Cosas Pequeñitas

Hola!

In the Spanish language, when you add "ito/ita" to the ending of a word it indicates either smallness or affection. Thus, I created a list of the really little things I miss about home and decided to share it in this blog.

Las Cosas Pequeñitas 

1. My closet

Back at home, I have a nightly routine of standing in front of my closet and picking out my outfit for the next day. I like to turn on music and put combinations of clothes together until I find the perfect match. It's great not only because it's relaxing and fun, but it also saves me time in the morning! In essence, it's some value me time during my hectic days where I get to play with my fashion sense. 

Unfortunately, I do not get this luxury in Spain. For the past four months, I have been living out a suitcase and thus do not have a wide selection of clothing. Before coming, I prided myself on only bringing one suitcase that was under the 50 pound limit, which meant that I did not have much room for my clothes. I merely have "versatile" options. That is, my Segovian closet is filled plain colored shirts, neutrals, and jeans. It's pretty boring and definitely doesn't let me be creative with my fashion. I am so excited to have all my clothes when I return home! 

Ok so this isn't my closet, but a girl can dream, right?

2. Starbucks
If you know me at all, you know I am a coffee snob - and by that I mean I am extremely partial towards Starbucks. I relish in getting my tall, extra hot skinny vanilla latte every week. Unfortunately, Segovia does not have a local Starbucks. The closest location is an hour away in Madrid. Because of this, I only get to have the little cup of heaven when I travel, which equates to about once a month. My friends can attest to the fact that I freak out whenever I see a Starbucks and that I've even been collecting their mugs in every city I visit (I have six so far). Needless to say, I miss my weekly latte and the wonder that is Starbucks Coffee.

Sidenote: Starbucks > Caribou (sorry Lauren)

One tall, extra hot, skinny vanilla latte for me! 

3. The gym

Now, I absolutely love running in Segovia. It is actually the thing I am going to miss the most. With that being said, though, I still miss the gym at home. I miss my interval speed workouts on the treadmill, watching TV on the elliptical, and spending time doing resistance training in the weight room. I am excited to return and strengthen my arms and core again!

Let's work out! 

4. My favorite foods

I eat like a queen here. All of my meals are prepared by scratch and I don't have to lift a finger during clean-up (I still continue to offer my assistance, though). However, I do miss picking out my own meals and meal times. In addition, I miss my some of my favorite foods! The following foods are staples in my diet at home, and I have not had any of them during my time in Europe. I miss them!

A. Organic peanut butter

I have found peanut butter in Spain,
but it's nothing like organic peanut butter from home!

B. Black beans

I eat black beans almost every day at CSB/SJU

C. Ice in my drinks

Apparently ice is only an American food staple!

D. Oatmeal

Oatmeal is my go-to breakfast in the States

5. Cell service
I do have an iPhone in Spain, but I can only use its phone-like features when I have wifi. Thus, when I am outside of the house or walking on the streets, I cannot use it as a way to communicate. This has been especially frustrating during excursions or vacation as people easily get lost. I can't wait to return home and have my wonderful Samsung Galaxy 3S back and be able to call and text whenever I want- let alone use the internet too! 

Before the trip, I always took for granted the ability to call or text anywhere! 

Two days left in Segovia. Time flies.

Cheers,

Anna

America does it Better

Hola!

Now, I feel like I might have bashed the United States a little too hard yesterday, and thus felt compelled to write an entry entitled, America does it Better. That is, after months here I have also realized that there are many things that make more sense at home.

1. Meal times
After months of living in Segovia, I have learned quite a lot about Spanish food and their eating schedule. With this time, I have adapted, yes, but I am still not a fan. Namely, I do not like the large gap of time between la comida (lunch) and la cena (dinner). With this, I come home at night and am starving and thus stuff my face with food. Soon, I am extremely full and yet it is time for bed. I do not like this feeling! In the United States, on the other hand, I eat dinner around 7:00 PM, which gives my body time to work off the food and go to bed in a comfortable (or even slightly hungry) state - much better! 

2. Nightlife departure time
On a similar note, I do not like how late Spaniards leave to go to the bars and clubs. Now, I don't mean to sound like an old lady, but I can't handle leaving at 1:00 AM and coming home at 5:00 AM. It makes your next day miserable if you have to do anything, or it makes the day a waste if you sleep all day. Getting back at 1:00 AM, like I do in Minnesota, makes much more sense! With this, I can be asleep by 1:30 AM and still get seven hours of sleep when I start my day at 8:30 AM. Yet again, much better! 

3. Smoking
With all the research and public knowledge of its danger, why do people still smoke?! It baffles me everyday to see young people on the streets of Segovia lighting up with friends. Not only is it expensive, but it causes you to age and die quicker due to its negative health effects. In Minnesota, smoking is looked down upon and is not accepted in society. In Spain, on the other hand, it is a cultural phenomenon and is part of the social scene for all ages. It is both incredibly frustrating and sad. 

4. Store hours
In Spain, most people follow the no pasa nada lifestyle. That is, they do not feel compelled to pack their days and always be on the go. Spaniards wake up later, take afternoon siestas, and spend hours preparing and consuming meals with family. While I'll admit this is probably better than the US lifestyle, there are parts that frustrate me about it. One in particular is how the no pasa nada mentality affects the shops in town. That is, all stores (including supermarkets) are closed on Sundays. This can be frustrating and difficult, especially when you're hungry! Similarly, most tiendas (stores) do not have set store hours. They open when the owner chooses to arrive and close when the he or she decides to leave. I'll admit that the shop keepers try to keep a daily routine with this, but it is still irritating to not know the set hours. 

5. Education system
In Spain, you specialize your studies fairly early in your schooling. That is, there is less time to be "undecided" with your path in life. While I realize that there are pros and cons to this, I appreciate that the education system in the US allows (or even forces) students to spend time exploring their options in regard to major/specialty. I think it equates to greater happiness later in life.

Two days left in Segovia. Time flies.

Cheers,

Anna