Just Spanish Things

⤏Just Spanish Things⤎

1. Sending many, many, small texts super fast

The problem is when they keep writing and you keep trying to respond, but they keep writing more texts...

2. Saying "buenas" instead of buenos días

3. People walking straight at you on the sidewalk

Walking down the street in the morning is like a game of chicken to see who backs out latest until you fear bashing your heads together. Seriously.

(strollers being used as battering rams are a plus)

4. Taking really short showers

Seville is in the midst of a drought (even though it has been raining for the past two weeks, don't ask) and therefore showers are limited to under 10 minutes. Every morning it is a relay to wash your hair, body, shave, and rinse off in record time.

5. Wearing high heels

Normally in the United States heels are reserved for nights out, parties, or special occasions, but here everyday women wear heels. I would like to compare Spanish women to actual warriors, because I find it difficult to last a night in heels let alone an entire work/school day walking over 5 miles. The heels worn are usually platforms.

6. A preoccupation with appearance

Coming from the United States I did not imagine getting startled by a culture as devoted to public image as this one. Every street corner has a doctors office that advertises cosmetic surgery, liposuction or dieting. Along with the bounty of commercials I catch at the gym relating to makeup products, reality TV starring 'overweight' teenagers, and ads for dieting. Spaniards are very concerned with outward appearance and are terrified of getting fat or as my host mom likes to say 'engordar'.

I normally do not wear an abundance of makeup, but one day a woman at a makeup store at the mall asked me if I wanted my makeup done and I thought why not? Until I realized my lack of makeup related vocabulary in Spanish. After she was done, I had a face full of makeup and it looked pretty nice. I was going out later so I just kept it on. I came back to my host mom's house and she exclaimed about how beautiful I looked. I told her I got my makeup done and she commented on how everyone looks better with makeup and how I should try it more often to make more of an effort. Nuff said.

7. Use of cologne and perfume

Walking down the street is like walking in the perfume section at Macy's. There is a whirl of different perfume and cologne worn by all Spaniards. I've come to recognize the cologne that my professor, host mom, and friends wear. And sometimes when I'm walking down the street I smell the perfume my friends wears and it reminds me of them! Although, most of the time it is just me choking on the residual cologne mist of someone passing by. 

8. Walk muy desssppaacciiittooo

A veces cuando tengo prisa a ir a mi clase es un disastre.

9. Lack of a personal space bubble

People will get close. Real close. Two cheek kisses. Hugs. Lots of physical contact.

10. Dogs without leashes

There are so many dogs in Seville from St. Bernard's to Husky's and Chihuahua's. Although, for some reason Spanish dogs are very well trained and do not require leashes to be walked. They just prance alongside their owner without running at other people or into the street.