Differences #1

Walking is hard. I didn't really realize it until my family came to visit. I mean, walking around the streets was kind of difficult when I first arrived, but I mostly chalked it up to the fact that we were in a giant, clueless tourist group. But during my time in Spain, I've changed the way I walk around on the street. When I walked places in Salamanca with my friends, we walked in tight-knit groups, where there wasn't a ton of space between us so we wouldn't have to separate from one another when dodging other tight-knit groups on the street. My family, however, walks in this giant blob of separated individuals. And there are only four of us, but we take up SO MUCH SPACE. It's just very interesting to me because I've adopted the Spanish notion of no personal space when interacting with people. I walk very close to whoever I'm talking with, and it drives me nuts when they wander out of the tiny bubble of conversation I'm used to. Sorry to use you as an example, family, but I didn't notice that was something that had changed about me until y'all got here!

It makes me wonder what it'll be like when I finally do get home. Because Spain is all about these cramped little streets and walking everywhere while you bump into the rest of the city, and America is just wide open spaces. Everywhere. I suppose it's a little different seeing American habits and Spanish habits right next to each other, and when I get home the big spaces won't seem so pronounced because there aren't as many little spaces. But I do have a feeling I will be all up in everyone's personal bubble. Moral of the story being, if I'm in your space when I get home, keep in mind that I just spent 4 months with half of Spain in my personal bubble. I no longer feel like I'm encroaching on your territory. If you slowly back away, I may follow you. It'll probably wear off eventually, but until then, sorry team!