Monday, March 23, 2015
What I Miss
After almost ten years as an expat in Spain, I can say that I´ve pretty much gotten used to the Spanish way of life. And obviously I like it, otherwise I wouldn´t be here. I can say this with certainty because we took off to the states for a year to compare lifestyles and we ended up coming back. Still and all, there are certain things I miss from home that just can´t be replaced. Aside from family and friends, in no particular order...
1. Supermarkets open on Sundays. I know that Sundays are for rest, and Europeans highly respect this, and if we want to get political some might even say it´s abusive to operate on Sundays, not getting into that either way but...I would be MUCH happier if I could get my groceries done on Sunday. To this day, I will sometimes make a comment about going to the store on a Sunday and my husband will go ape shit because after 10 years I still don´t remember (all the time) that nothing is open. It´s my brain refusing to accept it.
2. Diners. It is cruel not to have access to diner food. I miss that SO much. Eggs over easy, hash browns toast, pancakes, waffles, chicken fingers, honey mustard, hot chocolate with marshmellows and whipped cream, a burger, or even chicken parm! I don´t usually eat all that (really) but I´d like to have the option if ever inclined. There are a lot of new places cropping up offering ¨brunch¨ these days, but I´ve yet to see anything that matches a diner experience. If anyone knows otherwise, please let me know.
3. Pharmacies. I loathe not being able to go to the pharmacy and be able to pick out the headache, cold, flu, medicine relief of my choice. Nope, I have to go and tell the pharmacist what my problem is and have him/her give me some options and then take whichever seems more appealing in a matter of seconds. Also, as an adult I have no qualms about asking for a pregnancy test, but when we were trying with our second and being new to this ¨experience¨ you´ve no idea how irritating it was to go and have to ask for one while 10 other people were waiting behind you. I´d much prefer standing in the Pregnancy Test aisle (yes back home we have an aisle just for that) and browse for an obscene amount of time till you find the one that suits you best. Maybe an hour. So what? I do the same for feminine hygiene and a million other things at the pharmacy. If the pharmacy was back home. Because at the pharmacy back home there are tons of things you can buy, make up, books, food, magazines, ¨As Seen On TV¨ products...love those.
4. Target. Yep, this lovely gets it´s own section. Great finds, designer like items, great linen, homeware, baby items, clothing, the list goes on and all reasonably priced. Nothing you can´t find there, nothing!
5. Wearing sweats out. Back home this casual american wore her sweats anywhere and everywhere. Mind you I also get dressed up to the nines for no particular reason, but if and when the mood strikes me I like my sweats. Or let´s be honest, even pajamas. I´ve worn pajamas with a winter coat over it to get chinese food. To walk the dog, always. Who hasn´t? Well, it´s bizarre to do that here. Unless you´re going to the gym. Might just be the area I live in, it´s just not done. I chuckle everytime I think of my first year here, going to the equivalent of Saks or Barney´s in my sweats, and the sales people looking at me like I was homeless. Good times.
6. New England foliage. Self explanatory.
6. New England foliage. Self explanatory.
So, just some things I miss, and thrive on when I go back home. Doesn´t mean I don´t enjoy living here, because I do, but we all miss what we miss. The year we lived back home I missed so many things from Spain that I decided we had to move back. And here we are, loving it. Somedays the grass is greener on the other side, and some days it´s the most brilliant shade right where we´re at. But we´ve found this gives us perspective and you learn to appreciate things a little bit more.
x
x
Goodbye Winter Break
Hello January! The girls will be going back to school tomorrow and we are all more than ready to get back to our normal routines. The whirlwind of Christmas and New Year´s and the addition of Three King´s Day this year has been fun but exhausting. Tomorrow I will drop the girls off at school and head over to the gym to resume my fitness routine (sounds fancy but its not, its sweaty and I don´t much enjoy it, except for Pilates). After that exercise high, which I´ve yet to experience, I´ll attempt to get my house in order after which I´d love to meet a friend for coffee before the school run. Nine to two...five hours, how I´ve missed you! Don´t get me wrong, I loved spending more time with the girls, loved having the time to enjoy lazy breakfasts and go on day trips we normally don´t get to make. But oh how many things get put aside, each day that goes by creates another task to the “after the holidays” list. (And let´s not talk about the overindulgences in the food and drink department, save that for another post). I warn you, this is a long one, making up for my two month hiatus...
These two go back and forth between fighting and adoring each other. The fighting usually comes from the little one who wants nothing more than to shine brighter than her sister. Lately I see a shift happening, and suddenly I spy more moments like these. Talking, laughing, playing...finding their way to the deepest of friendships. Until the next bickering session, which if I recall correctly ocurred five minutes after taking this shot.
One of my favorite traditions in Spain is going for a ¨vermouth¨ before lunch. Usually on the weekend, this is a staple bringing people together to enjoy a glass of wine, beer, coffee, whatever you fancy while enjoying some pre-lunch tapas and conversation. We have become fervent followers of this tradition. When in Rome...
After returning to Spain from the states, one of our goals was to travel more, not only abroad but within our own region. Soon after coming back, we discovered Llanes, a small fishing village an hour away. We love it there. Spent many summer days enjoying its beautiful beaches, some of the best in the north of Spain (in my opinion). And while we now feel almost like locals, this was our first visit in winter. Just as charming. If we win the lottery we´re setting up a summer cottage there, preferably right on the beach, but one of these village streets would do as well.
As per usual, we leave everything to the last minute, and so it was with xmass shopping. Some key items were taken care of way in advance, but some last minute things always come up. Heading to our local shopping center the day before Christmas Eve is almost like running with the bulls. This year however some brilliant person in management decided to set up a Beer Fest bar right in the middle of the mall. Not only that but there was a child play center available for kids to enter for one hour whilst the adults enjoyed this:
Needless to say, shopping was a little less stressful, a little bit more amusing, and a tad more generous.
Christmas Eve
Christmas Day, coookies have been eaten, milk has been drunk and only a small piece of carrot remains. Not sure why the reindeer left it on the plate and not on the floor. Glad no one asked about this.
Selfie time with the littlest before New Year´s Eve dinner with the fam. There was a war going on between myself and those cute little purple shoes. She refuses to take them off when at home. They are hand me downs from her older sister, and so two sizes too big for her. No objection there. However after being worn day in and day out 24-7, not only by her but by her sister (who most likely did the same) the smell eminating from them is well, not pleasant. But I am picking my battles. Look at that smile...if stinky feet means infinite cuteness, so be it.
Big breakfast on Three King´s Day, this is HUGE here in Spain. Day of the Epiphany when the three wise men bring gifts to all the little children. We decided early on that Santa would be the tradition in our home, as well as setting limits with gifts. The three kings do not make a stop in our home, but they leave just a couple of things at Grandma´s...a nice compromise I think.
After this delicious meal and the lunch that followed, I am quite ready to get back to the grind, back to healthy eating, and back to working on the things I love.
Winter break, its been fun, but I´m glad you´re leaving...see you next year!
x
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