I am nearing completion of one full week in Spain and every second has been completely filled with new experiences. I have learned so much in my short time here that it actually feels like I have been here even longer. I am still fumbling my way through the old stone streets and getting lost all the time but I am loving it! I have really loved being immersed in the Spanish language here. It is a little difficult because the Spanish spoken in Spain is different than the Latin American Spanish that most Americans are taught in school and hear on the street (think how American English is different than British English). For example (for all the language nerds out there), in Spain they have a linguistic characteristic called the "seseo" which is where the C's and Z's are pronounced like we in English say the "Th" sound. Here are a few of the big differences I have felt since leaving America.
(Author's note: I just want to say that these blog posts represent my own experiences in Toledo and with my host family and do not reflect the entire country or every Spaniard).
Toledo's quick shout to it's sister city in Ohio!
1. Nothing is wasted
Whether it be electricity, water or food, nothing is wasted here. Many people also use public transportation to avoid spending too much on gas. I have never seen food left on a plate and thrown away (which is sometimes difficult because from our experiences Spanish families will feed you until you explode), once you leave a room you must turn off the lights, and showers don't last too long. Even when I was flying here on Iberia, the flight had real silverware. I never realized how privileged we are in the US to be able to keep on as many lights as we want, take half hour showers and throw away anything and everything.
2. They know much more about world events
My host family knows about things happening in China, Italy, France and of course the United States. Their news stations cover a much larger scope than just their own country's events and issues. A stereotype that I have seen people have about Americans is that we are very isolated and the truth is most of us are. Sometimes we do not even know what is going on outside our own front door, but here they seem to be much more well informed. One of the first questions I was asked by my nine year old host brother was what I thought about Trump's election. It was weird for me that a 9 year old knows more about my country than I, a college student studying Spanish, know about theirs. I did not even know the name of their president (I have since learned his name is Mariano Rajoy by the way and their king is Felipe XI). I have quickly learned the world is truly watching us (and sometimes laughing at us).
3. Politics and drinking are not taboo
I originally thought that when I asked my host parents about drinking and how to get home late at night it would be an awkward conversation. I had a feeling that they would immediately label me as a partying American. Amongst some of my classmates we called it "the talk". But we quickly found that it was an extremely casual conversation where they told us how to get taxis and even which bars are the best, cheapest and most popular for international students. Nothing weird or awkward or judgemental about it. Drinking during the day or with lunch is not considered odd, whereas in the US if we are drinking during the day it is probably because we are tailgating. Also unlike in the US, in my experience people will talk about politics right when they meet you. My host mother's father was over for dinner one night and right after introductions, he asked me how I felt about Donald Trump's inauguration earlier that day.
4. The Weather
We must have brought the Ohio weather to Spain with us because this year it is snowing in parts of the country where there hasn't been snow for 30 or 40 years (luckily it hasn't snowed in Toledo yet)! The snow and cloudiness is a big topic on the news and in casual conversation. Normally Toledo has almost no clouds so even though it is chilly, it is still very warm with an abundance of natural light. I learned the word for snow man is "muñeco de nieve" which literally translates to "doll made of snow". I tell my host family that this weather that is so weird for them, is very much like what we experience in Ohio for 3 months and they feel bad for us. They told me it was freezing the day I arrived. It was 45 and sunny, an Ohio spring day.
5. Everything here has history
Just like one of my professors here told us "Toledo es un museo" (Toledo is a museum). Now granted I am living in one of the oldest cities in Spain, but it is still a big change! Most things in the US aren't more than 250 years old since we are such a young country. Here there are churches, mosques, synagogues and schools that have been around for thousands of years. Yes THOUSANDS! Walking past all of this history (and even taking classes in these historic buildings) is a true privilege. One of my goals of this trip is to always remember that I am living amongst and interacting with breath taking history everyday.
It would be a failure to not mention the most important factor in making this initial transition to living here in Spain smooth: my host family. They have been welcoming to me, patient with my language skills, caring and have cooked me delicious meals everyday. I have my host mother and father (both of whom own their own small businesses), two host brothers (one 9 years old, the other 12 years old, both love the Atlético Madrid soccer team) and a completely precious 3 month old host baby sister. They remind me that even though everything seems new and different and overwhelming, some things cross all cultural boundaries. It is comforting that no matter where you are in the world families will always be filled with tons of laughter, a bit of frustration, a dash of chaos, and a whole lot of love.
¡Hasta luego!