A Second Home

When I decided to study abroad in Granada, Spain, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I was nervous and anxious but also really excited to discover my new home for the semester. When I first got off the plane in Spain, I immediately felt at ease. The AIFS staff were incredibly kind and helpful as I adjusted to my host country. My host family in Granada was amazing. They were very accommodating and kind and made me feel like a member of their family almost immediately. Some of my fondest memories of my time abroad are of me sitting on the couch with my host parents and host siblings watching Spanish game shows on TV. The University of Granada was also an amazing place to go to school with interesting classes and good professors that encouraged us to learn as much from being in the city of Granada as we did in the classroom. The AIFS Program introduced me to new places on weekend excursions and helped me make the most of my time in Granada by introducing me to workshop and volunteer opportunities. By the end of my trip, Granada had become my second home. I knew all of the best places to get tapas, could navigate the Albaicin (a maze-like part of the city) like a professional and had made some amazing friends. Overall, my study abroad experience has changed my life for the better and Granada will always be a place that I go back to.