MAJOR UPDATE #2 - Reflection on Culture

So, even though I thought I was going to hate the class after my first day, I LOVE my Cultural Psychology class (even if it is at 9am, which means I need to be up at 7:30am). It's a class about the different cultures and adapting to them, etc. With only about 12 people in the class, the teacher knows all of us by name and we get to have really great conversations. It makes me realize how much I just took things for granted back at home. For example, in Spain...

1. I didn't have a toilet seat cover for the first two weeks at my homestay. Luckily, that changed last week, but still, you can imagine the awkwardness until then.

2. Breakfast is a small meal, which consists of toast, marmalade, and OJ. That's it. Every day since I have been here. Lunch is the big meal of the day and dinner is (since its free!). I have been gaining weight though and I love it!

3. As dumb as this sounds, I have to make my bed every morning. I haven't done that since middle school or maybe even elementary school. It only takes a minute, though.

4. It takes me 25 mins to get to class via walking and the metro VERSUS rolling out of bed and being in class in 5-10 mins on-campus. I miss asia halllllll

5. Safety. You can never let your guard down while in Barcelona. The moment you do, someone will come up behind you and take your bag/backpack/purse. I've seen it happen 3 times already.

6. Portions of food are A LOT smaller. There is no such thing as a venti coffee (unless you seriously go to Starbucks). A cafe con leche is about 2 euros and its about the size of a kids meal drink.

7. Going to the grocery store is definitely different. Your usual brands probably aren't on the shelf and that means trying new things.

Going off that, I am happy to say my pickiness with food is almost gone completely. Yeah, there are definitely some things I will never eat, but for the most part, I am breaking barriers every night at the dinner table. From tomatoes to squash, I am broadening my food horizons every day...and I love it!

Back to culture though, I am happy to say that I now look at things a lot differently. One of the biggest key points from my reading this week was about making the effort to adjust to the new culture.

Development-and maintenance-of good interpersonal relations with hosts, marked by respect for people in the other culture, good collegial relations in the community, free time spent with those of the other culture, and sharing of personal information to others is CRUCIAL.

I couldn't agree more with this excerpt. At the end of the day, I always remember that I'm the guest here and need to show respect to others. I have heard about some of the stupid things some of the other people in our program have done at bars, clubs, and other places. Its reasons like these that make the Spaniards not too happy with Americans. I make an effort every day to meet someone new or strike up a conversation with someone. Overall, I have gotten a very good vibe from the locals here. Yeah, I have met my fair share of rude people, but those are anywhere you go. The best confidence booster was last week when someone pulled up next to me and asked for directions. Completely in Spanish...and I was able to direct them! That made me feel good not only because I was fluent enough to understand them and direct them, but the fact that they pulled over and ASSUMED I was a local. It made my week, no lie.

Adapting to culture here hasn't been hard at all. I'm not homesick nor do I think I will be in these next three months. Yeah, I DEFINITELY miss people from back home and SD for sure! As my roommate Josh put it, "We never really have a home. It's just something we are used to and are comfortable in. There is never a place you can really say you will live at forever." This was an interesting way of looking at it. I have always been keen on calling SD my second home, after my real home back in the bay. When I leave here in December, I can see myself calling this my third home. It's all just whatever is comfortable to you. I'm happy to finally be stepping out of my comfort zone and feeling confident while doing so.