Notice the European date form 😉

I am in disbelief that the last post I made was almost an entire month ago. I hope you enjoy this edition of “Josh’s last month recap.”

So much has happened over the past month. Let’s start where we last left off.  

The week after I visited my host father’s family in Bailen, I had a full week of classes and activities. My typical weekday consists of waking up, briefly chatting with my host parents before they head off for work, eat a light breakfast (cereal or bocadillo which a small sandwich with jamon or a similar meat), walking or taking the bus to school, attending classes until 2:30 PM, returning home to have lunch with my host family, sometimes take a siesta (midday nap), go for a run, shower, homework or help prepare dinner, eat dinner, prepare for the next day, go to bed.

This is a typical lunch – Lentejas (Lentills)

I have really been enjoying my time living with my host family. They are so generous, kind, and patient with me as I learn their language. While some students from my group have decided to move into their own apartments (some didn’t have any other options), others have decided to continue living with their host families. I am one of these people. I am so excited for the coming months with my host family. Right now, I do not know exactly how much longer I will stay with them; however, it will likely be another 1-2 months. 

On October 2^nd, I attended a welcoming ceremony for all of the international students studying at the University of Jaen. This was a really neat experience because I was able see almost all of the international students in one place. We heard from the president of the university as well other important figures from the international relations at the university. 

After this event I went out to get some tapas with my friend Alexis! 

The weekend of October 4^th– 6^th I went on an excursion with my group from California as a part of our included trips in this program. We visited the UNESCO world heritage sites of Ubeda and Baeza – both absolutely stunning towns in the province of Jaen with so much rich history. I would like to write a separate post about this entire trip because we visited many locations and there is so much to say about every place we went to. During this trip we also visited the remarkable town of Cazorla. This town was absolutely stunning and reminded me a lot of Yosemite.

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This trip was only a two-day, one night trip but I wish it was longer because it is probably one of my favorite places I have been in Spain so far. 

When I returned home to Jaen, I had Sunday free to spend with my host family. We decided to head back to Bailen to watch a reenactment of the Batalla de Bailen which was a war between the French and Spanish in 1808. This battle was the first ever open field defeat of the Napoleonic army – the sounds of the gunshots and canons going off gave me just a small idea of what this war could have been like. After the reenactment I went to have lunch with my extended host family. We also went over to Banos de la Encima which is a neighboring town to Bailen and has an incredibly well-preserved castle.

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Another event worth mentioning is an interview I had with the director of English language at the Center of Modern Languages at my university. This interview was for a potential position as a English language assistant teacher. I applied for this position along with other pool of applicants. I will let you know how it goes.

More tapas

Last weekend from October 11^th– 12^th I was fortunate enough to visit Granada with 3 of my friends from my program in CA. This trip was really fun because I was able to get to know my friends better, explore the beauty that is Granada, and enjoy the discoteca. It is helpful to have friends who are also good cooks. I feel like we walked so much this weekend but left with so much still left to see. We almost missed our bus home but it was still a great weekend. 

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When I got back to Jaen on Saturday night, I told my host parents that I would be sleeping in because I was exhausted from the trip and being out until 5:30 AM dancing at the discoteca! I ate dinner and played some games with my host family before I turned in for sleep. 

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On Sunday, I slept in, had an amazing breakfast prepared by my host dad, and mended some holes in my socks. We also went to the Feria de San Lucas which is possibly one of the most prominent events in the entire year for Jaen. 

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On Wednesday, October 16^th, I headed back to Granada to meet my host father’s brother and his wife. The brother lives in a very tranquil area in Granada – it is very nice because you can easily walk to the center of the city and enjoy the life if you desire. However, there is also a great number of cafeterias, restaurants, and shops nearby. Granada is such a special city because you can experience all that the city has to offer in a short amount of time. For example, you can explore the locations at the foot of the Alhambra which is full of people or you can explore the narrow streets which often provide a path to a spectacular view of the city. I love the fact that Granada is less than an hour away from Jaén.

Next update will cover my recent trip to Portugal, Ronda, and Vilches where I will be competing in a cross country meet!

Thanks for reading.

It is difficult to believe that I have been living in Spain for over two weeks already. When I first arrived, things felt like they were going by very slow. However, once I moved in with my host family and started my classes at UJA (University of Jaen) time has started to go by very quickly.

So much has happened over the past two weeks I am not sure where to start. I have met countless extended family members of my host family: brothers, sisters, fathers, mothers, cousins, aunts, uncles, grandfathers, grandmothers, and even a great grandmother! Every single extended family member from my host family have treated me like another member of their family. It has truly been an honor to meet these people and while I cannot communicate 100% effectively with them, we connect and bond over laughs, food, and drink. When there is a topic being discussed at the table that I am not able to pick up on, my host parents help translate the conversation so I can understand.

On the 20th of September, I joined Fermin (my host father) along with my host brother and sister on a trip to the Mediterranean coast. Specifically, we went to Roquetas De Mar which is just 20 minutes away from Almeria (a popular weekend destination for many Spaniards).

Roquetas de Mar, just 20 minutes south of Almeria, is about a 2.5 hour drive from Jaen. I saw a ton of beautiful scenery on my drive there. One of the most interesting facts I learned is that on the outskirts of Almeria is a famous desert. Why is this desert famous? It just so happens that Tabernas Desert is the largest desert in Europe. This desert has been used in many films such as Indiana Jones and other “Wild West” films.

Because this area of Spain is so dry, it is very common to see Invernaderos which are typical “Greenhouses” for growing vegetables. Because these greenhouses are so prevalent in this area, it turns out that the Almeria province provides more than half of ALL Europe’s demands for fruit and vegetables. The photo below is not mine but it puts into perspective just how many of these greenhouses there are!

During this trip I was treated to many incredible meals at the home of my host family and many tapas out on the town. I attended a birthday party and was immediately hugged, greeted, and smiled at by numerous people who I had never met. I was handed a beer and loads of food followed by many friendly people excited to see me and meet me – I think this really is the essence of Spanish culture.

After my trip to Roquetas, it was time to get back to Jaen and prepare for my first week of school. My first day of school at the University of Jaen was September 23rd, 2019. For the first term at the university, my entire class schedule is all in the same building and I am joined with other international students from all over the world. I have met students from Italy, France, Germany, Korea, China, Hong Kong, and many more. It is truly incredible to meet and talk with these people and learn about their culture compared to Spanish culture.

I have 5 classes in total – General Spanish, Oral, Writing, Grammar, and Intercultural Communication. I am really looking forward to these courses and hopefully advancing quickly before the end of October so I can gain more credits to transfer back home.

Most recently, I took a trip to Ubeda and Bailen this past weekend (September 28th and 29th). This was my favorite trip I have taken in Spain thus far. I got to meet both sides of my host parent’s families. An amazing meal was awaiting us when arrived in Ubeda (a 30 minute drive from Jaen). The meal consisted of Spanish Tortillas, Lobster, Huevos Rellenos, Croquettes, Gazpacho, and so much more. Ubeda was the town of my host mother when she grew up. The town is much smaller than Jaen and is filled with spectacular buildings and history. The town is now considered a historic Renaissance site by UNESCO because of it’s rich history. Ubeda is one of the oldest cities in Spain. Fun fact – my host mother was born in Santiago Hospital which is now a monument in the city.

After 2 days in Ubeda, we left for Bailen which is only 20 minutes away. I did not actually visit the town of Bailen itself as the intention was to visit the country home of my host father. The home is absolutely beautiful. Every single thing in the home has a special place and meaning to the family. I realized this home has much history as my host father discussed his childhood here. He remembers leaving home to go for a run with his parents worried about how long he would be gone because he always wanted to adventure in the country. There is a great trail right next to the home so my host father and I went out for a 6 mile run.

I am so excited for this week of classes and a trip with my cohort back to Ubeda this upcoming weekend with an additional visit to Baetha (another neighboring town.) I will do my best to post at least once a week from here on out!

Thanks for reading! ~Josh

9.14.19 @ 10:22:33 PM

I arrived in Jaén, Spain on Thursday night (9.12). The trip was quite long and exhausting. The entire trip consisted of 10 hours in the plane and 4 hours in bus. We have had full lodging at the local hotel (Hotel Infanta Cristina) where we have also been eating our meals.

Today (9.14, Saturday) I slept in and walked around the town with my cohort. We visited Bulevar Park which is a lovely place with beautiful greenery and water fountains. We also stopped for some delicious cafe con leche en El Corte Ingles which is the main shopping center in Jaen.

I do not think I have yet experienced the culture shock yet because I am surrounded by American friends. Tomorrow, I move in with my host family who speak Spanish and some English. I am feeling a little anxious about this experience, however, I know that once I get over my fear of speaking the language I will feel much more comfortable.

As I sit in the hotel and write this post, I consider the next ~240 days that I will be living in this city. Over this time I want to learn the language, however, I also want to form strong relationships with my host family and locals.

I look forward to continue writing about my experiences. Once I feel I have enough time and knowledge to write in Spanish I may write my posts in both languages.

8.21.19 12:51:30 PM PST

In exactly three weeks (on 9/11) I will be leaving for a study abroad program to Jaén, Spain. I will attend the Universidad de Jaén where I will study Spanish language and culture. I will be living with a host family for the first 30 days.

I hope this blog will give helpful insight to those who are considering a study abroad experience. I also plan to include as much detail as possible in each post so I won’t forget anything! My plan is to post on here as often while refraining from social media as possible.