I absolutely hated my first day in Spain. The excitement of traveling to Europe wore off about two hours into my red eye. I realized that I didn’t feel well and I couldn’t sleep at all. I arrived to a dreary morning in Madrid. I carried ridiculously large suitcases and backpacks; the days before I left were hectic, so I was in no way prepared or packed properly. After a series of “Ls” that day, including getting stuck in pouring rain and hail as the drought in Madrid ended momentarily, I desperately needed a nap. However, I arrived at my residence only to realize that I did not have any sheets. At this moment, I was a mess and I felt unsettled. I felt as if I had no idea how I was going to live here for four months, which is not my usual attitude at all.
As I write this, I am two weeks into study abroad and I can genuinely say that I am enjoying my time here. Granted, some moments are stressful, and I do get some flashes of homesickness or missing friends. However, I am slowly but surely adapting to the Spanish way of life. In many ways, I have found that choosing to study in Madrid for a semester not only separates me from campus temporarily, but also challenges me overcome entirely the stress culture on the Hilltop. Here in Spain, the people seem to have adopted almost a form of Zen into their daily lives; they focus primarily on one thing at a time.
Forget about eating on-the-go in a rush. Grocery stores barely carry any granola bars. Eating an apple while walking to class will elicit stares, as I learned in my first week. Spaniards give time to meals and especially meals with others, whether they be family, friends, or co-workers. Spaniards typically enjoy coffee in cafes on short breaks, instead of drinking coffee from a desk or table at work. Waiters may not bring the bill in a timely manner, but no one gets frustrated. The server must either be too busy watching a goal from the soccer game or simply expect you to pass time at the restaurant. Many shops close for the siesta. I’ve learned to take some time for myself to relax after classes rather than jumping into homework.
I’m repeatedly surprised when Spaniards’ responses to many stressful situations is the opposite of what I am accustomed to. For example, I had to attend extra classes the first week to figure out which ones to register for. As I was struggling to keep track of professors and assignments, one Spanish student simply told me, “It’s crazy, but we are Spanish; we do not worry.” Spaniards are not lazy or too relaxed. Rather, they have given priority to those aspects of life that sometimes become secondary in the midst of the packed schedules of Georgetown students. There is a time for everything: a time for family, a time for friends, a time to work and, of course, a time to eat. I wonder if I will be able to hold on to the Spanish way when I return to the United States, or if I will be thrown right back into my American lifestyle all over again.