- Granada is the most beautiful city I've ever seen. Words do not do it justice. It's surrounded by mountains and the "Sierra Nevada", which is a very beautiful mountain range. The landscape looks something straight out of a magazine.
- The plugs here are different. I had to buy a plug adapter and wattage converter so I wouldn't fry my electronics.
- Gellato is amazing. It comes in almost any flavor. They have "heladarias" (ice cream shops) everywhere!
- The streets here aren't anything like you'd find in the US. They aren't paved with just cement. They are like little cobblestones...and they are TINY. Most of them are like one lane roads.
- Motorscooters, mopeds, etc (besides walking) are the preferred method of transportation. It seems like everyone here has a moped, and they drive them like they are in a race. Crazy Spaniards!
- Cars here are more like little compact toys. They are tiny (I guess to fit in those tiny little streets.) I haven't seen anything like an SUV.
- Spaniards get up early and eat breakfast, go to work/school, get off at like 12:30, come home, cook a HUGE lunch (lunch here is the biggest meal of the day), take "siestas" (naps), then go back to work. It's the best schedule ever. They need to implement this in the US.
- People also stay up until like 1 or 2 am here. They don't eat lunch until 2-3, dinner until 9-10.
It's a crazy eating schedule I'm trying to adjust to. I eat a lot of "meriendas" (snacks) in between meals. - My host family is amazing. It's this cute little older couple named Josefina and Paco. They call me their "hija pequena" (little daughter) or "guapa". :) Neither of them speak or understand English. It's kind of frustrating at times. I feel like my brain is going to explode from trying to speak Spanish all the time.
- Josefina is an amazing cook! Spanish food here is one of the best I've ever eaten.
- I had a four course meal today: They always start off with "tapas" (little appetizers/ small portions of almost anything - mostly meats and cheeses and bread). Then I had some kind of soup and fish and pickles (not like in the US - much better) and almonds. Then for dessert they always have fruit - tons of it. Bananas, apples, oranges, cherries, etc. Then after allllll that, we have tea or coffee with "dulces" (sweets).
- The food in Spain is much healthier than the US. Everything is fresh and soooo good. However, I have seen a McDonalds, Burger King, and a Dunkin' Doughnuts (but they are much different as well)!
- People here dress VERY fashionable. It seems like all the women here wear some type of heel ALL THE TIME, whether it be an actual high heel or wedge. Most of the people look like they stepped out of a magazine from Banana Republic.
- People can definitely tell when you're American. You don't even have to look lost or speak at all. They can just tell. It's like they have a little radar embedded in them.
- The Spanish have a fascination with Spongebob. I have no idea why.
- People have wayyy different manners here. They will just bump into you and not say "oh, excuse me". I learned that real quick. At dinner, if you want something on the table, you just get up and get it. You don't always say "thank you" or "please". I guess it's just the culture.
- THE SPANISH LOVE DOGS. There are "perritos" everywhere. Like- EVERYWHERE, and they are so well mannered. Many of them aren't even on leashes. And if their owners want to go into a store they just leave their dog on the street. The dog just sits there and waits.
- They love their "futbol" (soccer). I cannot wait to go to a game. Apparently people here in Granada love the team Barcelona!
- I'm still confused by the system they use to tell time (military time) and weather (Celsius).
- The Spanish also like to listen to American music that is popular today. I've heard so many songs here that are on the radio back home. It's a little strange because no one here understands English.
So far, that's all I can think of. Like I said, it's very different here.
I started school today. The building that I have class in is BEAUTIFUL. I absolutely love love love my teachers - although none of them speak English. I guess that's another thing I've noticed....no one here speaks any English what so ever. I mean some people in Madrid knew English (but I guess that is because it's a bigger city and more for tourists as well).
Oh well, I guess it's a chance for me practice my Spanish even more!
