Starting to Feel like Home: Week 3 in Spain | Spanish Memories, African Hopes Through Literature and Film

 Today marks three weeks since I’ve been in the Eastern Hemisphere! I feel as if Granada is starting to become my home, and I’m confident that my classmates are largely responsible for that. Like I’ve said before, connecting with classmates during your study abroad program is so important, as they are grappling with similar challenges. I’m glad that even when I leave Spain, I’ll return with lifelong memories and great friendships. 

This week, we spent less time in Granada as we had a three-day weekend. However, we went on two tours that showed us the depths of Granada we had yet to explore. In doing so, we increased our daily step count. 

GRANADA CEMETERY

     On Tuesday, we met up with our favorite tour guide, Laura. Toward the beginning of the tour, she gave us a short speech letting us know that our tour would be a bit more somber as we were visiting a cemetery. At the beginning of the Granada cemetery tour, we saw a fence dedicated to the victims of the Civil War, particularly those who were kidnapped by Nationalists and killed. It was heartbreaking to read all of their names and see the ages they were when they were assassinated. Many of them were in their twenties. 

     Walking through the cemetery, I was flooded with a mix of emotions. I felt sorrow for the lives that were lost due to war and for the families who had to bury their loved ones. On many of the tombstones, phrases such as “No os olvidamos” (We will never forget you) are read. For me, it was a bit overwhelming to think about families burying their dead together, yet I found it encouraging to know that they could all lie to rest together. The cemetery we visited was a Christian one, so it was common to see religious statues of angels and saints.

     Unfortunately, even at the cemetery, there are still semblances of fascism and a Nationalist spirit that have continued since the Civil War. There is a section of the cemetery dedicated to fallen Nationalists, and we even saw a sign that had been defaced saying “Viva Franco.” 

     Visiting the cemetery reminded me of the importance of preserving the stories of our ancestors, especially those of marginalized individuals. That’s the least we can do for them: fight to honor their memories. 

ROMANI NEIGHBORHOOD- SACROMONTE

     The following day, Laura took us on a tour of the Sacromonte neighborhood. In Sacromonte, we visited the cuevas, or the caves, that the Roma people used to live in. Being in Sacromonte reminded me of the flamenco show we went to last week because the show was inside a cave as well. During our tour, we found a small cave with some chairs and a guitar, presumably meant to model where shows are performed.

MÁLAGA

     For the three-day weekend, many of my classmates left Granada for France, the UK, and some went to Barcelona. I ventured off to Málaga to meet my friend from Dublin! She has been a big support for me throughout high school and now college. Getting to visit her abroad was something we dreamed about for years, and now, it has finally happened! Traveling to Málaga, I enjoyed the view of the countryside on my two-hour train ride. Málaga has so much to offer in terms of food, museums, and beaches. During my short weekend in Málaga, I visited Playa Malagueta and the Museo Picasso Málaga. This weekend allowed me to practice more of my Spanish as I did most of the ordering at restaurants for my friend and me. What makes Málaga a vibrant and refreshing city to visit is the friendly and hospitable locals and the abundance of tourists from different parts of the world, often from other European countries! I found that, like Granada, it is a very walkable city, and it feels very safe.

I cannot believe that I return to the U.S. in two weeks! I have been having the best time in Spain, and I will continue to live in the moment, embracing every day left in this program!

¡Nos vemos pronto!

Analisa