Differences

I went to "la misa" (mass) with mi madre last week. Since I've gone to more Catholic masses than I can even begin to calculate, it was pretty easy to follow even though I couldn't understand some specifics. I could identify prayers simply by inflections, which was pretty wild.

Afterward, we went down to La Explanada which is a beautiful walkway with thousands of hand-laid tiles. You can walk on it at any time, but on the weekends, there are several vendors in booths who sell jewelry, purses, belts, scarves, etc. There are also a few guys who don't have a booth who lay out knock-off purses (Louis Vuitton, Carolina Herrera, Dolce & Gabbana, etc) and sunglasses on large sheets, much like the vendors in NYC. Since this is in broad daylight, they have to be very careful because, as mi madre explained, the guys who don't have booths also don't have permits, and in addition are selling imitations. While we were walking, you could tell that there were cops a few paces behind us, because all the people with these knockoffs started cleaning up and walking away "inconspicuously" (with massive sheets full of bags over their shoulders). Then, after the cops pass, they put their stuff out again.

Stuff like that makes me feel right at home. Well, right in NYC, which is kind of close enough. However, I already have noticed some glaring differences between life on the East Coast, USA and life in Spain...

1) Staring. The CIEE staff warned us of this early on, and they weren't kidding. Everybody here stares. It's not always a mean stare (except when we roll up into el barrio 40 deep), it's just a stare of "Who the F are you and what the F are you doing here" or, in many cases, "How YOU doin'." I'm sure it's not technically socially acceptable, but it's kind of the norm.

2) Grocery stores. I must admit I was very relieved to find that the Mercadona (Spanish Giant) is half a block from mi casa. But it is a little different than my beloved Hershey Giant. For instance, in the Mercadona near the Universidad, the first thing you encounter when you walk in is...wait for it...feminine hygiene. Make-up, hair products, tampons, etc, immediately upon entering. Is it just me, or does that stuff always seem to be hidden and tucked away in American stores?

3) Television. First off, Spaniards LOVE watching TV. Mi madre, who is educated and lovely, loves gossip TV shows. They are impossible for me to follow due to extremely rapid speech and intense usage of colloquialisms, but they are pretty amusing. Additionally, due to Spain's differing views of sex (it's not nearly as taboo as in the US), condom commercials are extremely awkward to watch with families. Actually, Spanish prime time shows are dangerously similar to late-night US television shows.

4) PDA. Along with the openness of television shows is how acceptable it is to make out in public. As it was explained to us in orientation, it's not weird for kids to live in their parents home well into their thirties if they haven't married yet. Since many people are not interested in bringing boyfriends/girlfriends into their parents houses after a date or el barrio or whatever, they take it public. Que interesante.

Well, the intensive cycle is over, so NO MORE Friday classes this semester! Being the scheduling brat I am, and designing my schedule around time slots rather than course content, my weekends last from Thursday at 11AM until Monday 4PM. Furthermore, my direct enrollment course (the one I take at the Universidad with other Spanish students) is called Relaxation and Auto-emotional Control. So, when I do get stressed out due to my grueling schedule, I have my relaxation class every Tuesday and Wednesday evening. Que bueno.

Have a wonderful weekend! And happiest of birthdays (tomorrow, January 30) to my dear roommate and friend Jaclyn McDonald who will be entering the wonderful world of 21!