Confessions of a Culturally Shocked American

During orientation this morning we had a psychology professor who has lived in both Spain and the United States come to our class to talk to us about culture shock and adapting to life in a different culture. Among other things, she said that when we first arrive we will be very excited at everything that is new and think everything is wonderful, then we will go through a shocked, frustrated period where we wish things were like they are at home, but eventually we will get used to things here and come to like them. She said that usually living in another country can lead people to feel a strong sense of pride in and patriotism for one's home country.

I'm still pretty euphoric about being here, but I felt that patriotism she mentioned full force today as we were eating lunch with my host family and watching the news and images of the anniversary of September 11 came on the screen. As strange as it was to listen to Spanish reporters talk about this event, it gave me a new perspective on how the rest of the world views and is influenced by events in the U.S. We all believe that the rest of the world hates Americans and some of those reasons are valid, but regardless, we should all know how much we influence the rest of the world. As my host mom watched the footage of the second plane crashing into the second tower I could see emotions on her face similar to those of women in the U.S. upon watching similar footage. Terror is terror no matter what culture you're in. I may have come to Europe with a little more pride in the good old US of A than some others, but being here has definitely increased my sense of patriotism, as well as opened my eyes to how we are viewed by others. So, today, while eating my Spanish lunch on the other side of the world, I took a moment to remember the horrors that took place that day, feeling proud to be from such a wonderful, opportunistic country, while remembering the important role we play on the world stage.

Other than this, the last few days here have been fairly uneventful. Saturday night I went out with friends to some tapas bars and then to a discoteca, which, funnily enough, was built back into a cave in the side of the hill overlooking the Alhambra. You all know I'm not much of a club-going girl, but anywhere I can dance and then go outside and see the beautiful, illuminated Alhambra in the distance isn't all bad. This week has been filled with more orientation, trying to finalize our schedules with classes at the University of Granada and IES (the study abroad center), and going out for tapas with friends. This weekend, IES is taking us to Ronda and Sevilla, two cities very near Granada. I'm really looking forward to seeing another Spanish city!

Tapas con Amigas!

El Sacramonte (The neighborhood with the caves)

La Alhambra at night

For now, I thought I'd leave you with a list of some of the most fascinating cultural differences I've discovered since arriving...

• Machisimo culture still exists — We have fairly clear gender roles in the United States, but the lesser treatment of women in the US is nothing compared to that of Spanish women. The machisimo culture of historic Spain (the idea that the man is in charge of everything and must be strong and almost brutish) still exists in households here, to a certain extent. Very, very few Spanish women worked outside the household under the dictatorship of Francisco Franco, which ended in 1975. Because of this, there are vast differences in pay grades for men and women here in the workplace. I've also noticed this culture in my host family. My host mom does not work. She took care of her daughters when they were little and now she spends a lot of time caring for her mother and cooking and cleaning in our house. She cooks all of our meals, sets the table, and either her or her daughter washes the dishes after every meal. The first few days I kept offering to help with dishes, but she always refused. I've been told that for most Spanish women, the kitchen is their domain and they don't really want anyone to enter, which I find somewhat fascinating. If I left the kitchen without even offering to help with the dishes my mom certainly would have a problem with that! However, even though she does all of the household chores herself, she seems to have a more modern relationship with her husband. While she does clean his dishes and picks up after him, she doesn't allow him to interrupt her and he sometimes makes his own dinner. Overall, I just found the differences in gender roles here very interesting.

• If you think you conserve water in the US, you should see how they do it in Spain — Have you heard of a military shower? Well, this is where you turn the water off when you're not using it, for example when you're putting shampoo in your hair or shaving your legs or anything else that doesn't require water. Here in Spain, especially Andalucia where there is a lack of water, they are VERY serious about conserving water. Some host families have told their students that they cannot take showers longer than five minutes. Mine didn't say anything, but we were told during orientation that this is a very serious thing for most Granadian families. My host mom is also very serious about recycling. She recycles everything—food, plastic, paper, glass...she even saves the oil she cooks with to make soap!! She thinks that other countries should try to learn and do the same because she feels strongly that we need to do a lot to protect the supplies of the earth, especially water.

• Bedtime is midnight or later, whether you're 5 or 65 — At home, if you were walking the streets and saw children awake at midnight being pushed in strollers by their parents you might call social services. Here, it's completely normal. Just as it's normal to see people in their sixties and seventies walking in the streets at 12, 1, 2 in the morning! Talk about culture shock...when do they sleep, you ask? (See next bullet point)

• Siesta is a very real thing — In America, we joke about Spanish siestas or taking naps when we're tired. This is no joke. Siesta is a very serious thing here in Granada. We eat our main meal of the day between 2 and 3 and then basically the entire city shuts down until around 5 or 5:30 pm. Today, I had to be at IES for my oral spanish language exam at 4:30 and walking through the streets you would have thought armageddon had happened. Almost every single store was closed except for H&M and Zara, and some restaurants. And literally the only people in the streets were tourists. Nearly every single person had a map in their hand and a camera hanging from their neck. The real Granadians were sleeping or resting. Let me repeat: Siesta is a very real thing. Don't mess with a Spanish person's siesta.

Now that you are all enlightened as to the Spanish lifestyle, enjoy your day, strange American eating schedule and all. And don't forget to take a moment today to remember those who were lost and those who survived the attacks 12 years ago this morning. I'm a huge believer in patriotism, and even if you're not, today is the day to do so.

<3 besos desde Espana!

Because every post from Granada should have a photo of the Alhambra :)