Studying abroad is kind of like that. I still love this place, but there are definitely some differences in culture I'm beginning to notice a lot more. I also miss having certain things that only being at home could provide, which I have listed below.
1. Common courtesy
Not that people are intentionally being rude here, but it's just part of their culture to not say "excuse me/pardon me" in public. The only time I hear anyone say "excuse me" is when they accidentally bump into someone else. People just kind of squeeze by or push you out of the way. And on the street, people just don't get out of your way. It's also not super common for people to say "thank you" if you open the door for them, or pick up their dropped papers, or anything of the nature. It may come across as rude to us, but I just think that's the norm here and they think nothing of it.
2. Junk food
Never thought I would say this, but being away from salty, fatty snacks creates this indescribable craving that you can't get rid of. I splurged on a hostess-style brownie the other day from the vending machine--and then to my surprise, thought it was disgusting and felt horrible afterward. Weird, weird, weird. I want it, but can't even enjoy it anymore. Even the delicious looking croissant below gave me a stomach ache for nearly 8 hours.
3. HUGE coffees
A normal size coffee here is literally a cup. No, not a coffee cup, but like a measuring cup size. If you want an "american sized" coffee, the only place you can find them is at McDonald's (and even then, their sizes are smaller and cost the same).
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| Coffee and Nutella-filled croissant, which can be found at any café. This coffee was actually a bit larger than at most other cafés, but still not enough to satisfy my coffee addiction. |
4. Normal dinner time
Dinner in Spain is optional, or something very small (like a plate of steamed vegetables or bread and cheese). Since the main meal, lunch, is at 2 p.m., you have to eat quite a bit to hold yourself over. If you do eat dinner, it's at 9 p.m. which is a 7-hour gap between the meals. Tough.
5. Free water
Fresh water is a lot more scarce here, so if you go out to eat or are out and about, you have to actually buy water, which can add up. One tiny water bottle is 1 euro. To satisfy my thirst (due to all the heat and sweating) I would have to buy like 5 waters per day. And then if you decide to have a drink or two at the bar, you can't re-hydrate between drinks unless you want to pay the price. I decided to buy a large water bottle that I could just fill at home to bring with me to class and such.
6. Long, hot showers
Like I said, water is scarce. Don't leave the water running, ever. Also, the shower stays hot for about 2 minutes, so I prefer to turn the water off while I'm lathering so I can rinse with hot water before it runs out mid-shower. Showers here are not to enjoy and relax, they're to get yourself clean.
7. Accessible bathrooms in public
Restaurants and fast food joints won't let you use the bathroom unless you buy something. I've only found one place that I've been able to get away with using their bathroom without a purchase and that's at 100 Montaditos. And then many times, there's no soap and toilet paper and the guy/girl bathrooms are combined. Blasphemy!
8. Last but not least: A car
Public transportation is great for the environment and usually pretty darn convenient, but there's so much walking involved everywhere. I can't just hop in a car and be somewhere instantly. And then there's still places that the tram doesn't reach, so you don't always have that option. I better lose some weight from all this walking, that's all I have to say!
So, there you have it. It's not always butterflies and rainbows here, but I can manage to give up these few American conveniences to experience Alicante's rich culture, friendly people, sight-seeing, diverse shops and restaurants, beaches, perfect weather and healthy lifestyle!
