Megan y Granada: Finally in Granada

After getting to the airport 3 hours early (thanks mom) flying 2 hours to Boston. Waiting 2 hours at Boston's airport. Flying 8 hours to Madrid plus a 5 1/2 hour bus ride- I was FINALLY in Granada. Seemed like 24 hours of traveling because I left Chicago around noon and got to Granada around 3:30 p.m.

I was so happy to get off the bus from Madrid. I was anxious to see what Granada looked like. Once we got to Granada's bus station, John and I decided to take two separate cabs because our homestays aren’t near each other. The cabi didn’t know where mine was at first (which really worried me) but he found it. He even let me pay a little less than the cab fare :) Once the cabi dropped me off he pointed to where it was. I kind of expected him to show me a more approximate locaiton but I was on my own and it was pouring rain. I buzzed up to my homestay and Julio walked out on to the balcony and yelled something at me. I was literally dragging my bag up the steps in the rain until Julio came down to get my bags. Maria greeted me with kisses. She showed me my room (which is better than I thought) and a tour of the house. The only bad side is they don’t have internet, which is going to be very difficult.

Mi piso for the next month

Entrance of the apartment complex

Pretty garden inside the apartment complex

Maria gave me a short walking tour of Granda to show me where to go tomorrow when I meet my program directors and the rest of the participants. It was pouring rain and my TOMS (only pair of gym shoes I brought) were soaked. She kept saying “referencia” and pointing to things to help me know specific locations where to go. The rain was annoying and put me in a homesick/sad mood for the day. We SHOULD have packed the umbrella Mom; for once Dad was right. I rested for a few hours after and unpacked. I gave my host parents their gifts which they really liked. Maria loves the movie Chicago so she was enthusiastic to look at the pictures. They asked me questions about Chicago like what foods are popular, what sporting teams, etc. Maria sells makeup from a catalog and Julio works at the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range but it’s closed now because it’s out of season. We had dinner at 9 o’clock. Dinner is typically 9:30-10:00 but we had it early; Maria told me “it could be a special night because I was tired.” I had some vegetables (not sure the Spanish term for them) bread, turkey with vegetables (carrots and celery in it) cheese, and soup. When I asked Maria what were the chunks of green and orange (sounds very appetizing I know) in the turkey she said a Spanish word I didn't know then she pretended like she was chewing on a carrot and said Bugs Bunny in her Spanish accent.