?Howdy!??The security guard taking passports at the customs checkpoint stared back at me with confusion. It was at that moment that I realized that I was far from home. As a girl who grew up in a small town in East Texas, I had limited experience with traveling, let alone crossing the Atlantic Ocean to experience Spain. I did not know what to expect from Spain because my view of the country had only been framed from stereotypes and vibrant images depicted in movies such as flamenco dancers and bullfighting. My first impressions of the country proved to be quite different.
As soon as we exited the plane, we were caught during Spain?s siesta. The different timing and pace of life within Spain was something I did not expect. Most restaurants, coffee shops, and stores do not open until later in the morning such as 9 or 10 am. The natives take a siesta in the afternoon where small businesses close for a 2?3 hour break in the day. It has been interesting learning to adjust my own daily routine and eating times to fit the culture.
Another aspect of specifically, Barcelona, that I did not expect to navigate was the use of public transportation. Many citizens of Barcelona do not possess driver’s licenses and rather make use of the metro and bus stations regularly. It has been interesting to use a metro card, mapping out routes before leaving my apartment, and utilizing these modes of transportation to get to certain parts of town. Barcelona is built for walking with its numerous sidewalks and alleyways.
Spain has proven to possess the vibrant and diverse culture I originally expected. I am excited to dive deeper throughout this study abroad experience.