Hola a todos!
Today, I am blogging from my computer in the comfort of my own home. (For that, I am grateful. In Santander, I blogged entirely from my phone…quite a challenge!) Although it’s nice to be back home in the U.S., I do miss la vida en Santander.
A reflexionar! First, I’ll share a few cultural differences that I observed in Santander.
1) Social time
From about 4-10pm, the entire population took to las calles. This included families with young children, teens, adults, and, of course, los ancianos (the elderly).
Heading home one night around 8pm, I walked through El Ayuntamiento. I was surprised to find that the plaza was packed with ancianos. Every bench was full, and there were also many people sitting in wheelchairs. They didn’t seem to be talking; rather, they were simply enjoying each other’s company. Seeing such a large number of elderly people provided a glimpse of the aging population of Europe.
Gente dando un paseo por las calles de Burgos
While los ancianos claimed El Ayuntamiento, the rest of la gente filled the streets of Santander. Many people chose to dar un paseo, while others opted to ir de compras. Regma and other helado shops were packed during the evenings, and were a popular choice among teens. For instance, when we hung out with Iñigo and his friends, they were content to chat and stroll through the park after getting Regma.
The social life that I experienced in Santander was very different from that of the U.S. Here (or at least in the Seattle area), we don’t have many large plazas where people can gather and chat. Meanwhile, meeting friends and strolling through the city was a fundamental part of daily life in Santander.
2) Smoking
Smoking was common in Santander, but, surprisingly, I wasn’t too bothered by it. Perhaps this was because only a fraction of the population smoked (compared to my experience in Paris, where it felt like everyone smoked) or maybe because I was having too much fun to be annoyed by the occasional whiff of smoke.
However, one thing really startled me: I came across several teens smoking. In the U.S., it is rare to see the younger generation wielding cigarettes, because we recognize the consequences of smoking. I had assumed that young people in Santander would be aware of the health concerns and be less likely to smoke. Sadly, that did not appear to be the case.
3) Food
El desayuno
For me, el desayuno y la cena en Santander were pretty similar to breakfast and dinner at home.
Lunch, or la comida, was very different. At home, I rarely eat a cooked meal in the middle of the day. In contrast, la comida in Santander was always cooked and eaten hot. Some typical dishes included paella, tortilla española, and croquettes.
In addition, the types of foods that were available in Santander differed from those in Seattle — something to be expected anytime one travels.
For instance, I didn’t eat (or come across) peanut butter in Spain. One day, Isabel asked me if I liked la mantequilla de cacahuete, so I eagerly responded “sí!”, hoping that she would produce some peanut butter. But, she proceeded to explain that she had tried it once and didn’t like it, so she never bought it again. Plus, she wanted to provide me authentic Spanish food, which was very thoughtful of her!
As a vegetarian, I couldn’t help but notice that Santander had a different selection of vegetables than what I’m used to. At home, I usually eat fresh veggies, like carrots and cucumbers. Meanwhile, Isabel prepared exclusively cooked veggies: cauliflower (not a favorite), carrots, garbanzo beans, and zucchini.
I do have to mention one similarity between the cuisines of Seattle and Santander: el pescado. Fish featured prominently in Santander, as it is located on the water. During my stay, I heard frequently that El Mar Cántabrico es muy bravo (fierce). Por eso, fish have a very strong flavor. Isabel was very sweet to prepare pescado suave (mild) for me 🙂
Por fin, I’d like to share algunas palabras! Here is a list of my top 10 words from the trip, most of which I learned in Santander.
1. Aseos = bathroom
Probably the most useful word, and the first word I noticed when I stepped off the plane at the Madrid airport. (Note: I don’t recall seeing aseos in Barcelona…I believe it was WC there?) This is a nice reminder of how the Spanish language differs throughout Spain and Latin America.
2. Hasta luego = see you later
This was one of the first Spanish expressions that I learned in 6th grade, and probably the most common phrase that I used in Santander. Hasta luego worked for saying goodbye to Isabel in the morning, leaving a store, saying goodnight to Isabel, etc.
3. Vale = okay, good, sure
Very common throughout Spain. Used to express agreement or show that you understand what was just said. A pretty easy one to pepper into conversations!
3. Todo el mundo = everyone
In a literal sense, this phrase means “the whole world”. However, it is an idiomatic expression that refers to the entire group of people in a room or certain area. For instance, our teachers at school would say things like “Ha recibido todo el mundo el papel?” or “Todo el mundo entiende la tarea?”
4. Espantoso = awful
Isabel would often use this word to describe the weather. For example, “Que calor/frío hace! Espantoso!” She placed strong emphasis on espantoso, and usually accompanied these expressions with a disapproving shaking of the head.
El tiempo es espantoso hoy!
5. Marisco = seafood
An important word to know when ordering at a restaurant in Spain. For instance, you might see “paella de marisco” on a menu. A very useful word in Santander, where seafood is popular due to the city’s location on El Mar Cantábrico.
6. Coger = to pick up, grab, take
Probably the most common verb that I heard Isabel use, since it is so versatile. For example, you can “coger la ropa” or “coger un taxi”.
“Debes coger la ropa de afuera”
7. Pesado = heavy, boring, annoying
In Spanish class in the U.S., I learned that pesado meant “heavy” in terms of weight, and that it could also be used to describe rich food. In Spain, I heard it used to describe the long, boring bus ride from Madrid to Santander. Isabel also scolded her cats and told them that they were “pesado(s)“, or annoying.
8. Aprovechar = to take advantage of, to make the most of
Isabel used this word almost every day to remind me to enjoy my short stay in Santander and take advantage of all of the new opportunities. For instance, she would say “hay que probar de todo….aprovecha de la comida española” and recommend that I try new foods in Spain.
Aprovechamos del sol y fuimos a la playa!
9. Meter = to put/place into
This was another common word that Isabel used in a variety of situations. For instance, you can meter el termos (reusable water bottle) en la nevera, meter el paraguas en el bolso, or meter la ropa en la lavadora.
10. Calabobos = mist, drizzle
I love how this word sounds! Isabel was very excited to introduce it to me, explaining that it describes a light mist/drizzle that doesn’t quite constitute lluvia. This is a very specific word, and it perfectly sums up the wet weather in Santander. I was so proud of myself for picking out calabobos from a conversation I overheard while walking down the street on a misty day.
Calabobos!
That’s all for now! I hope you enjoyed following my adventures en España and learning a little Spanish along the way 🙂
Hasta la próxima aventura,
April
Seattle to Santander 