I was looking through my planner today and I realized that its been exactly a month and two days since I first arrived in Madrid! In some ways, it feels like I've been living abroad for much longer than a month. But at the same time, it's hard to believe that a whole month has passed already!
I'm very glad I made the decision to study abroad. I do miss my family and friends very much, but I know I will see everyone in a matter of months. This, on the other hand, is a chance of a lifetime. Aside from the traveling and the MUCH lighter academic load, living abroad is definitely enriching and broadening my perspective on life.
Life in a foreign country exposes you to different cultures, different languages, different governing systems - basically a whole new way of life. The differences can be great, but it can also be very frustrating.
Life here goes about at a snail's pace.
In the US, or at least in big cities, time is money and people are constantly on the go. We are masters at multitasking and juggling numerous technologies simultaneously. We also work constantly; at the office, at home, on the road - you get the picture. Everything around us is therefore geared to maintain and support this fast way of life. For example, most stores and restaurants are open early and late enough for people run errands after work, and almost everything is open on the weekends.
Not here. It took me forever and a day to get internet because the Spanish lifestyle threw every available obstacle at me, from all possible angles.
Let's take the siesta as an example. Everyday, from 2pm to 4pm, most of the city is closed for the mid afternoon siesta. If I'm home and due for a nap, this almost mandatory siesta is a great thing. But, if I need to get stuff done in between classes, like go to a store to get internet, the siesta becomes problematic. Additionally, in the month of August, on any holiday and on Sundays, the city shuts down. Nothing is open, save for a few eateries scattered about the city. Even the supermarkets are closed on Sundays.
Basically, I can't get stuff done early morning, because most stores aren't open until 10am. I can't get stuff done during siesta, because most stores are closed during siesta. I can't get stuff done after class, because most stores are closed by 8pm.
Customer service is non-existent.
Usually in the US, if a store doesn't have something in stock, they call other stores and do what they can to try to get the product you are looking for (I love Nordstrom). But not in Spain. Here, they don't even know where the other store locations are. They tell you that something might be in stock tomorrow, but it's not going to be in stock for several weeks.
So yes, I am still adjusting to this slower way of life. I actually don't mind it, but it does get frustrating when you need to get something done immediately and efficiently.
Academically, it's pretty awesome. School classes cover about one topic per hour. I have professors who stroll in 15 minutes late to class and talk at a speed of about 5 words per minute; which is a WORLD of a difference from my classes in the US.
I could definitely get used to this...:D
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