Wednesday, September 17, 2014

Things to Know Before We Move to Spain

It still hasn't hit me yet that Mike and I are moving to Spain, and it probably won't until we've literally arrived in Spain. Even as I was looking up these 'things to know before moving to Spain' tips I was just kind of like, "I can't believe we're moving to Spain, this isn't happening. I must be dreaming." No need to pinch me though! I'm well aware that I'm awake and it is in fact happening, it's just such a crazy thought. I've always wanted to live in Europe ever since my first trip back in like 2005-ish I just never thought it would actually happen. I'm still bamboozled over the whole thing, I think we both are. Mike's never been to Europe so I know he's super excited as well, but I think he may be a tiny bit nervous too. Europe is different from the USA, and each country inside Europe is different from one another, plus our families are no longer just an hour long plane ride away or a 4 hour drive away from us, they're an entire ocean's length away from us. And I think that's what makes him nervous the most (Don't worry Mama and Papa Zaragoza, I'll take good care of your son!). I don't blame him for it I'm nervous about that as well, but there's always Skype and Facetime!

 I've just realized that I've gone completely off track of what I was supposed to talk about here!

 Okay, back to the topic at hand. I was looking up some helpful tips to know before we move to Spain because I prefer not to stick out like a sore thumb just because I don't know the ways of the Spanish world. I found some pretty interesting ones and I thought I'd share them with all of you :)

 TIPS TO KNOW!
  1. If it's your birthday don't expect anyone to buy you a drink or shower you with gifts/Happy Birthdays! There will be none of that. They've got the birthday thing completely wrong. When it's your birthday you have to treat your friends and colleagues. And if it's your kid's birthday they have to bring a giant bag of goodies to school to share with everyone. So what if it's my birthday and someone else plans a dinner for me and a few friends at a restaurant, do I have to pay for it? Hmmmm. I'd rather stay home and pay for no one!
  2. Don't go to the beach in August because everybody and they're mama is going to be there. If you want to eat at a restaurant on the beach be prepared to wait a very long time to get served, to get your food, and to pay your bill. 
  3. Don't go into the bank/post office/mechanic's between 9.30 and 11 in the morning. There will be one over-worked, stressed-out, don't-you-dare-complain employee that will be holding down the fort.
  4. Children basically run the town apparently. Children are not only supposed to be heard and seen, but they're also to be picked up and cooed over at any possible chance. They're allowed to stay up as late as their parents during Summer holiday, and thought of as nothing but cute while they run and scream around your table when you're trying to enjoy a quiet drink. 
  5. Time is relative in Spain. The morning lasts until 2 pm, the afternoon runs until nightfall, and there's no word for evening. The very early hours have a special name: La madrugada.
  6. Don't attempt to buy a house, remodel your kitchen, renew your driver's license, make an insurance claim, see a doctor, give birth, etc. in August. All of Spain is not in, they're all at the beach. 
  7. I thought this one was weird. If you're in a gym locker room you say hello and goodbye to people as they enter/exit. It's considered rude if you don't. But it's like I don't even know you. I don't want to say hi to someone when I'm changing in a locker room, changing in a locker room is awkward enough as it is. 
  8. Eat lunch at 3 pm and dinner is at 10 pm. 
  9. Worry about what you wear to the grocery store. In a bigger city like Madrid wearing work out clothes to go grocery shopping is fine. But when in smaller cities like Girona or Zamora that is not an option. You've got to be properly outfitted. Sweatpants are a no-no. 
  10. Keep your guard up with your belongings, because if you don't your things will get stolen. Wonderful, right?
 All very good things to know! And it all seems pretty easy to adjust to. We shall see. 
If you'd like to see other tips, you can check out these websites I've linked down below.
xx - Amanda 
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