I think every person from the U.S. who visits Spain can pick out the one thing that makes the country so different from America. It's not the food. It's not the landscape. It's not even the architecture. For me personally, the most radical thing in Spain is the atmosphere and the attitudes of the people I have met. It's the fact that shops are open from 10-2 and from 5-8 whereas U.S. stores are open from 9-6. It is the concept of s siesta, 3 course meals, and 1 month of vacation in the summer. Not to mention the option for a 3 year maternity leave. And staying up til 7 in the morning at a fiesta. Here in Spain, the atmosphere is much more focused on enjoying life. People take more time to relax and enjoy the weather. They take a coffee at a nearby cafe with their close friends for a few hours. There is no need to rush. They live in the moment, and let the future stay in the future.
In the past four days, I have gone surfing, paragliding, and hiking in an absolutely beautiful part of the country. I have paid less attention to homework and more attention to merely living in the moment. I definitely feel like Spain and the U.S. need to get together. America needs to give Spain a little taste of the concept of production and future planning, but in turn, Spain needs to tell the U.S. to chill and enjoy some sangria. I am extremely grateful for the experience I have had in Spain. When people said that studying abroad really opens your mind, I never understood how true their claims were. Studying abroad is immersing yourself in a lifestyle, in a completely different state of mind. I have loved this experience, and I cannot wait to explore the atmosphere in other parts of the world.
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