Pocas cosas raras

Some strange things

I think I've adjusted fairly well to a Spanish lifestyle. My friends have had trouble getting used to the eating schedule, but it's when I eat anyway: optional breakfast at 0900, snack at 1200, lunch at 1400, and dinner at 2200. I thought I would have problems finding food I like, but so far things are delicious! Even things Anabel makes for me, which I never would have tasted at home, I really enjoy! I tried chorizo at home and wasn't impressed, but here it's SO GOOD. I have a bocadillo (sandwich) of fancy French bread (1 euro for three!) with chorizo y queso every night before I go out. It takes a great deal of self control to walk past the panerías (bakeries for bread) and pastelerías (bakeries for croissants and neopolitanas and other delicious baked goods) both of which there are very, very many.

And I love the idea of siesta. Everything stops for an hour or so. It's just right for collecting thoughts, taking a break, bocadillos, everything. I'm going to keep having siesta when I go home.

Things I have not adjusted to yet:
- Figuring out what time it is when everything is in military time. Every night I think 2000 is 10pm but it's not. It's 8pm. Confusing, and pointless too because Spaniards say 8, not 2000.
- Outside my door is very bright, so every morning I forget to turn on the light in the staircase. By the time I get to the floor below me, it's too dark to see, so I have to feel around for the lightswitch, which, depending on what floor you're on, switches places with the doorbell. So most mornings I ring these peoples' doorbell and then run downstairs in the dark before they can open the door. I'm sorry, downstairs neighbors!
- Spaniards aren't polite. That's not to say they're not friendly or nice, but they don't waste words on "I'm sorry," "please," and "thank you" unless they really mean it. I can't stop saying any of those things. But they don't expect it and give me strange looks.
- They don't tip here. Awesome. This will be difficult when I go back to the states.
- English words are very cool here. Random English songs play all the time, everywhere. A few days ago I was in a bar eating breakfast, surrounded by children and other breakfasters, and 'Because I Got High' came on. Completely uncensored, which I hadn't ever heard before. And last night the bar we were in played John Lennon, old JLo, U2, various songs from the '50s, and Shakira, among other things that had nothing to do with each other.
- Oh yeah, people eat every meal in bars. Multipurpose.
- They LOVE Brad Pitt. LOVE. They don't care about Angie. Only Brad Pitt.
- Spaniards are very touchy-feely. Shop girls are always touching me as they point me to the dressing rooms.

I'm excited to get used to these things (but maybe not the music one). It's so much fun to live here and be familiar with such a beautiful little city. ¡Me encanta Granada!