There's no doubt when you’re walking around the streets of Granada,
you're in Spain. The Spanish language and architecture is everywhere!
It is weird, however, when I'm walking down the street and I see a
Dominos or Dunkin Doughnuts. I have yet to see a McDonald's, thank god,
but I wouldn't be surprised if there was one here. Some things are so
Americanized! Brands, magazines, sometimes could be walking in the
streets of a U.S.A city.
As much as I try to blend into the
culture and people, there are something’s I do, or try to avoid doing
that make me stand out…
Eating while walking. I woke up late
for class one day and didn’t have time for breakfast, so I grabbed an
apple and ate it while I was walking. No one does that. It’s not
viewed as rude and I wasn’t offending anyone, but no one drinks or eats
on the go. Just an interesting difference…
Something the
Spanish would find offensive is being barefoot in your house.
Definitely something I’m not used too…they always wear ¨´zapatillas¨ or
slippers in the house and I’ve had to make a conscious effort to
remember to wear my flip flops around the apartment.
Also
personal space is different here as well. When you meet someone for the
first time who is Spanish (girl or boy) you kiss each other on both
cheeks. This is something our study abroad group tried to prepare us
for and I was expecting, but it’s still a custom that surprises me each
time. Girls who are friends will hold hands or walk arm-in-arm with
each other down the streets and guys might walk with one arm draped
around their guy friends shoulder if they’re deep in conversation.
Couples also will walk down the street having no problem touching each
other and not caring whose watching.
Siestas and big lunches
do exist here. A typical days involves going to class (others work)
coming home and eating a large meal with the whole family and then
everyone takes a siesta afterwards. Its amazing! You might not sleep
for 2 hours like I do, but most everyone at least rests for 45 minutes.
Most spainards then go out for tapas (small meals served with alcoholic
beverages :D) or eat a small meal around 8 or 9. Naturally I have a
host family that eats almost as big of a dinner as they do lunch.
Therefore my siestas are cut in half so I can run at a ¨parque¨ near my
house…
No comments:
Post a Comment