LA CULTURA

I'm finding everyday that the european lifestyle is very nice and I believe it suits me :) . The biggest thing I've notice that's different is the smoking. In my english class we read a brief article on smoking and discussed it, my teacher went on to say that a heavy smoker is someone who smokes twenty cigarettes a day! I don't know how many are in a pack but that seems like an awful lot. There's also this notion that the non smokers have to deal with the smokers; in Canada usually people will ask if they can slip out for a smoke but here it's the opposite - you have to ask for them not to smoke or be excused.

Siesta is something I think every country should have. You don't have to sleep but being able to everyday is wonderful. Most stores close from about 2-4 at least, some for longer. I was an extremely busy person last year and this year I have at least two hours to myself every single day! It's hopefully going to become habitual and I'll continue to siesta back in Canada, I also like the eating time table so I might adopt that when I return as well. When you wake up you have breakfast, which isn't as important here. Usually it's cereal and the only time of day where it's normal to have milk. Although the normal thing to do here is put Nesquik in your milk and heat it up before putting your cereal in it. So basically they're breakfast is cereal in hot chocolate, and the cereal is quite far from granola. At my house we have either frosted flakes, captain crunch (I think) or this amazing nougat chocolate filled cereal. Then you take a sandwich or an apple to school and after school is the big meal of the day at three o'clock. Usually included in this is some sort of vegetables as a soup or something similar, some meat and bread, lots of bread - at least for me. I have been here for three weeks and have had bull, baby bull, rabbit, and octopus - twice. I've only been eating meat for three months since being a vegetarian for over two years so the food has been an experience. Most meat is not lean or at least doesn't exist without strips of fat still on it which isn't too enjoyable but the food tastes great. Octopus I am really not a fan of. It's quite popular along the atlantic coast here and my family loves it. My brother enjoys taking my share but I will always try a bit. The first time they were full octopi, purple with eight legs and everything but only about an inch in total size. The second time there were eight lovely legs on a large platter that my mother cut into bite sized pieces. I ate two pieces hoping it would be like scallops, which I do like, but no. It's not just a texture thing - there were tentacles and suction things... The last meal of the day it your dinner, at nine thirty or ten. At this time you eat lunch type food; a sandwich or salad, croquettas or do a leftover night and finnish whatever you had that week.

The timing for dinner isn't a problem when going out - it's just like in Canada. You can go out for dinner with your friends or eat at home and get ready before going out. Only in Canada at ten we'd be leaving to go out not starting to get ready. Fiesta doesn't start till twelve or one here and you go home at four or six in the morning. This is normal. I have yet to do this but an entry entitled Fiesta is soon to come. Normal bed time is eleven thirty or twelve on weekdays; some days I'm really thankful for siesta.

One of my favourite things when meeting people is the kiss on each cheek. It feels so european and lacking a personal space bubble I think helps with meeting people - you always feel comfortable with a person even if you don't know them. You always feel welcome and like people really want to know you. Some other spanish/european habits I've noticed as being quite different are with driving. Not only are some roads impossibly small and tight between buildings or cliffs but everyone is in a hurry. Pedestrians don't always have the right of way and you can always make a parking spot - just bump the cars in front and behind where you want to go. Apparently you can tell who's a good driver because their car is full or scratches and not dents. I do enjoy all the roundabouts, I don't think my city actually has a stop sign. I have seen them here - they say STOP, in english.

I'm going to experience so much more culture so really this was a bad title but for a quick introduction it'll do.