-Myth #1: The Spanish dress more conservatively...False (sorry Mom all those new clothes we bought so I would fit in, well I didn't need them..)I mean from what I have seen so far.. The majority of the population of Cadiz is old people so of course they dress more conservatively, however the few young people I have seen dress the same as American's. When I told my host Wife that my Mom bought me long shorts and skirts and conservative bikinis she laughed.
-Myth #2: Spaniards tan topeless....True, well at least here in Cadiz they do. It most definitely caught me off guard. Not to mention, all the men wear shorter board shorts than the long shorts I just purchased!
-Myth #3: Spaniards talk with their hands...True, they are very enthusiastic talkers and thank God or else I would have no idea what they were saying.
-Myth #4: They always kiss on the cheek...True, they do, to say hello, to say goodbye, and when you meet someone as well. I always mess up and kiss to far or too close and they laugh at me. Hopefully in a couple weeks I'll have it down to a system.
Yesterday we walked around the town of Cadiz with the children. The Spanish really like their shoes and candy, I have never seen so many shoe stores and there is a candy store at every corner! We also went downtown. The city is very old, I mean they still have the wall up from when the Spanish were defending themselves from Napoleon's conquest. To live in downtown Cadiz is equivalent to owning a house at Newport Beach. When dinner hit (4 o'clock) the family ran around trying to figure out what I could eat for dinner that was Sin Gluten (without gluten), we finally decided on "Hollywood" an american restaurant. Where the inside looked like Red Robbin and the menu looked like Chilis and they played American movie music in the background.
If you can't read Spanish it says that the restaurant has authentic American food... I never considered the fact that our food could be referred to as authentic.
Next we went to the Cathedral De Cadiz, it was huge and beautiful. The majority of Cadiz and Spain for that matter is very catholic. I don't even think there is a christian church in all of Cadiz!
From left to right. Jaime, Nacho, and Caroline. I have no idea why the kids look so unhappy... I swear they like me! I think its a thing in Spain to not smile for pictures?
Then we climbed to the top of this giant tower that overlooked all of Cadiz. The father knew someone who lived there. The family seems to know everyone. Today he told me that he managea 70 buildings in the south of Spain. He is a lawyer, a tax breaker, and a financial advisor. Almost every friend they have owns some type of Bar (bars in spain are cafe's, you always eat at a bar).
As for the clothes in the stores and the mall (the mall is like a giant macy's, everything is in one store), they are exactly the same as America, they even play top 40 American hits, and I even found the same exact bathing suit I almost bought in Cali.As for my spanish... it is most definitely a work in progress. I can barely understand anything my host family is saying to me, but it is very slowly improving. Today I had a whole conversation in broken spanish with the host husband. I was so proud:).
Today after the mall, we went to the beach which is across the street from they live. The beaches are beautiful!.
The last culture difference I have observed so far in Spain is their eating habits. I'm literally hungry all the time. For those of you who know me well you should know I eat about 5 meals a day and inbetween I am constantly snacking. In spain we have a light breakfast(bread and fruit) and then we dont eat again till 3-4 and then if your still hungry youll have another snack(sometimes a meal) at 9. Ive already been through all my extra snacks for the plane, maybe ill learn enough spanish soon to ask for more food. Tomorrow we leave for Novo Sancti Petri, where the family owns their second home. More adventures to come soon!
Stay real California.
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