What Makes a Spaniard?

Saturday February 16, 2008

For the record, it’s impossible to sleep-in in Spain. Every weekend morning at 9:00am I wake up. I think my internal clock is set to wake me up at this time, yet on the weekends it gets a little old. If you know how to re-set this clock, fill me in, I’d love to know. On the other hand, it’s a great way to get things done early in the morning instead of waiting until later in the day (a.k.a. homework time). After lunch Allison and I decided to go walking around the Barrio de Santa Cruz. We looked through about 20 or so different shops and stopped every once and a while to take pictures. It was a good way to break up the day from homework and to just get out for a while. Today was warm enough to get a sunburn, hence Sam’s shoulders, and it was great weather to just walking around in. I always like spending time with Allison. While we do have some similarities our personalities are very different. I’m glad that I have a good friend like her with me here. I think without that I’d be more lost but its nice knowing that our friendship is a constant here. In other news, a group of men called Allison and I Germans as we walked by them today! Woohoo, I wasn’t tagged as an American and I loved it. While I do love back home, the American’s that are here drive me completely crazy. Maybe its just because I’m used to living here now and how to act in public, but I can spot an American a mile away. I don’t think that they understand that you can look as “Spanish” as you’d like, but once you open your mouth and act uncivilized you are easily spotted. Personally I’ve given up the battle of looking like a Spaniard, the blonde hair is a dead giveaway, and have moved onto more acting like a Spaniard. There are many things that make up a Spaniard, but the following list highlights a few important factors:

1. Self-confidence is a must. I have never seen so many people wear spandex and leggings in my life. While some can pull it off, there are others who should never attempt but still wear them solely because they have the self-confidence to do so.

2. Shoes: You must have the right shoes on, always. Did you know that some bars and especially clubs won’t let you in if you don’t have the right shoes on? Tennis shoes are never a good option, unless they are designer.

3. Never move out of the way for anyone, you always have the ride away. When cars are coming at you, should you stop? No! Why not? Because you are a Spaniard.

4. Even though you don’t understand the English language, buy t-shirts that have incorrect English phrases on them.

5. Spaniards think that the mullet and the rattail are in. Wrong. They are sadly mistaken on this popular belief, yet 1 of every 3 males decides to sport one, if not both. 

6. Eat bread with every meal. “Pan del dîa” (bread of the day) is a necessity when consuming any Spanish dish. Forty cents for a fresh loaf of warm bread on the way home…who wouldn’t buy it?

7. Buy a dog and take it with you everywhere you go. Have I mentioned that this isn’t grass in Spain? Think about what problems that a dog and no grass create…

8. Finally, buy a pack of cigarettes and smoke them all in one sitting. Buy another pack and smoke some more. Realize that smoking is big here and go into the tobacco business or buy a bunch of Bic lighters to sell on the streets.