February 10

2-10
Second day of classes. Everything went really well. I think they’re all going to be interesting. My film professor is a little hard to understand because he speaks more quietly, and he has huge powerpoint slides that I’m trying to read as he’s talking, which never works out well. But in general, it was good.
I have another tiny señora story. Nothing bad, just a little odd. For my Spanish class we’re talking about introductions, and I had to speak with a Spaniard and get some information about them to write about. I decided I’d ask Rosaura, since I seem to talk more with Manuel in general. I waited until after supper because I wasn’t sure if she would want me to ask about homework at the dinner table. I went into the kitchen and asked if I could ask her some questions for homework. She said oh, you should have done that when we were all at the table eating, and then she called Manuel in to answer my questions. Now, there’s nothing wrong with that per se, but I just thought it was weird that she couldn’t do it herself. It was just a few questions about them growing up and where they went to school and simple stuff like that. But she had me wait while Manuel finished brushing his teeth and came in from the other room to do it. I don’t know if she didn’t understand that it was that simple, or if she didn’t want to help me, or if that’s just Manuel’s job to help with homework, or what. But it was a little strange. Oh well, the homework’s done, and now I know that if I need any homework help I should go to Manuel. Lesson learned.
I would like to take this opportunity to make a few cultural observations and comment about differences between Spain and the US.
1. PDA is everywhere! People make out on the streets, metros, busses, parks, stores, restaurants; everywhere! It’s weird. That’s private, please go find a room.
2. A lot of people have dogs and walk them down the streets. (That’s not the difference!) Half of the dogs aren’t on leashes, and a couple of them don’t seem to have owners anywhere nearby. Also, they are allowed to poop anywhere they want and the owners don’t pick it up. So there’s dog crap on the sidewalks. Gross.
3. Notebooks aren’t lined; they’re grids. I had such a hard time picking out school supplies because I didn’t want to write on a grid! There are notebooks with really big lines, that are for kids learning to write. So now I have vertical lines going through my words. I’m not sure how this is going to work out. Notebooks are also really expensive. The cheapest one subject I could find was 1.80 euro! Also, I couldn’t find any folders. Anywhere. The closest I got is this little portfolio thing held together with an elastic band. I’m a little nervous about it because the papers aren’t held in place by pockets or anything; just that little elastic band. I hope nothing falls out! If I’d known school supplies would be so hard to come by I’d have brought my own!
4. This one isn’t really a difference between countries, but more between big cities and little ones like Ripon or Oconomowoc. People don’t wait for the walk light to turn green before crossing the street. If there’s not a car coming they just go. Or sometimes even if there is a car coming they run. It was very unnerving at first, but I’m getting more used to it now.
5. The siesta is very annoying! All the little shops (not the big department stores and things like that) and some museums and other touristy things are closed from 1:30 or 2 until 4 or 5. That’s some of the prime shopping/touristing time during the day! It would be nice if I worked in a shop to have a time off, but when I’m trying to give them money and they’re closed, it’s frustrating. It’s also a little eerie, because the streets are sparsely populated during that time and I sometimes feel vulnerable when I go out then.
6. According to Katie’s señora, professors are rarely on time to class. I’ve had mixed experiences with my two days of classes. But I think in general Spaniards tend to be late for things.
7. Everyone always talks about how Americans eat so much and have such huge portion sizes. These people have not been to Spain! Each meal has 3 courses: a vegetable, a meat, and dessert. Usually I have a plate of steamed spinach (I told her I liked it the first time we had it and now she’s made it every day except one for a week! Ahh!), fish or meatballs or beef, and cheese for dessert. Plus a side salad. The other day I had eaten the salad and spinach, and she was giving me fish filets. She put two on my plate and when I said I didn’t want a third, she asked why I wasn’t hungry that day. Because I didn’t want three fish filets! Maybe their portions are a little smaller (it depends on the day and the food for me), but instead of Americans going back for seconds, they just have more courses. It’s a lot of food!
8. Along the same lines, Spaniards don’t snack. At least, not in my house. If you want something to eat between meals, you cook it. They do have chips and stuff, but I think a lot of people don’t buy them. I think they’re more popular among the younger people.
9. There are no dryers. People hang everything out on a line. This gives the streets a very quaint feel. But I’m used to fabric softener. My clothes feel stiff and rough when I put them on. I like dryers. But on the other hand, the clothes don’t shrink up, so they fit bigger. Which makes me feel like I’ve lost more weight and I need to go shopping for new clothes.
10. After washing, people iron everything. Ironing in itself is different from most Americans. But they don’t just iron shirts or dress pants or things that are wrinkled. I’m talking about jeans, pajamas, even underwear!! It’s awkward enough having a stranger wash my underwear, but when she irons it too, that’s just beyond weird. She makes so much more work for herself than is necessary! Who’s going to know or care if your underwear is ironed, anyway? I think this trend is mostly with the older generation. I don’t know how much ironing the younger women do.
11. I feel like in general people on the street are more amiable than in the states. If you stop someone to ask directions they’ll do it willingly and kindly. If someone sits next to you on the metro they don’t sit on the very edge of their seat as far away from you as possible and stare in the other direction as if you don’t exist. It’s common to greet people on elevators, or your bus driver, or other people you encounter. It makes me wonder if I seem rude if I don’t acknowledge someone I pass on the street. There are some people that don’t fit this description, but for the most part, people seem nicer here.
I can’t think of any more right now. I’ll add to the list as they come to me.
Well, I’m going to go to bed. G’night all!
Bethany