Please leave comments, as I'm curious to know if you all thing that these things are a bit strange..
Here are some things that just recently I have seen:
People in Spain have an obsession with listening to music, 23.5 hours per day. Anywhere and everywhere. Sometimes it's on an ipod or other MP3 player, with headphones, not bothering anyone else. But a lot of times, they will play it quite loud from their cell phone. On the bus. train. in the street. at a cafe. in a store. I am a huge fan of music. I listen to it often, while I'm studying, sometimes on the bus on the way to school, when I'm traveling. But I mean, come on. It's really quite odd. Most of these public places have music, especially on the bus or in a cafe. Why do people feel the need to blast their music on top of that. I guess I wouldn't complain as much if I liked the music. But often, it's what you'd hear in a dance club. I'm a fan of mellow, alternative, acoustic, guitar, piano type stuff, so for me, that kind of techno pop rap music just shouldn't be played when the sun is out. Or at least, please use some headphones. Please. I have some extra ones from my Continental flight...
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A young girl with her grandfather, walking on the sidewalk of a relatively busy street. I guess this young girl (maybe 5 years old) really really had to go to the bathroom, because, next thing I see--her grandpa helps her with her pants so she can go to the bathroom on the curb. I was quite shocked. Maybe that's normal, I don't know. But I don't remember ever doing that as a child...
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I guess in Spain, things are a lot more "go with the flow" if there's a problem. While back in the states, I am accustomed to extreme organization, in school or work or whatever, it looks as if I'll have to make some personal adjustments.
We started our classes with the Spaniards this week. Since we received the list of possible classes, I had a tentative schedule (actually, about 6) with all the necessary info: class name, time, and room number. Now, just imagine this. If you were a teacher, and your classroom had changed locations, or your class time had changed, from what was posted all around the school and on the school's website, the logical thing to do would be to let students know, by maybe posting something on the door or something, right? Wrong. Not in Spain. I guess we're just supposed to somehow know these things. And it's odd, both of the classes that I've had this week with the Spaniards have changed locations without notification. After asking around and going to the secretary, not of much assistance, we finally stumble across a classroom that may be ours. So, not only do we already stick out, being Americans, but now, we enter class 15 minutes late. Now who looks unprofessional?? The weird thing is that all the Spaniards somehow knew the right classroom. They must have a sixth sense...
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It is strange to me that not many people in Spain use (have?) credit cards. As we all know, in the states, it is perfectly acceptable--and simple!--to use a credit/debit card for any purchase, a dollar, or a thousand dollars. not here, nuh uh, no way. While many places accept credit cards, not too many people use them! I made a purchase of about 13 euros (which, by the way, with the exchange rate right now, 1 euro to 1.42 dollars, that's over 18 dollars...ughhhh), and it seemed like it was quite an inconvenience to the girl who worked there. sorrryyyyy....
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Everyone knows I'm American. Always, always, always. And they judge Americans. I do not like that. But it's something that I have to deal with. It's hard at times, because I wish that they would respect the fact that I am here because, for the most part, I love the culture, the country, the people and the language. A lot of the time they start to talk to me in English, but not just to converse, but more or less to mock my nationality. I think, anyway. Oh well...I'm dealing. My host sister's boyfriend told me last time I was here that sometimes I look Spanish, until I open my mouth and talk! Ha, nice compliment.
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