by Daniel William Bloodgood
Well time to sit down again and write another blog post. It’s been a really busy week since most of the study abroad programs are ending this week and it’s a sprint to the finish to try to test as many people as we can before they leave. We have identified some people in other programs some who have been here for a whole academic year and some who are just arriving for the summer. I’m excited to keep testing, but I’m looking forward to being able to relax our pace a bit and analyze the data we’ve collected thus far.
On a more cultural level I’ve felt like I’ve really learned a lot more about the city of Granada. This past weekend was the Festival of Virgins which had apparently been in preparation that been in planning for several years now. It was an elaborate show with ornately decorated floats carried robed children and priests. As we were walking down Calle Recogidas luck would have it that we would run into one Eleonora Rossi! It was a very pleasant surprise as we knew she would be in town, but not exactly when she was getting here. After meeting up with her we decided to go an Arabic restaurant on Calle Elvira which was truly a unique experience. They had menus in English, French and Spanish (for the linguistically inclined) and I tried my first ever Lamb Tajine.
Personally, I feel like I’ve been slowly adapting to life in Granada. Coming from a fast-paced East coast lifestyle, I knew it would be an adjustment coming to Southern Spain. I think I’m coming to terms with the pace though, I just wish people would learn to walk a little faster on the sidewalks! Then again which surrounded by so much man-made and natural beauty, it’s hard not stop and look around to take it all in. I think I definitely have a lot to learn from the Spanish and their relaxed lifestyle and that sometimes it’s best not to take life so seriously.
In my free time I’ve taken to going on long runs and exploring the far edges of the city. One of my favorite things to do is just to find the tallest hill I can see and just run up it and relax for awhile. Like magic, every time I go up there I feel like I can really clear my head and let all the little things from the day go. These are truly some of the best runs I’ve been on in a while and I will definitely miss Granada’s scenic vistas. (Pictures to come I promise!)