I was talking with a fellow language assistant a few weeks ago about how sometimes I feel like I take for granted that I live in Madrid. She was saying how she has those moments sometimes and then she has to tell herself, “Shut up. You live in a European capital city.” And a few days ago, I came across this quote on tumblr:
That quote reminded me of why it is that I love Madrid so much. After all, Spain has been my dream country since I was in middle school. So here are some little things that I love about living in Spain (especially Madrid):
1. Public Transportation
I love the metro here so much. You can get pretty much anywhere you need to in the city in a decent amount of time. I also take the buses, which are wonderful for getting you to the outskirts of the city (i.e. like Las Rozas). And last, but certainly not least, there is the amazing train system. You can get anywhere you need to in Spain just using public transportation and that’s pretty damn awesome.
2. The “No Bullshit” Way of Speaking
I like that people here don’t beat around the bush and just bluntly tell you things. I tend to get directly to the point when I talk, so I appreciate that Spaniards are the same way. For many people, it comes off as being rude until you realize that it’s just the way they talk to each other. Along this same vein is that Spaniards have no qualms about telling you that they’re annoyed or angry with you. I prefer for someone to just tell me they have an issue with me rather than being passive aggressive (which, in my experience, seems to be how many Americans deal with conflict).
3. The Food
Cocido Madrileño…YUMMMMM
Picture from: http://www.euroresidentes.com
I love Spanish cuisine. Cocido madrileño, croquetas, paella…those are just some of my favorite things here. I have yet to have a bad Spanish meal. I can’t even imagine a bad Spanish meal…I don’t think they exist.
4. The Lifestyle
I find that Spaniards stress a lot less than Americans do. If I was running late for school or work back in the States, I was always in such a panic. I remember the first time I was late to work in Spain, I kept apologizing profusely to my coordinator and she just said, “No te preocupes. No pasa nada. Son cosas que pasan.” There’s no rush here and I love that. You don’t feel the pressure of the clock and it’s such a relief. I also like that a lunch here can take two hours because people like taking their time to eat and talk with their friends/coworkers. So different from the “gotta run” lifestyle in the States. Once you live here awhile, you realize why going out in Spain on the weekend means coming home at 6 a.m.
5. The Language
This may seem silly considering that I am Puerto Rican and speak Spanish…but I love how Spaniards speak. I love their accent and their vocabulary. I love that I’m immersed in the language every single day and hear it everywhere I go. Spanish (or castellano as they are accustomed to saying here) is such a beautiful language and to hear it in the country where it was born is kinda amazing.
6. The History
The Aqueduct in Segovia
As Spaniards love to remind me, the US is a very young country and you just can’t find the things you can in Spain. The aqueduct and castle in Segovia are just two of the amazing, historical landmarks you can see in Spain. I was in such awe the entire time I was at the Alcázar in Segovia. It’s unreal to me that I was in a castle that was around in the 1100s! There are so many historic sites like that in Spain (and Europe in general) and I don’t think I will ever tire of visiting them.
Well, that’s all for now. There are so many more things I could list here, but I wanted to keep the list short and sweet. What are the things you love most about Spain?
Lady in Spain 
Feb 04, 2013 @ 19:37:12
I’m planning a trip to Spain and I’ve had nothing else on my mind for over a month now. I think you should have answered your title with one sentence: It’s Spain! 🙂
Feb 04, 2013 @ 23:58:02
When are you planning on coming to Spain and what regions are you thinking of visiting? There are so many great places here that it’s extremely difficult to narrow it down to just a few. I could easily spend all 3 months of summer just traveling within Spain.
Feb 05, 2013 @ 23:05:47
The date right now is the last week of February for approximately 3 weeks. Running into problems with friends though, so it might end up being just a week because I don’t want to travel alone.
I truly did not realize the scale of the country until I began reading up on it. It’s unbelievable how many different cities there are that are worth going to. I had initially planned a 3 week trip with a friend who is on the fence right now, and even that wasn’t enough time to go to just the 3 main Southern cities – Seville, Granada, and Cordoba – and also Madrid and the cities around it, like Avilla (sp.?), Segovia, and Toledo, and then Barcelona. That was a very ambitious travel plan, but I was stoked . So now, with the trip maybe being cut down to a week, the idea of not being able to do everything I wanted to is killing me.
I’ve debated traveling alone, but my parents are having a hard enough time letting me go with friends. 🙂
So far for the one week itinerary, we’ve narrowed it down to Seville, Cordoba, and Granada, and maybe Segovia because I want to see Alcazar. But travel time from Cordoba to Segovia is around 6 hours, so if Segovia makes the trip too rushed then we might have to cut that. I’m dying on the inside just thinking about everything I had to cut to fit everything into a week. But I guess just being able to go is more than most people get so I should be grateful. 🙂
As you can tell from the size of my reply, I’m super excited. 🙂
Feb 04, 2013 @ 20:45:19
I have been trying to decide where in Spain to live. We have about six months to spend in Spain, and I think you story has helped me to decide. Nice post!
Feb 04, 2013 @ 23:59:22
Spain truly is amazing. No matter what autonomous community you decide to live in, you won’t be disappointed. Each region has something distinct to offer. That’s just another thing that makes Spain so incredible.
Feb 05, 2013 @ 23:07:50
May I ask what it is that you do? I would love to relocate to Spain, even if just for six months (that would be amazing!), but I can’t think of how it would work practically.
Feb 05, 2013 @ 23:19:18
The south of Spain is gorgeous…but I highly recommend making a trip to Madrid. If you have the money to travel alone, then I would do it. This was the first year I’ve travelled alone (to Paris and London) and I really enjoyed it. My parents weren’t all that stoked on the idea of me being on my own, but they got over it (granted, I had to make sure to call them at the end of each day when I was in Paris and London). But, you’re right, some people would kill to just get a week in Spain 🙂
As far as what I do, I’m a language assistant with the BEDA program here in Spain. Basically, I work at a school helping to teach English. I’ve had a wonderful experience with the program and would highly recommend it. If you look at the header menu on my blog, next to the About me section, there is a BEDA FAQ header and there you’ll find a post where I answered a lot of questions I get about the program. If you’d like more info, feel free to email me at ladyinspain89@gmail.com
Feb 06, 2013 @ 23:03:11
Thanks Yari! The BEDA program sounds really interesting, I’m going to shoot you an email, thanks for the offer. 🙂
Feb 05, 2013 @ 09:29:51
yeah the less stress thing is a thing that i’m pleased about
Feb 05, 2013 @ 09:30:19
it’s probs because there are less dementors here
Feb 05, 2013 @ 20:34:09
I literally had five people today tell me ‘Betsy, no pasa naaaah’. This proves that I am a stressed out American/chronic worrier!
Feb 05, 2013 @ 23:30:18
hahah by the “naaah” I’m going to guess you’re somewhere in Andalucia 🙂 And I must admit that while I love the relaxed lifestyle here, I still haven’t been able to fully accept it in my own way of life. Today I was running late for work (again) and I was basically sprinting from the metro to get to school and, of course, I get there and the teacher I work with is getting there at the same time as me so I wasn’t even technically late. She started laughing when she saw how agitated I was from my mad dash to the school and told me that I need to relax haha
Feb 09, 2013 @ 22:45:02
Hope you enjoy your stay here in Spain. And try to visit and do the most you can.
Visit Galicia!!!!!!!! 🙂 Wonderful places (Santiago, A Coruña, O Courel, Fragas do Eume…) and delicious food.
For instance, I’m from Lugo. Here are the two most important things in my city:
1- The Roma Wall. Unique in Europe and in the whole world because it is the only roman wall which remains intact. 2000 years old and little sister of the China Wall 🙂
2- Tapas gratis!!!!!!!!
Feb 10, 2013 @ 01:30:13
Galicia is definitely one of the regions of Spain that I want to visit the most. This is mainly because I have a deep love of food and so many people have told me that the cuisine is Galicia is to die for 🙂
Feb 10, 2013 @ 21:46:48
They’re right.:)
Spring is a good season to come here. You know, no cold, less raining, flowers and green colours everywhere. You have to try the octopus Galician style and shelfish.
Feb 14, 2013 @ 14:52:29
Yari, I would go with you to Galicia
Feb 14, 2013 @ 15:05:51
Weekend trip at some point???
Oct 02, 2013 @ 17:36:16
Wow! Lugo looks so beautiful and pleasant. I would love to go there someday.
Aug 19, 2013 @ 22:42:38
I am truly happy to read this blog posts which consists of
lots of helpful facts, thanks for providing such statistics.
Oct 05, 2013 @ 23:53:07
Hi, I read your blog regularly. Your writing style is witty, keep it up!