Culture Shock!

So, lots has been going on here in Spain the last few days.  I'm going to post about the Huelga General that happened yesterday soon, I just want to do a little more research about it first.

For now, I just wanted to share something that happened today that literally shook me.

I was sitting in my Siglo de Oro (Golden Age) class, waiting for it to start, and all of the sudden, someone busts into the room and starts yelling.  I turn to see what's going on, and there's a student-aged guy standing in the doorway waving a TOY gun.  Of course, I didn't know if it was fake or not at first, and literally felt my heart start pounding out of my chest.  The boy proceeds to stand on the table-type desks that we have and starting walking down the middle of the class on top of the tables, yelling in Spanish.  He is followed by a group of about 12 other students, all half-drunk I'm assuming, yelling and chanting.  Once I realized it was just a toy gun, I felt a lot better.

What was happening was, these students were from the Science department at the University.  Well, here, each department has it's own "fiesta"meaning weekend off, in which the students dress up, go out, and do what college kids do.  These students were just having fun, although extremely rude and inappropriate.

Needless to say, this was a CRAZY experience for me.  1st of all, having a "gun" anywhere near a college campus is NOT something we joke about, even a fake gun would be cause for alarm.  However, here, the boy was waving it around, completely like it was nothing.  Talk about culture shock!! I wasn't sure how to respond or what to even think!! Not to mention the running up and down desks, yelling, and complete craziness that they brought with them.

By far my biggest culture shock so far.

It's the simple things...

So, I've been feeling really homesick the last few weeks.  However, the last few days have been really great!! Today was exceptionally wonderful!!  I realized that even though I may not feel like I want to go run errands, that forcing myself to get out and around really helps me a lot!! So, today I've been super productive!! On top of that, I finally got paid!! I've been waiting for a little over a month, running really low on money.  So, when I realized I had money in my account, I had to go shopping!!  Except, what I bought wasn't clothes or jewelry or any of that.

When my parents were here, like a month and a half ago, they found a store that sold Cheerios.  I've walked past the store like 3 times, but never had money to go in and pay like 4 euro for a box of cereal, when I could get some other kind for one euro at the Carrefour.

So, what do you think I did as soon as I pulled out money?! That's right! I went and got Cheerios!!

SOOO HAPPY!!! Also, since it was my first time in this particular store, I decided to look around a little.  In order to understand my excitement, you may need to know a few things first.  1) I LOVE SPICY FOOD!!! I literally live on it! and 2) Since I've been here, I haven't been able to find anything really spicy!! I've searched everywhere.  I've tried food at restaurants, and I've looked EVERYWHERE at Carrefour (the grocery store close to my apt).  BUT today, at this new store, I found:

SOOO HAPPY!!
Also, along with my new food purchases, I decided to keep my productive/ taking advantage of my money streak going.  I went to a Bazar type store close to where I live to buy just a few Christmas decorations!!

It's not much, but it makes me happy.
ONE LAST THING that has been able to help me out of my rut of homesickness... a WONDERFUL friend (who also happens to be my best friend EVER!!) sent me this:

It's a card!! =)  Literally made me SOO HAPPY!
Either way, this post isn't anything earth-shattering or informational, but, just something to show that the little things really can make the difference.  I feel like I'm really settling into my life here, and like I'm finally back in the Spain that I've missed for more than 3 years.
Oh! AND I got my resident card today!! I'm officially a temporary Spanish resident!! yay! I'd post a pic of that, but it has some personal information on it, and you can imagine that an online blog isn't the place to be sharing that.

Elections in the US, Questions in Spain

So, this post isn't going to have anything to do with my political opinions or any of that.  If you know me at all, you know where I stand.

However, I find it interesting how many people have been asking me about the elections the last few days.  At first it was, "Did you vote today?".  Of course, I had to explain that because I'm in Spain, I couldn't vote on Tuesday Nov 6th with everyone else.  haha Others want to know my opinions about the winner, others just want to talk about it.  

I was excited to be in Spain for this election, to get away from all the hype and such that surrounds it, but instead, I find myself being the "American voice".  Simply because I'm from the US, everyone either assumes A) I'm happy with the victor, or B) I'm going to have some huge speech or argument to make against him.  I'm probably the WORST person for this, since I don't really like talking about politics, and I try to keep my opinions to myself, especially in a country where people aren't always completely informed about our politicians, ect.  

For the last election in 2008, I was home.  However, in January when Obama took office, I was in Spain, and I found myself in the exact same position.  Everyone and their mother asking me questions, and if I didn't say something they liked, they would begin arguing with me.  Now, I get it, our country is huge and powerful, ect, and I don't mind that people here are preoccupied with the president of the US.  I just don't want to get into a political debate with people who are looking at the elections from an outside view.  (I don't like getting into political debates with people from the States either, but for me, its different.  It's easier to understand their view-point at least... idk how to explain it haha) 

So, that being said, this year I have been really careful not to post on facebook, blogspot, ect about my political views.  Not at all because I'm ashamed of them, or don't want to stand up for what I believe in, just because I'm so sick of people thinking that just because I may not agree with them, I'm saying that they are wrong in what they believe, and they feel the need to attack me, or feel that I am attacking them.  I have my views because of what affects me, my family, and my friends.  And that's where everyone gets their views from.  No one just decides to believe something just to upset someone else, or to offend someone else.  

Either way, if you're wondering, my answer to the question, "What do you think of the election?"  is "I just hope that whoever is President takes our country in the direction it needs to go to make things better." No matter who wins (won), it's done.  Now, we just look to the future.  Whether or not you like the President, the only thing to do now is to pray for him, the country, and the future.  Its the same thing I would do no matter who won, and its exactly what I'm going to continue doing.  

Happy Halloween from SPAIN!!

So, for Halloween, I was VERY excited to be invited to a party at a friend's place!  I was really missing home, and the traditions and such that surround this time of year, so getting dressed up and hanging out with friends was great!!

A friend, Amanda, and I got our costumes at a Bazar-type store for REALLY cheap!! and we were really excited about it!

We went to a place right next to Amanda's place first, to stop in and say hi.  The people that work there (and maybe own it?) are really nice, and always talk to us! We had previously talked about Halloween with them, so we wanted to go in and say "Happy Halloween!"

Next, it was off to the party!! We did get lost at first... so it took us about 30 min to find it, but when we did, it was very worth it!! Nothing huge, which is great.  Just some people hanging out and having a great time!

There was even bobbing for apples!!!

So, all in all, great Halloween!!!

So...

Alright, I've told this story to lots of people already, and it happened when I first got to Spain, but I decided to write it down here, so I can look back at it in the future and laugh.
So, one of our first days here in Salamanca, my parents and I are sitting at a restaurant, having lunch.  At the table next to us, there are 3 people, a boy from Holland, a boy from Germany, and a girl from Columbia.  We couldn't help but overhear this conversation, happening in English.

Boy from Germany- Ya, the US has really bad health care.
Girl- Oh, really?
Boy from Holland-  Ya, did you know that if you're hit by a car, and you don't have insurance, they'll just leave you in the street?
Girl- Wow, I didn't know that.
Boy from Germany-  Ya, I read that somewhere.

At this point, my parents can't help but interrupt.
My mom- I'm sorry.  I just wanted to let you know that that's not true.
Boy from Holland-  Oh really?
My dad- Ya, we're from the US, and that would never happen.

My parents and the boys continue their conversation for awhile.
Me-  Ya, sorry.  We couldn't help but overhear.  I mean, you're talking in English, so we got excited.
Boy from Holland (turning to the girl)- Pues, debemos hablar en Español.  (Well, we should speak in Spanish)
Me-  Ya, I speak Spanish as well.
Boy from Holland-  Oh.

REALLY?!  We just leave you there?! I couldn't stop laughing.  What happens then?  Someone gets hit by a car, the ambulance and everyone shows up, but then they check for an insurance card and say, "oh, wait.  No insurance, pack it up!"

Then of course the poor boy had to stick his foot in his mouth a 2nd time with the whole, we should speak in Spanish comment.

I mean, don't get me wrong, I know we have a lot of problems with our health care in the States, but we're not THAT bad!!