Joy in the Small Things: A Look into the Mundane

When I first arrived in Spain, everything in general besides the language and the age of the buildings seemed to be very similar to the United States. However after living here for awhile and interacting with Spaniards I've realized that there are lots of small differences between the two.

My strange excitement over the small things in life!

Although it might seem strange, I'm dedicating this post to the mundane qualities of Spain.

Let's start with something really boring- the work schedule. Like I've mentioned in a previous post lunch is their biggest meal of the day, so logically everything revolves around lunch. A day in the life of a Spaniard is such:

1. Wake up and get ready (but not take a shower) in order to get to work on time.
2. Work from 8:00 or 9:00ish until 1:30 or so.
3. Come home in the midday traffic, eat lunch, clean up and go back to work in the afternoon traffic.
4. Work from 3:30ish to 8:00 at night.
5. Come home, eat dinner and/or socialize with friends.

With this in mind ALL shops (except the superstores) close for at least 2 hours in the afternoon. What I find to be odd is that they don't stay open later when everyone is out and about having fun with friends. Wouldn't it bring in more revenue to be open when more people are in the streets? I suppose the employees would complain. Which brings me to the next point...

Carrefour: the only store not closed from 2:00-4:00,
AKA heaven sent European version of Walmart.

Strikes and demonstrations are EVERYWHERE right now, which can be a little frightening at times. I've seen several in Madrid as well as Barcelona for various reasons. Last weekend my friends and I were near Puerta del Sol for a homework assignment when we ran into several college age groups being taught by more experienced/older men how to properly rally and organize a public demonstration. Crazy! They also say that the Occupy Wallstreet movement was influenced by a demonstration Puerta del Sol where people brought tents out to sleep in. Regardless if that is myth or fact, public rallies, etc. are super common.

I've also noticed that there is a fascination with American pop culture. Almost all of the songs on the radio are ones that are on our American stations too! Taylor Swift is extremely popular and they play Diamonds by Rihanna waaaay too much for my taste. It's funny because many of them don't understand the lyrics but sing the words anyway. It's hilarious to listen to them sing with their accents!

Most popular hip-hop-high-heels on the market.

Moving on to a happier note, the local styles here are very different. It seems like they are both ahead and behind of the American fashion (if it's even possible to say that!) The young people, or "jóvenes" as we say in Spain, like to dress in the typical "hipster" style with hip-hop looking shoes. Piercings seem to be really in style, but I haven't seen too many tattoos or punk hairstyles. In fact, the most popular men's hairstyle is very handsome as of late with long on top and short on sides and back. In a way it reminds me of the character Neil Caffrey on White Collar.Speaking of hair, Spain is a little ironic. The crazy colored hairstyles are reserved for the old grandmas of all people! Every day on the bus I see these ladies that are decked out in fancy furs and red-purple hair that looks like the color of my Jeep.

Crazy old lady with a furry hood and pink streaks getting off the bus!

My friend Andy sporting his new Spanish haircut.

Another irony is that EVERYONE LOVES LITTLE DOGS. Okay, I understand that I don't like pets in general (in fact I loathe dogs) but Spain is obsessed! They dress up their dogs as if they were children  and take them everywhere they go. I've seen sweaters to rain jackets on those puppies. This whole time I've been trying to get good pictures of the pampered little brats but it's super hard without offending the owner.

A macho guy taking his puny dog for a walk

Because the population of small dogs and grassy areas are not in proportion with one another, there is a little more fecal matter on side walk than I care to mention. I know it's nasty, but I have to mention it because I'm always the one in the group that finds a way to step in it. I honestly don't understand why they don't have the "clean up after your dog" signs with plastic baggies because there are plenty of small public garbage cans!

What gets stuck on the bottom of my shoe every day!

If you can look past the poop, the streets in Spain are pleasant to walk on. The streets are narrow and the drivers are extremely observant to pedestrians (I wish my college town would take note!) In the residential towns like Alcalá de Henares the side walks are actually an assortment of tiles instead of poured cement. A month ago I saw some construction workers laying the tiles and it looked a lot less complicated than bringing a cement truck out. The street signs are normally small on the walls of the corner buildings, which makes navigating at night a painful adventure.

Most people live in apartments or chalets or town homes (you know, variation of a theme.) Very few people actually live in a home because there's not a whole of space in these towns. Back yards, patios and porches are non-existant here, but it's not necessarily a bad thing because there are tons of parks, bike friendly areas, and most people have to walk a lot anyway to catch the public transportation.

My friend Juliana and I are exhausted
 after running to catch the bus!

Alright, I am now going to clear up a common misconception. I always thought that Europeans were skinnier than Americans because of their diet. WRONG!!!! They eat greasy stuff here too. In fact I eat more pan fried things in my Spanish home-cooked meals than I did in the past five years, no joke-- granted I don't eat fast food, but still.  The real reason Europeans are skinnier is because they smoke like chimneys. People think it's weird that I'm young and don't smoke, which took me by surprise a little since Americans are taught from the age of five that cigarettes should really be labeled "smelly cancer sticks."

Something about the culture I really enjoy are the "besos." Instead of greeting with a handshake, people kiss each cheek of those they meet with the exception, of course, of  two men meeting each other for the first time. I really like it because I feel like I am already a friend and not simply a cold acquaintance. I'm sure Spaniards probably don't feel the same way as I do, but it is something I prefer because I see it as a very accepting and warm greeting

Anyway, that's enough of the mundane. If you've read all the way to the end, congratulations! I hope you've enjoyed it and I wish you the best until next time!

I hope you don't look like them now
that you've reached the end of this post!