At the end of this week, I will have completed my first month of courses here in Granada. Its seems crazy that it has already been a month so far! Time here feels like it is flying by and yet taking forever at the same time, and even though I’m kinda homesick I know I will miss living here when it finally comes for me to go home. I never want it to end and yet I can’t wait to go back to the States either.
Speaking of the States, during my time here I have noticed many things about Spain’s current political situation that is very similar to what is going on back home in America. Over the past few months, there has been some conflict and strife over the election of a new political party. In Granada alone there has been numerous demonstrations and marches both for and against the recently elected party, not to mention the other demonstrations that have been occurring in Madrid and Barcelona as well. In fact, when a classmate and I took a trip to Barcelona over the past weekend it was easy to see just how uneasy the city was. There were posters, advertisements, and graffiti all over the city that displayed not only how divided the city was, but the majority of the country as well.
Seeing this kind of political disagreement and recognizing how similar the political problems in Spain are to the ones in the U.S. made me realize that political strife really is a world wide event. In every country there is some kind of division among citizens and the government in regards to how the country is proceeding and how it will continue to do so. Being able to see this from a point of view from a country other than my own gave me a sense of togetherness and unity with the citizens and people who live here in Spain, because we really are all living in the same world, facing the same problems, and wondering about how the future will turn out.
Before I came here, I thought that it would feel so different being in a foreign country with people who had different ways of life and cultural norms and political stances, but really it has made me realize just how similar we all really are. We’re all just people. All humans. All just trying to figure it out one day at a time. And don’t get me wrong, Spain is still a beautiful country that is filled with so much history and culture that its hard to take it all in at once, but it has its ups and downs none the less. However, even with the ups and downs, I wouldn’t change it for the world. Spain is a place that is like no other and has so much to offer to the world. Its ancient yet modern with its own individual flare that sets it apart from anywhere else I’ve ever been. I am so grateful for how much this country has taught me and allowed me to experience in this one month of being here, and I can’t wait to see what the second month has in store.
Until next time!
