for a delicious meal of seasoned pollo y patatas. When we arrived, Mama Ché's son Rafael and his wife Eva came to visit. We were able to meet them after eating outside in the jardín. We don't eat with the family here, but they are still very welcoming and provide us with plenty of delicious food. After a break for lunch we hit the streets again, but this time we took a walk along the river to the north end of town. This adventure led us to find a man-powered merry-go-round...



Some children playing in the river in nothing but some underwear...(sorry, no picture, although it was quite hilarious!)
Granada's CIA building
And some time to read by the Fuente de Granada

Momo wishes he could have come with...what a goof!


Tomorrow school begins. I am excited to see who I will meet and what my schedule will be like. I think the most challenging aspect so far is adjusting to new social norms and trying to communicate with the native speakers. The lisp for their "s" is often difficult to catch onto and they also abbreviate a lot of common words, like "Grana" for Granada, "autu" for "autobus" and many others.

I am so thankful to be here. Although it is easy to think I am alone, I know this is not true. There is so much life here, so much love here. I am being challenged to open myself and see it, to pursue it. As I think about my experiences here, I think of Christ's love for us and the decision we have to constantly seek after Him in all we do. Here is a poem on the intensity of moving forward, always pressing onward for something greater; that is, the full embodiment of Christ's love.

The Gap
Did Jesus live? And did he really say
The burning words that banish mortal fear?
And are they true? Just this is central, here
The Church must stand or fall. It's Christ we weigh.

All else is off the point: the Flood, the Day
Of Eden, or the Virgin Birth - Have done!
The Question is, did God send us the Son
Incarnate crying Love! Love is the Way!

Between the probably and proved there yawns
A gap. Afraid to jump, we stand absurd,
Then see behind us sink the ground and, worse,
Our very standpoint crumbling. Desperate dawns
Our only hope: to leap into the Word
That opens up the shuttered universe.

Sheldon Vanauken from A Severe Mercy

España Día 1 y 2

¡Hola amigos y familia! Bienvenidos a España.

I am in Spain...imagine that! I am actually here! After three flights and a slight case of jet lag, I am finally fully present - body, mind and soul - in Granada, Spain, which is located in the southeastern part of Spain. I hope to document my trip as best as I can with photos and descriptions of exciting, unexpected adventures...

Thus far it has felt like starting college all over again -- new people, new experiences, plus one new aspect: adapting to a new culture and language. Adjusting has been less difficult than first anticipated. I find myself thinking in Spanish and often times speaking in Spanish when not necessary. My host family - María José or, as she prefers, "Mamá Ché" -- and her marido Rafael only speak in Spanish, which is helpful for us but must require a lot of patience on their part! I am staying here with two other Winona State students, Sarah y Joanna, both of whom are very sweet and genuine. I am blessed beyond words to have such a tranquil place to stay... complete with a pool and a bull dog named momo :)

Let's now begin a tour of Granada, starting with a walk the first night we arrived with our very own tour guide, Rafael, the husband of María José.


Rafael is a very kind, generous man. Today, while I was helping move something from downstairs to the floor above, he took me to see the top floor balcony that overlooks the neighboring houses. It is a beautiful view, including some glimpses of the nearby Alhambra and the Sierra Nevada mountain range in the distance.

Here is the house where Sarah, Joanna, and I are staying. It is located outside of downtown Granada, in what María says is a much more quiet place, o "lugar tranquilo." She is right! This means we have about a half hour walk to class every day, which all of us are excited about (honestly...who gets to walk through the streets of a beautiful Spanish city EVERY DAY!)






Inside the front door...a sunroom of sorts




Inside the second set of doors...the entry way to the house

Once we exit the front gates of the villa, walk down a small street and turn the corner, there is a park and few apartment buildings...we continued down a street that led us to the centro de la cuidad.






After looking behind us at the gorgeous Sierra Nevada mountain range that can be seen at various locations throughout the city...








And crossing el puente - the bridge - that takes pedestrians to downtown Granada...



And making a few more small turns and treks through small alleyways, we finally arrived at our destination: El Centro de Lenguas Modernas, the school where we will be studying for the next two months. On Monday we take a placement exam to determine what level of Spanish courses we will be taking...I'm trying not to be too apprehensive. There is nothing to worry about; I will be placed where I should be and will have numerous opportunities to immerse myself in the culture and in conversation with los hablantes nativos.



Rafael está en la foto...¡pero está bien! ¡El Centro de Lenguas Modernas es una escuela muy pequeña (a very small school), como puedes ver (as you can see)!

During our first day in Granada, all of the Winona State students stayed in the same hostal and then spent that night and the next day together before meeting our host families. We ate at a restaurant that served appetizers and asked to sit outside. There was a beautiful view of the Alhambra, a palace and fortress of the Moorish rulers of southeastern Spain during the 14th century. I will be visiting this someday soon...even just the view from below is breathtaking, and I hear the Islamic and architectural modifications since its creation are incredible!



The Alhambra from our view below (the picture barely captures its beauty...hopefully I will be able to take some better shots soon!)

After meeting our host families and settling into our home, my roommates and I went on a walk to the famous department store called El Corte Ingles. En route is the beautiful Carrera de Virgen, a stone and marbel walkway leading to a bustling fountain square.





This type of stone design is unique to Granada's streets.have this we met up with the rest of the Winona group again and walked through the streets of Granada.








Purchasing some helado delicioso...look at how it is displayed inside the glass case!!
And eating it too!










Oh, and I cannot forget my wonderful roommates, Joanna y Sarah.











Tomorrow is a new day....!


El Señor es mi roca, mi amparo, mi libertador, es mi Dios, el peñasco en que me refugio. Es mi escudo, el poder que me salva, ¡mi más alto escondite!

The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold

Psalm 18

Testing

testing, testing