Spain Revisited (TOP 5)

My time in España is quickly drawing to a close. By the end of the week I will have moved on from here to explore the rest of the European Union. Although I am quite excited to be moving on to see so many places that the world was built on, I am quite sad to see my time in Alcalá end.

I have been in Spain now for almost four weeks and have had many experiences that were life changing, life sustaining, and life re-structuring. Learning the cultural norms is something that takes time and laughs (see the BALE incident as reported in late May). This leads to...

Top 5 Things that I admire about the Spanish, but am annoyed by:

5. Family life. Living at home until you are 30, really?!! I can understand (and revere) the fact that families are very important and meals and time together are taken seriously, but you need to get that J-O-B and get out. Maybe get a little place with the old lady and decorate, maybe some new furniture? Come on people...

4. Driving. This was a tough one for me. I really enjoyed driving on Spanish highways. The countryside was brilliant and the drivers were actually competent, GREAT drivers, but the city. It was like when Godzilla was destroying Beijing: complete chaos. What´s worse, the streets were built like 6000 years ago (ok, I know it wasn't that long) and they didn't have cars then. Problem is, no one updated them. Really.

3. Walking. It is great that the Spanish walk everywhere and everyone is fit. They are seriously impressive (picture your grandma that is 82, now remember her when she was 60, that is what the 82 year old grandmas look like in Spain, only in better shape and talks louder). BUT, me walking thirty minutes to school everyday, not a fan. I am missing my ride, the porsche of the 4-door sedans, the Honda Accord.

2. Public Transportation. Again, it is great for the way the cities in Spain are set-up, very dense population in a little area, but me and the Accord are experiencing seperation anxiety. I need to be able to have the freedom of driving (walking in Spain) and the speed of driving (public transportation in Spain), all while jamming to my tunes or picking up 'Cane's chicken. Oh, I shouldn't have thought of that. I need some 'Cane's ASAP.

1. La Siesta. I love the concept of the siesta. "Hey, let's all go home and take a 3 hour nap and eat and hang out with amigos!" The problem with said naptime, EVERYTHING shuts down. It is a very large annoyance to want to get something and the place be closed until 5 or 6. Oh the siesta, great idea, but only in Spain.

So, being in Spain has taught me mucho when it comes to appreciating things at home.

Viva España, but I'M PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN!!!