I joined a gym, found my favorite running routes, greeted the woman by name who runs my go-to thrift store, and became a regular at local cafés and made friends with baristas. I found a rhythm here that gave me peace and confidence. Granada gave me the break I didn’t know I needed from the chaos of life back home, and it’s a place I know I’ll return to—again and again, at different stages of life.
Of course, none of this would’ve been possible without the incredible teachers at my language school. We spent four hours a day, five days a week together, and their passion for teaching was obvious. They helped break down tough grammar concepts and patiently guided us through our mistakes. Thanks to them, I'm not just more confident in Spanish, but truly can have more in depth conversations, and only the experience of total immersion could have offered that.
Granada wasn’t just a study abroad destination—it became home. And while I’m sad to leave, I feel full. Full of memories, lessons, friendships and gratitude.
I want to give a huge thank you to the Gilman Scholarship for helping make this dream a reality. Without that support, I wouldn’t have been able to experience this chapter of my life—and I’m so incredibly grateful for the opportunity.
Lastly, to the students I’ve been writing for at Reach the World—thank you for following along on this journey! Sharing my experiences with you made it even more meaningful, and I hope I was able to bring a little piece of Spain into your classroom.
