The Spanish Experience: Part 2

So I'm just trying to blog as often as I can to make up for the fact that I've actually been super lazy while I've been here. Also I'm sick so I need to occupy myself. Especially because I now have a free weekend because of no singing lesson (boo! I hate being sick) But here is installment number two in my 'The Spanish Experience' series. Enjoy!

Want some free tapas with that caña?

Mañana

Here in Spain, mañana never actually means tomorrow. Ok so the translation means 'morning' or 'tomorrow' but no-one ever takes it literally. Mañana seems to mean anytime other than tomorrow. I've had friends say yeah lets do this this and that tomorrow. When I asked them the following day the say, 'Oh I didn't actually mean tomorrow??!'

Making Plans

So I'll be sitting in my room at like 10pm-11pm and get a text from a friend asking if I want to go out for drinks at midnight. In my mind I'm thinking 'Are you absolutely MAD! That's sleep time!'. This is because back home in Melbourne things are never open very late. Seriously. I know when I get home I'm going to be surprised that people go out so early and come back early. I'm used to this now, but at first I thought it was crazy. Things in Madrid are open quite late, and a club or a bar generally doesn't get really good until at least 2am. Going out at like 10pm is considered early. Back home. It's time to head home. Also here, plans are TOTALLY made at the last minute. Like 30 minutes before people are due to head out. That's something I;m not used to. I always make plans in advance, at least maybe a week or a few days. crazy.

Tapas

I think back home tapas is blown totally out of proportion and what I've had hasn't been like what I've had here. At home tapas are very complicated and fiddly, with 50 million toothpicks sticking out of it, oozing in sauce that contains every flavouring under the sun...Here tapas are much more simple which I like. It's also not just about that, but its about the great atmosphere of relaxing and having a tapa with your drink. You get a drink, and at most bars you get your tapas for free with your drink. Good idea. I very much think so. Usually you can get a portion of tortilla, some cheese and bread, something with potatoes, meat etc. And it's just nice. It's not this epicly complicated and expensive thing. So for all you back home who think you know your tapas. Come here and try it and then tell me what you think.

Shopping in the city. I do love rebajas.

Shopping

Yeah...This is a general thing that doesn't just apply to Spain. Shopping in Australia is expensive and most clothes are of very crappy quality. I don't think I can bear the thought of going home to the most awful selection of shops! We don't even have an H&M for god's sake. they only JUST opened a Zara in Australia, and Zara is very overrated. I rarely go in there. But I've found excellent shopping at places like Stradivarius, Pull & Bear, Blanco (all Spanish brands) and H&M. I'm going to have to stock up before I leave.

Drinking hot drinks out of a glass

Someone tell me who thinks this is a good idea??? 'Oh look. a hot drink in a glass...let me just pick it up with my bare hands and see what happens'...At least back home they have handles. If they had handles I would have no problem, but apparently drinking out of just a normal glass cup is normal...I prefer the idea of a mug. Alot of people don't think the same as I do...

Saying Please

Here people don't say please very often. It's generally implied in the tone of voice. Well, that's what I've been told. I've gotten many a stare from people at cafes when I say please too much. I mean, in English we say it quite often, and its normal, but here its just different. It even like answering the phone with 'dime' (tell me) or just 'Si' (yes). At home we say Hello or Hello this is blah blah speaking, who is calling blah blah. Ahhh culture.