I'm sick and I should be doing a bigger update. But really, nothing much has happened these past couple weeks.
Life is just as amazing as usual.
But this is just something fun, I'm trying to find all the nuances about Spanish/Madrid life...
You know you live in Spain (especially Madrid) when:
-You see a car broken down on the side of the highway, the couple (meant to be attempting to fix the car) is making out, outside of the car, broad daylight, highway.
- You are out til 7:30 in the morning, without even noticing where the time has gone.
- It's February, 65 degrees in the day, and dropping down to a bone chilling 32 at night.
- You wear the same clothes, or at least jeans for about a week.
-There are no bagels
- You eat, potatoes, ham, and eggs together or separate. daily.
- Fanta is considered a healthy equivalent for orange juice
- Cigarettes, everywhere.
- When somebody decides to show up, is on time for them..aka no scheduling in Spain, at all. (sometimes amazing, sometimes a pain in the butt)
-You talk about going somewhere for 5 hours before actually getting up and going
-They think the line in the song "Billy Jean" by Michael Jackson that says "and the kid is not my son" sounds like "quiero una manzana" translated: I want an apple. This is insisted upon every time it comes on the radio, a lot.
- They do this with many american songs, because that's about half of what is played on the radio in Spain.
- This actually may be one that deters you from thinking you're in Spain....The Stop Signs say "Stop"
- Girls along with guys, have underwear showing above their pants, this isn't like in middle school when the thongs are showing, just regular underwear.
- Boys and Girls date for either 2 weeks or 2 years, there isn't really an in between.
- You eat dinner any time from 9:30-11:30 PM weeknights and weekends.
- The Simpsons are worshiped like a God.
- "Scream" is the normal volume of people's voices around you.
-(This kinda goes with the last one) You think your friends are actually mad at each other, but they are really just discussing where they want to eat dinner....Burger King, Pizza, or Chinese Food (commonly known as Chino)
- It is a regular sight...The dreaded mullet...and i don't mean like dreaded as in feared, I mean dreaded as in Bob Marley, Rastas, Jamaica....Those kinds of dreads.
- The alcohol in all grocery stores is sold out on fridays.
-Bread is consumed at every meal, but never given for free at restaurants.
-Water does not come for free either.
- You turn on the TV at dinner and see naked bodies/hear swearing... nobody is phased.
- Your school's cafeteria smells like a pastry shop! (going to miss that)
- Cars stop, when snow starts. for good.
- Umbrellas are a necessity for everyone when the slightest drizzle begins, and you get looks like you are some kind of swamp monster if you don't have one. Oh and the worst part, people have no clue how to use them... You have to keep your eye out for the unknowing old man, or else your eye might actually be out...
- People study on saturdays...in high school. then in University....the studying slows to a halt.
- There is a 24 hour dance show "Fama a Bailar"....one channel, all day... (my brother Nikko is obsessed)
- There is dog poop EVERYWHERE, but the streets are cleaned EVERYDAY
- Lip, Mouth, Eyebrow piercing ... enough said.
- Everyone dances...young, old, teenage boys, like I said...everyone. And elaboration on the teenage boys...this isn't the 'grinding' feared by every highschool/middleschool administrator, this is good natured, fun, beautiful Spanish dancing.
- For the girls: Guys notice hair cuts!! and compliment you on them!!
- A bottle of nailpolish costs 8 euros, $10, and then you can find cute shirts for the same price.
- Starbucks gets their busiest at around 7:30/8 PM
- You begin to love house music
- El Corte Ingles is your savior and your hell...yes, both at once. Clarification: HUGE store, has EVERYTHING (books.tires.toys.cameras.travel agency.cars), always tons of people, always too hot, and regularly get lost.
- Everybody sleeps sometime in the afternoon. The normal work schedule is actually formed around this Siesta.
- For those in Madrid: RealMadrid or Atletico is what decides who will be your friends on game night.
That's all for now, I'm sure my exchange student friends are going to remind me of more after they read this. So i'll update with more soon!
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4 comments:
Probably my favorite post ever! I learned so much about Spain. Haha! I was surprised by how many of them apply to Brazil too! The 2 weeks or 2 years rule, people making out everywhere, no free water, the simpsons! I wonder if those apply to every country except the US...
Anyway, rad post. Love you! Can't wait to see you in July!
Maddy, I just loved it. So much information to form a true picture of what it is like. How will you ever adjust to boring old Anacortes? Such fun. The dancing stuff with the boys, how interesting. You will be forever changed. I will be going up to see your Mom and Dad and LuLu sometime in the next few weeks. Not much new here but I am doing fine. Love, Grandma Kate
wonderful! love you, dem
more...more...what about Italy? Missing you! Love, Demi
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