Early In

So it has been 3 weeks now since I have arrived in Spain.  I’m not sure if time is going by quickly or slowly because 3 weeks doesn’t sound like too long of a time, but it has definitely been long enough for me to become comfortable living here.  Even though I have become comfortable here, there is still not a doubt that there are some major differences between Spain and Canada – social, physical, and cultural.

Everybody I have met has been very friendly, whether they are from Spain or other parts of Europe.  It is also extremely common to greet others with a kiss on either cheek which is very different from the simple “hey” we give to others in Canada.  People here also do things much later in the day than we would at home such as eating dinner (at 9 or 10 in the evening) or going out at night (between 1 and 2am).  I also feel like they generally all have very laid back personalities, which I feel is also a trait many Canadians are thought to have and many do have - especially in British Columbia.  The difference between being laid back in Canada and laid back in Spain is that in Canada everybody is still very “go, go, go.”  In Spain, there are fiesta times, where businesses are closed in the afternoon for about three hours or so a day.  On Sundays, it is very rare to find anything open and on a regular day businesses close fairly early (unless you are a bar or a restaurant).  In Canada, businesses stay open late to be convenient for all.  Therefore, there is not the option of running to Tim Horton’s late at night to grab a coffee or any late night trips to Wal-Mart or Shopper’s Drug Mart.  It is very rare to even see anyone walking with a coffee in a to-go cup or to go somewhere to pick up takeout if you don’t have time to cook.  I think they generally believe there is plenty of time for everything.  Instead of grabbing a coffee to go they would rather sit outside a cafe and enjoy it and instead of getting takeout they would rather take the time to enjoy their meal.

Murcia is very physically different from Cranbrook and from Canada.  Instead of walking out the door everyday and seeing maple and pine trees (which I love) there are palm and orange trees (which I also love).  In the town there are many cultural landmarks such as a 15^th Century Cathedral, Mar Menor, the Casino, and many museums.  So you can imagine how different it feels to walk around your town and have a gigantic cathedral that is centuries old only minutes from your home.  Driving in Murcia would be an event in itself.  The roads are set up very different than they are at home and drivers are extremely aggressive on the road.  When I first arrived I would sit on the bus with clenched fists wondering if I would make it from A to B without getting into the largest car pile up to happen in history.  One thing that is very comforting about Murcia because it is similar to home is the endless number of mountains that surround the city.