So I realized that I haven’t been blogging. Like at all. So I am going to attempt to highlight the last few days, but I have done SO much that it might be impossible. I guess the last time I posted I didn’t have my luggage? Well I do now, thank God, so now I am all unpacked and settled into the cutest apartment in the world, this is my view:

And I am living with the CUTEST host mom in the world. NO EXAGGERATIONS I love her. When I got off the bus to meet her, I was obviously a little scared, but she rushed forward and gave me a huge hug and kisses and told me I was going to have a great semester and that I was a lucky beautiful girl, and my nervousness melted away. We went to her apartment and then she walked me to where my classes would be (even though she was walking me again tomorrow morning) so that I would start to get an idea of where I was going (is she not the cutest) and she told me that she loves all of the girls that she hosts and gives them all a little piece of her heart and that she couldn’t be my mom but she would be the next best thing while I was here (I think I almost cried). Then she told me that I was free to do whatever I wanted whenever I wanted because I was here to enjoy myself and she was here to make sure that I would!

The Alhambra!

Orientation classes started the next morning at 9. I got up at 8 for breakfast, which was milk with instant coffee stirred in, I think (actually really really really good) and toast with olive oil (also amazing but obviously). Orientation was until two. I feel like the time flew by, we only talked in Spanish and it just felt so normal. We also walked around the city for a few hours. I walk a lot here. I think probably four hours a day, not even exaggerating. Later that day, I went on another walk around a different part of the city, then we went out for tapas (yummy!). I actually am also in love with the food here. I don’t know if it’s because I am always hungry but even cheese and tuna and olives and good here (mom, don’t get too excited, I think ill still avoid cheese when I get home). Also, the views are FANTASTIC, pictures do not do them justice at all. it’s so frustrating to try to take pictures because everything looks so amazing its impossible to capture it all.

                                                                        Even though all I do is walk around Granada, I still get lost almost every time I try to go anywhere. It’s a good thing people here are so friendly or I would be in serious trouble. As I was going to meet friends for tapas last night I was kind of lost, so I asked an older man and his friend for help directing me to the plaza (plazas are everywhere with fountains and shops and tapas and bars) and he said goodbye to his friend and walked me to the plaza, while he told me about his niece who is studying in the United States. Then when I thought he couldn’t get any nicer, he told me my Spanish was good, and I almost just died right there.

This morning, we went hiking in alpujarra, which is between the Sierra Nevada’s and the Mediterranean Sea. I cannot even begin to describe how unreal it was to be hiking, and I feel like I have never done anything to awesomely amazing in my life. Just looking out over everything you feel so small and so grateful for everything, which is really a great feeling. The hike was about four hours, and I think I could have hiked for longer, that’s how pretty everything was (I’m not sure if my legs would have lasted though). At one point, we stopped to take a break, and through the mountains you could see Africa. How unreal.

 Well I guess I thought this was going to be shorter or more profound or something, but I feel like it is turning into a rant about how much I love my life, and it’s true. I feel like I am exactly where I am supposed to be and it feels so good. I know that every week won’t be as easy as this, like when I actually start classes (and I might do an internship!) but right now my life is pretty fantastic! Tomorrow, my first day “off”, although I don’t feel like I have had an actual day yet, we are going to a festival and then I hope that I can see the Raven’s game!