Hola de Granada, Nicaragua!

I'm in Granada, Nicaragua for four weeks this summer in order to learn Spanish. I felt right at home from the moment I arrived in the country. My host family is a joyful, young family that has made me feel like a part of them from day one. We visited my host 's home village outside of town with their 3 kids and another American student staying in the house, went to the market, to the running of the bulls festival, and to see Shrek 4 in Spanish :)

I've already felt Spanish progressing from conversation over the weekend, and classes started today. Small, great, very personable. And tomorrow morning I'll start working with the kids in the program (most kids have school from 12-5, so this is a before-school program). Can't wait.

Granada is so beautiful. Puffy white clouds sit on a nearby volcano that I can see from the outdoor courtyard of my 2nd story room in the morning. Building fronts are painted in an array of bright colors and horse-drawn carts frequent the streets with cars and bikes. Last Sunday was the running of the bulls- crazy ;) I didn't run, but we did have one hop on my raised sidewalk, and the crowd went wild. Next Sunday in town is apparently another festival, the parade of horses.

I'm having such a good- and relaxing- time here, but feel also very productive y aprendo mucho espanol.