Living in Sevilla
Trip Start
Jan 03, 2007
1
17
36
Trip End
May 19, 2007
Sevilla,
Spain
Tuesday, March 6, 2007
I feel as if I'm profoundly changing out here, for the better. Seeing the world through a different lense has been hugely beneficial - and I've been able to understand why I do things the way I do. It is fascinating after living in a different culture to look back and observe Americans: our efficiency, our impersonal way of living out life, and our wastefulness. Things just run slower here, and no one seems to mind. As Americans we are always very concerned about the future & making the most of our days. How many people (including myself) run their days by the day planners in their pockets & purses? So concerned we are about where we are going to be next month that we fail to realize the beauty in the present. Here, people simply are not concerned about where they need to be tomorrow, next week or even next year. Their entire orientation on time is different, more focused on the past, tradition and enjoying the present rather then planning for the future and missing out on the current moment in lieu of frantically planning for some coming happiness.
I don't feel as if I am completely shunning my home culture, it is just interesting to see that it is not the only way to do things. It is amazing how little the Spaniards are concerned about getting something done a certain way - they are masters of improvisation. They accomplish what they need to, without the stress pressed upon us by our strict timetables.
Also, everything here is done with a person. In the states if you want a red pepper you can go to the supermarket, grab the vegetable, self-checkout and be back in the car in 3 minutes. Here you enter the market - but are not allowed to touch the vegetables. You must find the person working in the department, tell them what you would like, then wait to check out with a person. Since Spaniards grocery shop much more frequently then Americans, and usually at the same stores, they develop relationships with the people working there. A monotonous chore suddenly turns into a reunion with friends - exchanging the current happenings in each others lives.
I believe that as a culture we are pushing each-other away, favoring an impersonal and efficiency seeking interpretation to life versus a more vibrant and sincere, interpersonal approach. I am concerned that the void left by this lack of human contact leaves us with an unsatisfied need that we fulfill by purchasing needless goods we do not need. Driving this capitalistic engine, we are literally fueling the device draining fulfillment and happiness from our lives.
Energy conservation is part of the culture in Spain, even the most green-friendly cities in the United States can not match what I have witnessed here. All apartment complexes have timed lights, you can't find incandescent bulbs (they have all switched to the lower energy-consuming fluorescent varieties), and showers are short. SUV's are rare, the media constantly covers climate change and it's dangers, and public transportation is used by everyone. Of course, we are on the way, but as a culture we are so wasteful, which is most striking when considering the vast proportion of the world now living in poverty without the most basic necessities of life. Our insatiable thirst for oil is draining the world's reserves and leading to searches for petroleum that are destroying our rain-forests. The world has a ways to go, but I feel the USA is leagues behind where we should be - especially as a world leader in political, economic, and military power.
On a lighter note, Spring has arrived and it is getting warmer. We have lots of sun and temps are usually in the 60's. Come April I'm sure it is going to get real hot! I miss most snowboarding and my close friends - but I am loving having a warm climate to live in! There are a lot of great destinations right here in Andalusia, not even 2 hours away by bus, that I am beginning to explore. I am excited to go to the beach this Friday - we are deciding between Huelva and Conil de la Frontera, both popular beaches with the locals. Sunday I am going hiking outside of Huelva and next Saturday we have a day trip to Cordoba. With exams this week and the following 2, and 2 presentations to complete I am feeling a little pressure with school. Hopefully I will be able to take a bus up to Madrid within the next few weeks, and I am trying to get to Ronda as well, also within Andalusia. My next major trip will be to Paris at the end of March, then to London to meet up with Ashley for a tour of England.
Hope all is well - my love to you all!
