Chapter Two: Up and Running

Greetings from Granada, beloved readers!

I've now been out here for five days, and the enormity of what myself and my fellow Erasmus students are undertaking is just starting to dawn on me. I've written previously about the importance of pushing yourself outside of your comfort zone if you want to grow, and I can definitely say that's the case here.

The previous week has been intense. I moved into my new flat on the anniversary of the first episode of Friends (22 September, in case you were wondering), so I'm hoping that's some kind of good omen! After only five days Granada is beginning to feel more and more like home, and already myself and my fellow LA's feel like we understand what the city has to offer on all fronts, whether that's linguistic, social, cultural, or whatever you can think of really! The process of getting your feet under the table can be tricky, but its something to be endured, as once you're on the other side and into your routine everything will fly past. You'll be looking back on the most incredible year in no time at all.

Not a bad place to run.

That being said, the opening few weeks are still bound to be stressful for everybody, and Spanish bureaucracy has done its best to throw us all a huge curveball- namely the infamous NIE appointment and seeming reluctance of any Spanish bank to accept a travelling English student's request to open an account so far. If it's any consolation, everybody will be in the same boat. This is where perseverance, adaptability and confidence will be so important: all three of which are skills I've marked to improve this year. So you could say that this is simply another objective to be ticked off the list- things like this, although part of a country's legal system, can be treated as a means to a more personal end, namely improving your ability to deal with a challenging, unfamiliar situation in a foreign country, on your own. And when you've done it? Massive kudos to you!

Though initially discouraged I have still managed to accomplish plenty this week: I've been fortunate to have moved in with two delightful Spanish students (both Ana, conveniently), and already I feel my linguistic skills improving. My fellow members of Team Granada are fantastic people all, despite my success in getting us all lost during our initial meet-ups- including in El Corte Ingles. And the city itself is as you'd expect- overflowing with rich cultural heritage, full of lively and generous people, great food and drink, (very important!) and the most incredible city centre you are ever likely to see: consisting of, among other things, the Federico Garcia Lorca park, the Rio Genil and the Plaza de la Trinidad near the city's amazing Cathedral. I could go on forever.

Despite all this, of course there will be certain aspects of home that everyone misses, especially in the opening few weeks: namely the comfort of a regular routine, people you know and activities and other quirky things you enjoy. For me, the first one of these moments came this morning when, upon glancing at the time, I realized that I would normally be down at my local Parkrun. But everyone knows how to get around this: use whatever you can to your advantage- for example, running around, through and across the city this week with the aid of the ever-reliable google maps (don't listen to what my fellow LA's out here say!) has done wonders for my infamously unreliable sense of geography. Of course, surrounding yourself with positive people who share your outlook and experience also helps to no end. But some things simply cannot be replaced, however hard you try: which is why I'm overjoyed that I've been able to track down my favourite muesli from home- Hipercor, you are wonderful, please keep stocking it! My mornings would not be the same otherwise!

I'm also incredibly relieved to have had some time out here without having to work. It sounds obvious but it's so important to make sure you're fully settled before beginning a job which requires meticulous planning and no little patience and flexibility. Moreover, you don't want to arrive at school for your first day at school completely unprepared and worried sick over the fact that you haven't had time to book your NIE appointment, or at the other end of the spectrum, uncertain about your flatmates or city, having had no time to settle in and prepare. It's imperative that you give yourself the best possible platform to both do what you're here for, whether that be studying or work, but also to make the entire experience worthwhile and memorable for you: it will require some effort, conviction and adaptability (that word again) but at the end of the day you will be setting yourself up for the best year of your university career.

However, I do understand why many of us are getting cold feet from waiting to get started: it's so important to have a routine that allows you to make time for both your job and the things you enjoy. I still have plenty of things to do: namely revolving around visiting my school before starting work on Thursday, finally resolving the NIE issue and opening a bank account, and sorting gym membership, to say nothing of social events and meeting friends. Once this is all ticked off, I'll finally feel like a fully-fledged Granadino, and it will be a great relief! Moreover, once you know what you're doing, where and when, you'll be able to throw yourself into your placement of choice without any needless worries or distractions- after all, familiarity breeds content.

It has been a long, but very worthwhile week. I still think back to the times when, upon leaving Menorca at the end of each summer, I'd wonder what it would be like to spend a whole year in Spain. Now that dream is a reality, and it will be a long time before the novelty wears of- in fact I'm not sure it will! This would have been the perfect week, but for the utter capitulation of a certain Catalan football team away at Celta Vigo on Wednesday night, but life, and more importantly, the Year Abroad, continues at a frenetic pace for your favourite blogger. Let's see what Thursday and onwards holds. Until then, if anyone needs me, you'll likely find me nursing an Americano in one of the Gran Via's fantastic espresso bars. Hasta pronto!


No matter what kind of wisdom dictates to you the option you should pick, no one will be able to tell you if it's right or wrong until you arrive at some sort of outcome by making a choice. We can only believe that we won't regret the choices we make.

Chapter One: Buckets and Lists

It's been a hectic couple of weeks since my last post. A potent mix of days (and nights) out with my brother and sister, racing and seeing friends for possibly the last time before heading off, to say nothing of contacting flatmates (iPhone predictive text is a real pain when trying to text in Spanish) via WhatsApp and poring over maps of Granada to pinpoint my exact location in the city centre has certainly kept me busy.

As I fly out in 8 days time, opportunities to sit, reflect and set targets for the coming year (and to write this second post) have been few and far between. That said, saying what I've got to get excited about this year won't take much! So without further ado, read on for a list of what I'm hoping to get out of this year- that may or may not have much to do with Spain!

1. Big City Life

When I first heard I'd be stationed in Motril, a small, resort-like town on the southern coast, I'd describe my reaction as mixed. I was 45 minutes away from Granada city centre by bus in what is described as a family-oriented, non-student village, whilst every other language assistant was based in the city centre. So in the knowledge that my commute would be sizeable but with the added social payoff, I decided to look for accommodation in Granada, close to the bus station on the Calle Minerva. I'd recommend any student do the same, unless it's clearly impractical- Language Assistants work only 12 hours a week spread over three days, so you'll have plenty of spare time in which to get out there and polish up your linguistic skills, along with having time to pursue your own interests and friendships. Yes, it means compromising at times- in my case a 50 minute commute- but it's certainly worth being flexible! And I've said nothing so far about what there is to see and do in Granada- like the Alhambra, Sierra Nevada and El Albayzin, not forgetting the highly recommended Erasmus nights!

2. La Liga Loca...

Spanish football is simply the best. It's beautiful, bonkers and Barҫa play it (top already, get in!!!)! But learning that Granada CF also play in Spain's La Primera caused great excitement, and no little intrigue. The club are owned by the Pozzo family, who also run Italy's Udinese and Watford, the English Premier League's new boys. Interestingly, and inevitably I suppose, there are some shady rumours that all three Pozzo clubs rotate players amongst themselves through tactical use of the loan system- not illegal, but not clearly not ethical sporting behaviour! El Grana narrowly avoided dropping to the Segunda Division last year, finishing 17th- one place above the relegation zone. Dream matches would be any of the following: the Andalusian derbies against Sevilla (January 3rd, 2016) and Malaga (10th April, 2016), welcoming Real Madrid to town (7th February- late birthday present?) or a potential title-decider against Barcelona on the final day of the season- 15th May 2016. Save that date folks!

3. The Need for Speed

Cue eye-rolling and groans all round, but here I go: the running scene in Spain is nothing short of spectacular. It's no wonder the sport is growing in popularity in a country rich with fabulous places to train: from parks filled with all kinds of local botany and scenic off-road trails, to quiet neighbourhoods and beaches, there are endless places, and therefore no excuses! Joining a running group would bring all of the usual benefits -motivation, training sessions, friends- along with ample Spanish-speaking practice: another advantage of an open mind is seeing opportunity all around! This summer I've chipped away at my 5K personal best, getting it down to 18:29 without access to a running track. So imagine my euphoria upon discovering not one, not two, but THREE of these within easy reach: two in Granada city centre, the other in Motril. This means that thankfully, despite my aforementioned travel requirements, I'll be able to fit training around teaching and social commitments- it's all about balance after all! It's also, shamelessly, a chance to top up the tan- as one of my former club-mates said: 'All that warm weather training and you'll come back like Mo Farah!' I'll also hopefully be a bit more fluent linguistically- what's the Spanish for 'lactate threshold'?!

4. A Familiar Feeling

Nearly three years ago, I was fortunate enough to travel to Australia for what I can only describe as a life-changing three months. I say that because of what it did and continues to do for me, namely shaping my independence and installing a strong work-ethic. You could say the typical Aussie spirit rubbed off on me a little: they don't accept being messed about- if you're there then you have a job to do, always to the maximum of your ability. It's not difficult to see how this has helped me during the first half of my university career. However, the best thing about the experience for me was the feeling of working in a familiar environment (in this case a school) but in a different role. It reshapes your outlook and gives you a new perspective- I could certainly see a lot of my old self in the boys staying in my allocated boarding house. Going back to school for the third time in my life, this time as a member of the teaching staff, is yet another chapter to be excited about.

The bond that one builds as a member of staff, particularly one to whom pupils can feel free to build a relationship (be that gap student or language assistant) is extremely gratifying, and I'll never get tired of that feeling. At the risk of sounding extremely big-headed, knowing that people look up to you and see you as a role model is, in my opinion, the greatest compliment that can be given to anyone. It's what I continually strive for and I'd advise all of my fellow Language Assistants this year to set their sights in a similar way. If I can do that then I'll have no choice but to call the coming year a resounding success. Until next time, ¡hasta luego!



'Be brave. Take risks. Nothing can substitute experience.' Paulo Coelho