PART 3//

9. A whole new meaning to 'resting b**** face'
When I arrived I was intimidated by the stares/glares I got on the metro and in the streets. Many of my friends had the same issue. Whether you smiled or not did not matter everyone would stare and nobody would smile. For Aussies and Americans this feels rude and strange but here it is the norm. My politics professor told us not to worry, they are not judging you, the culture here is just to stare, so I went for it and now I do the same, it is quite enjoyable actually. Coming from a culture where people do not look at each other on public transport - because it is rude, and now being able to let my eyes wander around the public space such as metros is actually, very interesting.

10. Walking
Yes this had to have a separate dot point and it was necessary to include this! Haha… My friends and I are fast walkers and also late people. We like to leave the house as late as our Google maps will allow, with enough walking time to get from A to B and arrive on the dot. WE NEVER LEARN. This is not a good idea because, A. Spaniards walk incredibly slowly and B. They like to drift across the path. I want to walk across the path over here to the left… Nahh, I like the right side of the path best… Wait no, let's drift to the middle of the path in a large group blocking everyone from walking around us... Do you get the picture? It is both incredibly hilarious and frustrating to weave your way through the crowd and I do not recommend it. Leave early, like I never do, and you will be fine drifting along however you please.
**Also I'd like to mention the paths and metros in the center of Madrid are brilliant and super easy! On the weekends it is incredibly crowded like most other places you travel too. My point is, getting around generally is a breeze.

11. Lady who can't sing dilemma
When I first moved into my apartment I said to my new housemate... "Oh there is a lady playing the accordion outside my window, does she play that every day, she is very bad at playing it and even worse at singing the notes". My housemate responded with, "yes she plays at the same time every day and only knows 3 s***ty songs", I sighed... great. Then he responded with "trust me you will get used to it and soon you won't be able to sleep/wakeup without the noises". He has since finished his exchange and gone home to the Netherlands, but yes he was right! The lady that plays the accordion awfully outside my bedroom window, and sings (screeches) only the notes, not the lyrics, is now apart of my life. She helps me study, sleep, and chill out. There is always something going on below my window. Whether it is seeing African refugee's selling goods, police riding their horses through the streets, people breakdancing, people tap-dancing, protests, parades, violin players, dog walkers, there is always something going on in Madrid!

12. Homeless people are everywhere
Coming from an area where homeless people are not seen sitting on the side of the street asking for money very often, makes coming to Madrid very shocking for me. Living in the center of the city means seeing a homeless person on almost every street you turn into. It is something to keep in mind as Spain's economy is still struggling and unemployment rates are high. Protests are often seen in the city center in Sol and throughout the surrounding streets. In January, I read an article stating Spain is the third most visited country in the world with 68.1 million tourists. Spain needs tourists for their economy, nevertheless, I think tourists need to be more aware of the people who live in the country they are visiting and of Spains economic situation. Too many times have I overheard ignorant English comments in the streets and it has often made me feel ashamed to be apart of the same language/cultural group.

13. Famous last words, "I never get sick"
So I read an article recently saying new research had found that the flu in Spain lasts for a longer amount of time than in most other countries around the world. I can't tell you how or why that is, but I can tell you that it definitely feels true. My friends and I have been sick many, many times and I do not think that our inexperience with Spanish bugs is purely to blame. So get the flu shot before you come or you will probably get sick!

14. Embrace the corazón (heart)
To leave this blog on a high note - as I realize I sound like someone off the British Television show "Grumpy Old Women" I'd like to discuss a cultural difference I find interesting. Spaniards at first do not come across as the warmest, because they are not coated in the Australian and American wide smile greetings. I have asked Spaniards and they find Aussies and Americans to come across a little 'fake' because of our way of greeting people with a great big wide smile, and a big "How's your day been!!?!" And I do see their point. I do not think Spain's customer service is very good, because they rarely smile and they don't talk to you, but that does not matter.. In my opinion they are honest with their thoughts and feelings. They are expressive.

When I first arrived I stayed in a Hotel for 2 nights. For those first 2 nights I heard Spanish couples arguing more intensively than I have ever heard in my entire life! When two of my new friends moved into their apartment together and I met with their land lady, she was intense. She repeated how she felt about them moving in many, many, MANY times, to the point where I started questioning whether my Spanish was improving in this moment, or whether I was just understanding more Spanish because I had been listening to the same words over, and over, and over again, IT WAS NUTS! She was nuts.
When I met my Spanish buddy we kissed on the cheeks and hugged and she told me everything about her life and her country.
Basically!.. What I am trying to say by using these three scenarios, is that I have found Spaniards to be very open and honest. I see English people shaking hands, sticking to their personal bubbles, and smiling brightly even when they are unhappy, or just simply tired. Whereas I see Spaniards openly popping each others personal space bubbles, and openly discussing how their 'heart' is (how they feel), even if it is in a confrontational way, honestly and bluntly, or simply very openly and sudden, it is both beautiful and enlightening. My aim is not to criticize English culture, but rather to express how intriguing and liberating it is to embrace how you feel and to be open and honest about it. If you are having a bad day, or just exhausted, it is okay to sit with it and embrace it. If you are feeling energetic and happy, it is okay to have a bounce in your footstep and a sparkle in your eye. Whatever you feel, just go with it, it is okay to embrace it. X