The best and worst of Spain

My friend from the U.S. who is also studying in Granada came up with the idea of making a list of likes/dislikes of Spain to remember small things she might otherwise forget. I decided it was a great idea and set out to make my own. Over the past few days I’ve been accumulating lists in my notebook and I wanted to share. So in no particular order, here they are…

I will miss…

1. my host family!
2. churros con chocolate
3. tons of dogs with sweaters (even some with hoods!)
4. outward display of affection (touchiness, closeness)
5. 3 words: guapa, tía, hombre
6. pastelarías (pastry shops)
7. siestas!
8. narrow streets (easy to get lost in)
9. hippies everywhere, especially Plaza Nueva
10. expressiveness in speech
11. flamenco music
12. public transportation (bus, metro, train)
13. free tapas (only in Granada)
14. Morrocon shops (Granada)
15. teterias (tea shops in Granada)
16. los italianos (the best ice cream and gelato shop)
17. boots (everyone owns boots)
18. fresh-squeezed orange juice (they don’t serve it any other way)
19. plazas and fountains
20. live street music
21. architecture with character
22. long daily walks to class
23. lively night atmosphere
24. old people out walking everywhere, even at night
25. dos besos (greeting with 2 kisses)
26. friends/family members walking arm-in-arm
27. King Kebab (the best shawarma)
28. hanging ham legs
29. sharing opinions openly (saying it how it is)
30. table heat lamps (very warm red light under the table in the family room in our house)
31. roasted chestnuts on every street corner
32. scarves
33. stealing internet
34. watching “el duque” with the kids
35. cheap movie tickets
36. salsa dancing
37. green man walking, crosswalk sign
38. hippies making huge bubbles
39. dogs waiting for their owners outside mercadona
40. spending hours in a restaurant
41. tinto de verano (wine with fanta)
42. Zara
43. shoe stores
44. the history behind everything
45. the family’s hairdryer on for hours in our house (to warm up the bathroom!)
46. Maria and Elena riding around the house with their rollerblades
47. Maria’s impersonations
48. conversations with Manolo senior (our Spanish padre)
49. helping the twins with English homework
50. making home movies
51. church with the youth
52. lunch at the campus cafeteria with Spanish friends
53. relaxed way of life, openness of schedule
54. nativity scenes of all sizes
55. mullets (because they’re funny!)
56. Christmas lights everywhere
57. botiques
58. mountains
59. the lady painted silver who moved
60. no personal space
61. Christmas sweets (from the convents)
62. European fashion
63. markets/fairs (Christmas, artisan, food, books…)
64. toasted bread with tomato and olive oil
65. olive oil on everything!
66. coffee shops without coffee to go
67. being surrounded by Spanish
68. sangria
69. drinking age=18
70. clothes hanging out to dry
71. dried peppers hanging on the side of houses
72. balconies with flower pots
73. papa noel hanging from balconies

I won’t miss…

1. dog poop everywhere! (seriously)
2. cat-calls from guys on the street
3. paper-thin walls in the apartments (hearing everything next door…)
4. cigarette smoke (everyone smokes)
5. witnessing people making out in public (on street benches…)
6. small stores with excessive pushing and no “excuse me”
7. slow costumer service
8. not having separate checks
9. payment—stores not having change or credit card services
10. getting attacked by gypsies with pine leaves
11. not having a reliable study place open
12. ham in every type of food
13. lack of lines (to order or buy something)
14. sharing opinions openly
15. limited internet availability
16. crazy driving (mopeds on sidewalks!)
17. cold, marble floors in the house
18. no/limited heat in the house
19. small shower=lake in the bathroom the floods into the hallway
20. bad Spanish TV (telanovelas)
21. the smell of the river (that only exists half the year)
22. small, dysfunctional elevators (and the awkward silence…)
23. slippery sidewalks
24. lack of street signs
25. construction everywhere (Granada)
26. endless amounts of tours (with our program—although many were interesting)
27. unpredictable weather (Granada)
28. David talking for 5 hours over the bus speaker
29. evil looks from Spaniards for speaking English
30. looks for wearing gym/house clothes outside
31. pressure to always look guapa (pretty).
32. mullets (because they’re ugly!)
33. girls with baggy pants and underwear showing (Granada)
34. lights going out at home because of too much electrical use
35. no grass (Granada)
36. stepping in a wet spot and not knowing what it is (water, dog pee…)
37. water from buildings dripping on your head
38. beggars/homeless people everywhere
39. no personal space
40. almost getting run over by scooters
41. no free bread in restaurants
42. solicitors in restaurants
43. no dryers (for clothes)

And I will be adding to both of these lists as more come to mind. Most of it is more cultural or Spain-specific things, but some have to do with our family too, since they’re such a big part of my time here!

Blogs still to come…
Untold (entertaining) stories.
Reflections at the end of my trip.
differences and similarities between europeans and americans.