11 enero - 15 enero 2010
Stressed.
This is the only word that I can think to describe myself after living less than two weeks in Spain. Maybe it was the delayed flight, the missed connection, the lost luggage, or the withheld debit card, but probably it was the combination, on top of not being prepared to feel stressed at all. After all, is it not Europeans, and Spaniards more specifically, who live relaxed lives, taking siestas during the middle of the day to enjoy good food and the company of friends? I had none of that in my first few days in Spain.
However, I did not come out of this experience empty and frustrated. I learned not to use an ATM machine which isn't attached to a bank, especially when traveling in a foreign country. I also realized quickly that these incidents, in a way, reflect on the tranquil Spanish culture. It's not just the siesta that marks their slow-paced lifestyle, its how they look at all aspects of life. I was frustrated because I thought with my stubborn American mindset, that "if this were an American airline I'd have made my connection" and "in the United States they would have delivered both suitcases on the same trip". Luckily, I outgrew that frustration and began to appreciation their culture. Allowing oneself to just slow down and not let these type of events become stressful is one of the larger differences I've noticed between people from the United States and people from Spain, thus far.
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