El Choque Cultural

I. never. have. time. to. blog. After a most marvelous weekend in Madrid, I quickly transitioned back into regular life: classes, teaching English, intercambios, TV with my mom, and café con leche with my friends. For some reason, this schedule has not allowed me to catch up on (much needed) sleep! Además (furthermore), homework is so low on the priority scale (somewhere between terrible Spanish mini-series and showering) that I refuse to do it until midnight-ish the night before. Fortunately (?), I slept right through my three alarms and my nine am class today. And I’m using my free time to write an update!!

You may have noticed that my previous blog posts have not been bursting off the page with pure joy and Spanish bliss. Possibly because I have not been bursting with pure joy and Spanish bliss. During orientation, they brought in a psychologist to talk with us about “el choque culture” (ie culture shock or cultural adjustment). Since I had received this talk many times with Amigos de las Americas and TU study abroad, the information was nothing new. In fact, all I remember from the talk is doing a role play about greeting people with a kiss on each cheek, and how this is strange for Americans (stranger still during a role play with all Americans). However, I have experienced my fair share of culture shock in the last month… feelings of frustration when nobody smiles on the street… feeling like an infant unable to meet my basic needs… feeling like my Spanish is somehow (impossibly?) getting worse… and feeling as though I will never meet Spanish friends and fully infiltrate Spanish society (yes, infiltrate, like a spy). I have been fortunate to find like-minded American friends who share my goals (principally, becoming as close to fluent as four months will allow, and becoming as close to Spanish culture as four months will allow). The only problem with wonderful like-minded friends is that you have somebody to lament your shortcomings with! Just last Thursday, we ate delicious pastries, reflected that we’ve been in Salamanca nearly a month, and moaned about our progress. “Why aren’t we doing better?” “Will we ever find Spanish boyfriends?” (just kidding). “We thought we’d be further along by now,” “boo hoo,” etc. etc.

This is when a weekend in Madrid with friends from Tulsa comes in very very handy. We juggled extensively. We spent an entire day in a beautiful, gigantic park. We had a picnic in our hostel. And we talked about our study abroad lives. While discussing my issues with my beautiful and wonderful Tulsa people, my darling roommate Whitney reminded me of what I have accomplished in the past month: picking up and moving my life to a foreign country. Okay, okay. Maybe I need to give myself a little credit. Therefore, I have decided to blog about (drumroll please) a list of my accomplishments in Salamanca so far. Be prepared to be envious and inspired. I will try not to toot my own horn too much. (Sorry. But does anybody know a better expression for “toot my own horn?”)

1. Laundry

Impressive, right? Since I arrived to Salamanca with a suitcase full of dirty clothes and very few clean ones, I pretty much immediately followed my friends’ suggestions to a laundromat on their street. It’s a nice small place that smells strongly of cigarette smoke (strange for a place where clothes are cleaned). There I left the dirtiest clothes of my life and all of my unmentionables with a somewhat scary ponytailed muscle man. I proceeded to be a bit preoccupied for the entire hour and half duration, but when I rescued my clothes, they smelled good and were neatly folded (although I don’t like to think of him folding my unmentionables!). Since again using the same place, I’ve decided that ponytail man and I will probably be friends someday.

2. Winning the Affection of My Host Mom/ Being a Good Eater
(essentially the same thing)

My host family is clearly accustomed to having Americans and foreigners of every variety in their home- my mom has been taking in students from the university for over ten years. While things went well at first, I thought we might just have a pleasant working relationship. I never really knew if she actually liked me! Last week, the IES director and housing person came to check out the homestay and take pictures for IES publicity. I was in class when they visited (avoiding what would have been pretty awkward), but my host mom provided me a full report. Apparently, she told them that I spend a lot of time with her, keep my room very clean, and “come bien.” And I do eat well! Whether its fish and a fried egg, or a heaping plate of paella with almost a whole chicken in it, I almost always manage to clean my plate. This has solidified my bond with my host mom (who actually compliments me quite often on my eating habits). It also scored points with the IES staff, who apparently replied that I am “maga” (after a quick check with my friends, I learned that this translates to “good person!”) Happy day!

Sidenote: in other food related accomplishments, I am also impressing Americans with my capabilities. When our program went to a fancy lunch, we were served a giant, rich, creamy chocolate dessert on a plate covered with powdered sugar. I was one of two to finish, and the boys on my program were very impressed. Cute, huh?

A final note on food: I am slowly learning the names of various tapas (which are small portions of appetizers served with wine for the low low price of 2 euros). Before leaving town, I hope to be able to order without using gestures and words like “this” and “that” while motioning at the case of tapas.

3. Being a Good Walker

Okay, so nobody has complimented me on my walking. But I thought I should mention my primary form of exercise after talking about all that eating. And I do spend a hefty portion of my day as a pedestrian. I have learned well the 25 minute walk between home and school, which takes me directly through the Plaza Mayor about four times a day (not bad!). Since the elementary school where I teach is in the opposite direction, I have also mastered taking the bus when I have to hurry from one place to another. Although Salmantinos walk from place to place as necessary, it is also the collective city’s pastime. My friends and I have adapted to “dando un paseo” (going for a stroll) and window shopping with the locals (who take window shopping very, very seriously). The weather is finally getting better, and the streets are only going to get more crowded. I can’t wait!

4. Las clases

The most exciting part of study abroad! Really, I have to give myself credit for attending all of my classes in the Spanish language. Even if they are boring. Even if I accidently skipped the most boring one today. I’ve also tried university classes, including a history course on the Inquisition. The professor just paced and paced and talked and talked, and although he promised he didn’t bite, I didn’t believe him. He talked about forcing us to participate by calling our names off a list and he explained a complicated assignment that included books that are no longer in print. Day one, I maintained my positive attitude. Day two, I tried to stick with him. Then, as class progressed, I started planning which clothes to buy while everything is on sale. After class, I ran away (straight to the stores), never to return.


Okay, I can tell this list is progressively getting more boring. But that’s just the point! I’m mastering daily life. And this week, I’ve slowly been moving on to more exciting tasks. Bursting with pure Spanish joy version of blog to come soon.