Looking Back on an Incredible Month

I can’t believe that I am writing my last post for my blog about Spain. Time has gone so fast. I had an incredible last month and I feel that I really grew as a person mentally, physically, and socially as the month progressed. Mentally there were times when the trip was exhausting for my brain when I had to try and understand people speaking Spanish and then having to respond back in Spanish. Physically the trip was taxing because the main form of transportation is walking and we did a lot of walking going to and from school and when going out at night but in the end I didn’t mind because that is part of the culture in Spain. Socially is where I feel that I grew most this month because being able to converse with someone is a difficult thing no matter what language you speak but to able to hold a conversation for a little bit with someone who speaks a different language than you do is an amazing thing. When I say this I think that I speak for our whole group because we all had our times when we would just spark conversation with anyone around us and it was always interesting to see how it would go. I think this is one of the main reasons that people in Spain knew about the Loyola group of 2015 because everyone was eager just to meet people from different parts of the world and even different parts of the United States. Having good social skills is very important in everything you do in life and that was on full display this month in Spain. One of the biggest things I will take away from this trip is the importance of friendship and conversation. This trip would not be as great as it was if we didn’t have the group that we did. When we were together it was always a funny, laid back atmosphere that was fun to be a part of and the bonds that we formed were unbreakable.

            To be a “Global Citizen” means to be a person who spends time in a country and contributes to its growth. Living in Spain had shown me many new experiences and culture differences. Living in Spain made me appreciate all that America has to offer but it had also shown me a lifestyle that is able to function and be productive in a different way than America. Spain’s lifestyle is much simpler than in the United States. For example, everything is cheap in Spain, which became a problem because I wanted to take advantage of all of the great prices on everything that I didn’t realize how much I was spending. Another example is that you walk everywhere and this makes for less crowded streets and less craziness on the roads with cars. I liked the relaxed lifestyle in Spain while it lasted and it made me realize how life outside of the hustle and bustle of the American lifestyle is.

            The most important lesson I learned on this trip was the importance of social skills. Even if you didn’t speak the same language as the person you were talking with having confidence and the willingness to try and understand what the person is saying is very valuable. I enjoyed the challenge in trying to communicate with the people speaking different languages than I do and it helped me to improve both my Spanish speaking skills and my acting skills too!

            This past month in Spain was an awesome experience with an awesome group I can’t wait to see everyone again at school.

              

Spanish Lifestyle

Living in Spain for almost a month now has opened my eyes to the differences that exist between the lifestyles of Americans and the lifestyles of Spaniards. Living with my host mother Belen has shown me that the Spanish lifestyle is much more conservative of things and also a lot slower paced. For example, Belen is a very slow eater. Americans like to devour their food and move on to the next activity planned for the day. In Spain the Spaniards like to sit down and enjoy their food. They are very focused on the importance of conversation and discussion. There are no worries as far as time because the Spaniards usually set aside at least an hour to eat their meals. In America it takes my family about a half an hour to eat our meals and then we move on to the next thing in the day. Another difference between American and Spanish lifestyles is the conservation of resources. Resources such as water and electricity are very expensive in Spain and it is important that they are used carefully. Something Belen enforces me and Ryan to do is turn off the lights when we are not using them. When we leave our room for dinner the lights have to be turned off. This is a good idea because it is pointless to have these lights on when they not being used. All this does is run up the electricity bill. Another example of conservation of resources is taking short showers to save the water. When Ryan and me take showers we turn off the water when we are not using it. This can be annoying to turn off and put back on but again it is good to save so that you are not paying for it in the future. This focus on conservation has shown me how wasteful America really is. If we brought these conservation tips to America it would be amazing to see how happy people are when their bills for these resources are substantially lower.

            Another difference in the lifestyle of the Spanish and of the Americans is what people truly value. In Spain people value their food and are very meticulous in every step of the process. There food is always fresh and they always try to be healthy. They want to make sure they put their best product in front of their customers every time. They love pleasing people and making sure they are satisfied with what they are eating. Another thing Spaniards value is their leisure time. The idea of a “siesta” or nap in the middle of the day is a great practice. It allows families to come together and be with each other after a morning of work or school and relax. After they return to work and are refreshed and reenergized. This is a great idea because it also allows people to go home during the hottest part of the day because it is very difficult to work and be productive in the heat in Spain. Americans value different things. Americans love their food too but for its portion sizes and fattiness which makes it taste so good. Americans also love convenience and easiness. The quicker you can do something the quicker you can move on to doing the next thing whether that means producing more products or having more free time it all adds up and can be very beneficial.

            A part of the Spanish lifestyle that I wish I could take home to the states with me is the drinking age. Having the drinking age at 18 is much more liberating and I feel that I was better able to experience the culture and the Spanish lifestyle by being able to go for Tapas and to the Discotecas. I also like the idea of the “siesta” because in my opinion it can turn your day around. If you have a rough morning you can come home for lunch and take a nap and then go back to work where it will hopefully be better. In America if you have a bad morning it can affect your whole day and you can’t do anything about it. The Spanish lifestyle was fun to experience and the trip has been fantastic I can’t wait to tell all my family and friends at home all about it!

Stereotypes: Spain vs America

When I think of Spain I think of soccer. A stereotype I would associate with Spain is that everyone plays soccer and that you will see a form of it everywhere you go whether it is a game, practice, or just kicking the ball around in the street. After living in Spain for two weeks I have found that surprisingly this is not the case. I have actually seen very little soccer being played besides the games that are being televised. Another stereotype (that I may have made up myself) is that Spaniards and Mexicans are very similar. Having vacationed in Mexico and living in Spain I have found that this is certainly not the truth and that, in fact, they are very different. For example, the food is much different that I had originally thought. There are no burritos or tacos, or fast food chains like Chipotle, Moe’s, and Taco Bell. Spaniards take great pride in their food and focus on all natural, freshly grown crops to be their main course at meals. The food is very healthy which is a refreshing change from the food in America. While Americans may have stereotypes about Spain, Spaniards also have stereotypes about America and Americans.  When I asked my host mother Belen and my lingual partner Pablo what stereotypes they may have of America are I was surprised at some of the things they said and I was interested at why they may have this image of America. One of the stereotypes that stuck out most to me was the idea that everyone in America carries a weapon. This was surprising to me. I understand that there is unfortunately a lot of crime and violence associated with weapons but I do not believe that weapons are commonplace in households in America. Another stereotype about America is that the food is not very healthy which leads to people becoming obese. I agree that unhealthy food is prevalent in America but I also believe that it is the person’s decision to eat this food. The pace at which Americans live is one cause for fast food and this is how America gets a bad name when it comes to food. A last stereotype I heard was that Americans are very proud of their country and they love expressing to others around them that they are from America. Being from America we think of ourselves as the best at everything and as a result we voice this pride more than other countries may. I liked hearing their opinions and their viewpoints of what people who live in other parts of the world think of the place we live. These stereotypes were a little bit eye opening for me. They made me get a better understanding of what other countries views of America are. It is tough to truly judge the country you live in and your everyday lifestyle. Both the stereotypes of Spain and the stereotypes of America have taught me a lot about my both my temporary and my permanent home. It is interesting how much your views of a place change when you finally visit it and see what the culture and lifestyle are like and how the people that live in the country differ based on the culture around them.

Culture Shock

Granada so far has presented me with many great opportunities to experience new things and to keep my mind open to trying anything that comes my way. While there were times when me and Ryan have gotten lost in our journeys around the city there hasn't been a time when I have felt uncomfortable or in danger in any way. There have been times when I have felt at home though. For example, I feel very comfortable in the classroom. I don't sense much of a difference between my Spanish class at Loyola and my Spanish class here in Granada. Both of the teachers are very nice and do a good job at explaining things that I don't understand and always take time for questions and clarification. After reading the article about culture shock I realized I have actually experienced the first two steps of adjusting to culture shock. I definitely experienced euphoria when I arrived in Granada and it lasted for about a week. I felt excited about everything and was willing to try everything but I definitely felt the irritation and hostility kick in when the euphoria wore off. I look at this transition of steps as a good thing because I realize that I have started to grow into the culture and that I am no longer the “new kid” on the block. I know my way around the city for the most part and I feel comfortable in the Granada lifestyle. When experiencing the euphoric state of being in a new country, continent, and culture I felt like I was in a fantasyland that would only be for a short time. Once that state wore off reality set in and I knew it was time to get down to work and embrace all that was going on around me no matter how different and new things were to me. Two differences that I have noticed between Granada and New York are: 1) People walk very slowly in Granada compared to New York and 2) People are not very friendly on the streets. In New York or on Long Island if you pass someone on the sidewalk you usually smile at each other or say “Hi” or “How are you?” but in Granada the people don’t even crack a smile back at you. I understand that I am in a different country but that shouldn’t make the people that live there different. Each day that goes by I am learning more about the city and adjusting to life in Europe. It is difficult at times but it also a good challenge. This challenge improves both my Spanish speaking skills and also my people skills, which will greatly benefit me when I return to the United States.