Este es un año en España por mis ojos...: Tengo un piso en Granada, España!

I can't believe it, but I actually have a piso (apartment) in Spain! I'm actually going to live here for a whole school year. I actually have classes (in spanish) starting MONDAY! Ahhhh... talk about a lot to take in at once. No one tells you how stressful the beginning of the year is when you study abroad. They only talk about the good times and seem to forget all the craziness that happens at the beginning (and probably throughout the year). So, I'm excited to get past the worrying and just begin classes and get settled in a routine. :)
The classes I am signed up to take the first semester include: Clinical psychophysiology (a fifth year psych course that was recommended to me by Jorge, a fellow shrink-wanna-be... I told him he better help me study), History of Andalusia in the the modern age, History of Spain during the Franco regime, Spanish Linguistics in the Golden age (basically a class of how the spanish language has evolved and changed from Latin and over time), a Spanish theater literature class, annndd... wait for it.... Intermediate German. :D Is anyone surprised?!? I couldn't pass it up! I figure, I'll be in Germany for Christmas, so I better brush up on my German. When I emailed the academic advisors at UCSB they told me I can't take beginning German because I've already completed the equivalent on campus at UCSB... thus, Intermediate German it is! I'm so nervous, but totally thrilled at the same time. I have signed up for 6 classes, but will most likely only take 4 or 5- I can choose to drop one or two if I wish. I can't believe school starts on monday!

But back to my piso...
(Friday, September 23, 2011)
I finally moved into my beautiful apartment. (I'm definitely not putting my address online, so if anyone so desires, they can contact me or my Mama and get mi dirección (address).) :) The day started out tough. Moving days always tend to make me homesick apparently. I was feeling very overwhelmed with choosing a final list of classes that interested me and also fit (somewhat) nicely into a schedule (beyond frustrating, you have no idea), the whole idea of moving all my stuff (okay I don't really have that much, but still) to an apartment on my own, and missing home and mi familia. After packing all my things, I finally decided I needed to get out and do something. So I knocked on Lauren's door and we decided to go to a Liberería (book store) nearby. I originally wanted to go so that I could buy a German dictionary and a history book on La Alhambra, but once I arrived, I was bombarded with choices! (And we all know how indecisive I can be...) There are so many great German books available that I didn't know which one to buy and decided I should wait until I get my list of the books required for the class. I also ran into the (minor, kinda not really but sorta) problem that all the German dictionaries here are German-Spanish, not German-English. I think I will order one online and also buy a german-spanish one... seeing as the class is going to be taught from the Spanish perspective. I'm so excited! Also, I couldn't decide if I should buy the history of La Alhambra book in Spanish or English... ugh, decisions, decisions! :) Bookstores are always time-warps for me. Before I knew it, we had spent an hour looking at books and it was time to head back to the Colegio Mayor for our Last Meal. haha

A Recurring Theme of Religion and Spirituality:
(Recurring because my trip began sitting next to a very catholic young man who actually used to be atheist and was headed to some World Youth convention in Madrid that the Pope was attending... and since I have had many conversations about religious belief. Is this a sign?)
At lunch I sat with Lauren and guy from Berkeley named, Ari. We ended up having a fascinating conversation about religious views and spirituality. Turns out Ari is very interested in Buddhism, like me. Though he has definitely explored it much more than I have. I hope I can learn a lot from him.

After lunch I went up to my room, grabbed all my things and called a Taxi to take me to my new home. I arrived and met with MariCarmen, la dueña (landlady), who gave me my keys (tengo llaves!!) and showed me around the apartment a bit. Unfortunately I can't move into my Purple room right away because there is a chico (guy) named Oscar who is still living in it until this Wednesday. But none of my other roommates have moved in yet, so I am currently sleeping in the Blue room. After MariCarmen left, I immediately went around the piso taking pictures of everything so I can show you just how awesome this apartment is. I feel so at home in it because it is so colorful- just like mi casa in the Bay. I also went up to the terrace on the roof that is shared with all the people in the building. Guess what?! I have a view of La Alhambra from the terrace! How crazy is that! :) Then I went back to my empty piso (Oscar was at work) and started to feel a bit homesick again. Of course. So I kept myself busy by writing in my journal and watching spanish television.
Oscar finally came home from work and we chatted for probably an hour or more. He is such a nice guy and so very helpful- willing to help me with figuring out internet for after he moves out, understand how to work the laundry machine, and how to use the oven (extremely important- turns out I have to light the gas myself! Ah! And there is no temperature gage... I'm getting the feeling that cooking and- geez, even the thought of baking- are going to be difficult). He also invited me to go out with his friends this weekend to meet new people and finally experience night life in Granada.

Later I went to the store to buy sheets for my new bed and foooood!! I was so excited to buy yogurt, granola, bananas, peaches, apples, salad, raspberry jam, juice and wheat bread... its a little ridiculous really. I also decided to treat myself by buying a Family Pack (!) of Kinder eggs! (there's only 6...) But was disappointed when I ate my first one and realized they are not the same as the ones in Germany... unless they have changed there as well, in which case I will be extremely upset. (For anyone who knows) They are not chocolate eggs with a yellow plastic tube and toy inside anymore. These ones are a plastic egg shell that you split open and one half has the toy while the other half has the chocolate... It still tastes good (of course) but it's weird. haha (sorry for the long Kinder rant!) In the store, I was standing in line and thought, hmmm... there is one more thing I need to get on my first shopping experience in Spain. So I got out of line and grabbed a 6-pack of beer for myself. Haha! I'm 20 and legally bought my first 6 pack in Spain yesterday. That was kinda fun. :) When I got home I couldn't wait to eat a banana, lemon yogurt and granola! It was sooooooo good! (Now if I could only get my mouth on some authentic mexican food, I'd be set. However, I think it's going to be a loooonnngg time before that happens. La Penca Azul, I can't wait to eat your chicken chimichanga with guacamole and sour cream in one year!!)
After shopping, I entered my building after an older lady. I smiled and said hello and took the stairs while she took the elevator (there are 7 floors in our piso). As I walked up the stairs I thought, wouldn't it be funny if she was my neighbor, but what are the chances? Turns out, she is my neighbor! Unfortunately I don't remember her name, but it starts with an A. And she is so sweet! She asked me a few questions and then told me that if I ever need anything to just ask her. How sweet. Perhaps I can suggest coffee or something with her once a week and we can chat. In an ideal situation- I could learn to cook from this lady! Hmmm... we'll see as time goes on. :)

I ended the night by going to the "Farewell Cocktail" with the americans, the monitores and some of the professors from our program. It was fun. We had drinks and tapas. I ended up chatting with Ari again and having another great conversation. Also chatted with Jorge, my monitor, and took pictures. Then I walked home (everyone was headed to a bar or club near my apartment, so I walked most of the way with a big group). When I got back to my piso, Oscar was already back (very early to end a night in Spain- it was only 12am!) Oscar and I talked (in spanish!) for about an hour before he fell asleep on the couch and I decided to get ready for bed and write in my journal. I ended my great move-in day by skyping with my beautiful family- Mama, Dad, Bug, Chica, and Nonna- for an hour at 2:30am my time (conveniently before they left for Fernando's birthday dinner at La Penca Azul. Such a tease!)

(Saturday, September 24, 2011)
Saturday I was extremely lazy- though I managed to do two loads of laundry and clean a sink (it was disgustingly filthy! I should have taken a picture... actually no I shouldn't have) so that I can finally wash some clothes by hand.

(Sunday, September 25, 2011)
Last night I went out with Oscar and two of his friends and had my first crazy nightlife experience in Granada... wow. Spaniards and Europeans are crazy! I think we left the apartment at about midnight and returned at 5:30am-ish. Before bed I skyped with my bestest friend, Teresa, for two hours (while I sobered up. haha). It was so good to see her face and catch up with her finally. I miss that girl! <3 ...Only slept for 3 hours and then found Auntie Gina was awake in the middle of the night in AK and we skyped for about 2 hours as well. She is so wise and always knows what to say to make me feel better about things. (Thank god for skype! I know I've said it a ton of times already, but be prepared to hear it a LOT this year cuz it is my lifesaver for homesickness.)
And later I just washed clothes by hand (my arm workout for the month! I had so many dresses and such to clean).

Okay, I've rambled enough, I'm sure. Here are the long awaited pictures of my apartment. Thanks for reading! Enjoy! <3

The living room/ Dinning room (since there is no room to eat in the kitchen)

View from the balcony- I live on a corner! And I can see trees!! :) (What I consider to be a privilege living in a city.)

The orange room

The blue room (where I am currently staying- hence my mess of luggage) Also, that's the extra mattress- aka your bed if you stay with me. ;)

The bathroom- the shower is HUGE! (okay, not huge but its pretty big and its raised so I feel really tall when I'm showering.) :)

The half bath

The Kitchen- I love it!

The oven

The fridge and tiny table

Laundry!! (and cleaning supplies)

The red room

The Purple room- with all of Oscar's stuff. I'll take pics and show them again when its filled with things of my own. This is just so you can see for now.