My first apartment in Spain! I say first, because the last time I lived in Spain I lived with a host mom in her apartment, but this time, the apartment is all mine! (And my two other roommates, Virginia and Davinia!)
I live in a nice but noisy part of town, near the city center. It is noisy because on weekends people leaving bars always walk down my street. But it hasn’t been too bad so far. I have my own room, plus we have a kitchen, living room, terrace, bathroom and a spare bedroom. Virginia and Davinia have their own bedrooms as well.
I have a nice big window in my room, plus a bed, dresser, bookshelf, closet and nightstand.
I think this is as good a time as any to discuss a topic I call ‘what Americans take for granted.’ It will be a major theme, I think, to my stay here in Spain.
Item number 1: clothes dryers. No one in Spain uses them (or has them)! You know that nice, warm, soft feeling of clothes fresh from the dryer? Yeah, forget it. They hang clothes on the line or use drying racks indoors.
Item number 2: cars. Although many people have cars, almost everyone walks. Granted, everything here is much closer and takes only 5-10 minutes to walk to, but still, everyone walks.
Item number 3: clean air. Everyone smokes here. Although it is illegal in bars and restaurants as of a few years ago, everyone still smokes. Both of my roommates smoke, and they smoke inside the apartment. When they do, I open my window, shut my door, and light some candles. What else can I do?
I think the main theme through most of these items is convenience. Americans have so many conveniences that we take for granted, and we definitely live at a higher level of comfort than the rest of the world.
The hardest and yet most rewarding thing about this experience will be conforming to the quirks and differences of Spanish culture. Although they might not be the most comfortable, I will at least appreciate them and live with them.
So, appreciate your dryers, appreciate your cars, but keep your mind open to other cultures and other peoples’ way of life!