Extracurricular Activities

Posted May 8th, 2012 by Colin in Granada, Spain

We don’t just go to class, learn, eat, come home, study and take tests and ya está. Decidedly not. Most of the group is involved in some sort of extracurricular activity. In our group alone we have soccer players, volleyball players, basketball players, a cellist, horseback riders, a rower, and more that I don’t even know about. That is to say, we are an active group. Our program director, the lovely and vivacious Verónica, has worked very hard to make sure that we all have had opportunities to continue our hobbies at some level.
As far as the sports go, there are intramural tournaments in soccer, basketball and volleyball. In knockout format, we play against other programs of Americans abroad for the chance to lift a swell little trophy and to get a lot of exercise. Volleyball and basketball both reached the semifinal stages of their tournaments, and the soccer team won the championship, so all in all, Iowa (which is our name in these competitions) put up a good showing this year!
For the resident musician, she has found an orchestra with which to practice, and last week most of the program went to see her beautiful concert. It was incredible to see her with her cello, seated among Spaniards, taking directions from the conductor in Spanish and play flawlessly. She really is an impressive girl. But the point is, no matter your interest, you will most likely be able to continue practicing it in Spain.
Just another way to combat homesickness and most of all, make lasting connections and great friends!

The championship team

The entire program came to cheer us to victory!