We're Not in Kansas Anymore

This blog is for my friend, Alice, who just this week moved to Poland and is grieving the loss of her precious Starbucks, and for those of you who have been asking me how life is different for me in Spain.

In actuality, it's really not very different except that milk comes in cartons that don't need to be refrigerated, hamburger and hot dog buns aren't presliced, people double-park (sometimes in the middle of the street) and park on the sidewalk, there are no mailboxes on the street (you have to go to the post office to mail your letters), they pick up the trash at 1 a.m., the banks are closed in the afternoon (except on Thursdays, but not in the summer) and almost everyone lives in an apartment or "townhouse" with very few "single family homes." I've gotten used to doing my laundry in the kitchen, having to "buzz in" the mail carrier (or anyone else who comes to visit), not having wall-to-wall carpeting, lowering heavy metal "shades" over my windows at night and probably a few other things that I'm so used to now that I can't remember them.

People here have two last names (their father's last name and their mother's last name) and the women don't change their names when they marry, so it's a little hard to keep track of who belongs to who when you're looking at a list of names. I'm no longer tempted by bookstores because I'm not good enough with the language to read in Spanish yet. Of course, office supply stores are still a temptation. I don't know what it is about all that wonderfully clean paper and those brand new pens. And post-it notes -- don't get me started about my weakness for those, especially the ones is fun colors and shapes. What can I say? I'm a secretary and I love all the "stuff" that goes with my job.

But as time goes by, I think I can truly say that I don't notice so many of the differences any more. So, Alice, hang in there. You can live without Starbucks, at least for awhile, and when we're both back in the States, or if you come visit me in Spain, I'll treat you to a latte!