¡Adios! Part 2

It amazes me how the Spanish have different forms of dancing that are each unique to one another. Spaniards have some different traditions then Americans, such as siesta and bullfighting. Bullfighting was the only thing that I looked at within the culture that I could not relate to or learn to appreciate. Through this, I realize that I won't always agree with how other cultures function, but I need to learn to respect them regardless of differences in opinion. Spaniards also have different ways to categorize people, which was demonstrated through their use of motorcycles. On the other hand, I was also able to recognize the similarities between Spanish and American culture even throughout many seemingly unconquerable differences. For instance, just like we have different accents throughout different parts of America, Spain has different dialects of Spanish in different regions of Spain. Also, body image is a big controversy not only in America, but in Spain, as well.
Overall, I think this was an eye-opening assignment and I was glad to take part in it. Learning about other cultures is an important way to overcome ignorance in the world and the more people who are able to participate in this type of research, the better!

¡Adios!

Originally, I had planned to use a number of different methodologies to learn about and better understand Spanish culture. I was able to recall my observations of the culture from my visit to Spain as I had planned on doing so. However, I had hoped to have e-mail conversations with my contact in Spain and ask questions about the various topics I'd been writing about. Unfortunately, he never responded to my e-mails during the three month period of writing this blog. I did further my knowledge on Spanish culture by doing research, as well.
I organized my blog entries by briefly discussing different topics that were of interest to me. I think that this was the best way to go about my blog according to how I went about my cultural encounter. I was able to integrate what I had learned in my Spanish courses here at school with my blogs and I found this really helpful. I feel like I am able to connect better with the Spanish because I am now aware of and realize the differences and similarities between our two cultures. I feel better prepared for my travel there in the fall.

El cuerpo

Body image is a universal topic discussed and debated throughout all parts of the world. Similar to countries like Brazil and America, Spain has expressed concern with the body weight of high fashion models. Since many young girls look up to models and set their body standards compared to theirs, a lot of young women are starving themselves in order to achieve the "ideal" body. Over a year ago, at Madrid Fashion Week, 30% of the women models did not have a healthy body mass index. The show was protested against by medical associations as well as women's advocacy groups. The Madrid Fashion Week show implemented a new requirement that anyone who did not have a healthy body weight may not model in the show. This was a bold move by the show organizers; Madrid Fashion Week is Spain's top fashion show. The impact of this move was a good one because it shows young women that being too skinny is not acceptable and it shows the importance of having a healthy body weight.
I thought this would be an interesting topic to discuss in my blog because it is something that women across the globe struggle with every day. Although throughout my blog entries I've discussed many differences between Spanish and American culture, I wanted to show that no matter what culture differences exist, there are still many similarities. People have more in common than they may think and this goes to show the universality of body image.

Spanish Fashion Show Rejects Too-Skinny Models: Women with Very Low Body-Mass Index Not Allowed on Runway. Associated P, 2006. 1 Dec. 2007 .

La Fiesta Nacional Con't

I happen to be an animal lover, and to me, this tradition seems very barbaric. In previous Spanish classes I have taken I have learned about bullfighting, seen pictures and videos, and I've never been able to support it. Even when I attempt to rid my mind of my beliefs, I cannot see the sense torturing living beings. Last year, for my FYS, I read a book about the Hmong and their traditions. They were known to sacrifice animals for religious ceremonies and healing ceremonies. I am able to understand this practice even though I am not religious. I can easily see why people would practice this tradition. However, bullfighting is not sacrificing an animal for any type of ceremony. Today, it is used purely for entertainment. Not only that, but the bulls are degraded in the process and parts of their body are used as trophies.
As I further researched bullfighting, I discovered that there are types of bloodless bullfighting in California and in France. What I found even more interesting, however, was that while Spain has gotten rid of laws that allow cruelty to animals, this law does not include bullfighting. Many animal rights activists protest bullfighting and even though the majority of people oppose it, bullfighting still continues to this day. Estimates show that about 70% of those who attend bullfights are tourists. Perhaps people of other cultures feel the need to view one of the most well-known events when they visit countries, such as Spain, which allow this tradition to take place.

"Bullfighting." Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. 27 Nov. 2007.

La Fiesta Nacional

La fiesta nacional, or the national sport, bullfighting, is Spain's most sought out attraction. Bull rings can be found almost anywhere throughout all of Spain. Bullfighting started back in 711 A.D. in honor of the crowning of the king. Ever since, it has been a popular spectacle among the Spanish, and among tourists, as well. Originally, these fights took place on horseback. About 200 years ago, the transition was made from horseback to foot. Bullfighters traditionally are marked in distinct groups. Picadors start off the show; there are several picadors and their job is to jab spears into the bull's back. After this, the matador enters the ring. The matador's job is to fight and then kill the bull. During his time in the ring, the matador attempts to demonstrate his talent and skill as a bullfighter. This is a very dangerous job because one wrong move and he can wind up injured or even killed. In contrast to the picadors, matadors use a sword to fight the bull. Another instrument also used is a puntilla, which is a dagger used to stab the bull at the base of its skull. When the matador puts on a good show for the audience, he is rewarded with either the bull's tail or ears. One journalist comments, "It was most amusing and quite rewarding when one of the bulls got the better of the Matador and drew blood as he tossed him into the air." Later, the journalist goes on to say, "It was different to say the least but not as exciting or as gory as we imagined."

"Bullfighting in Spain." IdealSpain. 2000-2007. 27 Nov. 2007.
-Quote from this webpage as well

Las Motocicletas

Cars, trains, airplanes, and boats are amoung the most common forms of transportation in America. Many people mistakenly think that these are common machines found throughout the world. In fact, in many countries people do not have enough money to utilize these luxuries that we take for granted here in one of the superpowers of the world. However, there are alternate modes of transportation that we do not find as commonly in the United States. Barcelona is a big and busy city, much like the beloved NYC. How did I get from place to place without getting stuck in the inescapable traffic? The motorbike! Yes, we see these often in America, but they are abundant in Barcelona, Spain. The first time my boyfriend handed me a helmet I was nervous. I had never ridden a motorcycle before and I wasn't sure how safe I felt. But as we were riding around town and my nerves started to calm down, I realized that it wasn't so bad and soon I was having the time of my life.
In America, I feel like the people who ride motorcycles are stigmatized. I always felt like these bikers were thought of as tough and mean, sometimes troublesome. This shows that things have different meanings in different cultures, because in Spain, so many people have motorbikes. Nobody would think twice if they saw that you owned one, while in the United States they aren't as common and many people frown upon motorbikes and those who use them. This seemingly small difference between Spanish and American culture really stood out for me because it shows big distinctions between how people define things.

Siesta

The siesta in Spain occurs sometime after lunch and during it, the world kind of shuts down for a while. Stores close, nobody works, and people relax or take a nap for a couple of hours. Afterwards, work is resumed and people go about their normal activities. Some other countries also have afternoon naps as part of their tradition, usually in countries with warmer climates, where the heat starts to take a toll on you that time of day. In Spain, and throughout much of Europe, lunch is the biggest meal of the day, as opposed to America, where breakfast is supposed to be the biggest meal of the day, supplying you with energy for the whole day. While in Spain, I experienced siesta, and became very fond of it. According to research, people lose steam twice in a 24-hour period: at night, and in the afternoon. These are the two easiest times to fall asleep. Also, after large meals, a person's blood glucose level tends to drop, resulting in drowsiness. Since the largest meal in Spain is lunch, it makes a lot of sense that people would get tired in the afternoon. The siesta is an important part of Spanish culture because it rejuvinates people so they are able to work longer and harder afterwards. It's a concept that I think should be looked into here in the United States. I think it would be a great way to lessen stress in the busy lives of people here. Yes, you may work later. But the quality of your work will surely be better after a much needed break.

I found a very entertaining article about this topic. Check it out!

http://media.www.bcheights.com/media/storage/paper144/news/2002/09/24/Features/ThreeHour.Spanish.Siesta.Satisfies-279611.shtml

Comida

Every country is known for having different kinds of foods. America is the land of bugers and fries, Italy is home to pizza and speghetti, and Mexico is known for its tacos and enchilladas. What then, is Spain known for? Many peoply mistakenly think that since both Mexico and Spain are Spanish-speaking countries, they possess many of the same cultural standards. After my early morning arrival in Spain, I was highly anticipating my first Spanish meal. In the arms of the server was a larger-than-life bowl filled to the brim with spaghettis the size of rice grains in yellow, brown and orange colors. On top of the mound were six huge shrimp, which had not been peeled. They looked like miniature lobsters, with their eyes bulging right out at me. Never before had I had to peel my own shrimp, and was astonished at how quickly my boyfriend was able to do it; it was like it was second nature for him. At every single restuarant in America I had ever been to, the shrimp was peeled before it was served to you. Next, when I tried the pasta dish, I found it very bland, since it had no sauce. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't something that I would pick to eat on my own. My boyfriend recommended that I put lemon juice on it, it was his favorite. After my first bite, I immediately regretted doing so. I did not like the taste of it one bit.
That same night, we went out to a restuarant to eat with his family. I'm glad to say that that meal was more enjoyable for me. But what surprised me did not happen when they brought out the food, but when they brought out our water. In the United States, it is common for a lemon slice to be perched on the rim of a water glass. Many people leave it there, and many people squeeze the lemon juice into their water. Imagine my thouhts when my boyfriend took his lemon slice, put the whole thing in his mouth, chewed and swallowed it. What more, but he didn't make a face! If I had even touched the tip of my tongue to a lemon, the sourness would overwhelm me. When I asked if he didn't think that the lemon was sour, he responded by saying, "My whole family eats lemons." His dad then proceeded to do the same.

Lengua

In America, we have one official language. English. However, recently America's common languages have been expanding and we have been considering making Spanish another official language of the United States. In Spain, the official language is Spanish, as you may have guessed. However, there are different dialects of Spanish found in different regions of Spain. Dialects are similar to the accents that are found throughout different parts of North America. It is a different way of speaking, with different words, but is still based on the common Spanish language. The official dialect in Spain is called Castellan, or castellano. The different dialects of Spanish are Basque, Galician, and Catalan. These are all co-official in certain areas of Spain. When I traveled to Spain, I was a pretty experienced Spanish speaker, since I had taken AP Spanish in high school at the time of my visit. Much to my surprise, when I arrived and was out in Barcelona, I found it extremely difficult to understand what people were saying to me. I thought I would have an easy time conversing with my boyfriend's family and friends. But since they were speaking Catalan, I could barely comprehend what they were saying. The word I learned in Spanish class for water was agua. In Barcelona, it was aigua. The world for blue that I learned was azul. In Barcelona, it was blava. Catalan is also known for the thick lisp that comes with speaking it. This means that these specific Spanish speakers pronounce their S's as th's.

"Spanish Language." Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. 27 Oct 2007.

Los Bailes

Originally, I planned to talk about a number of different dances that originated in Spain. However, after doing lots of various research on the topic, I realized I needed to narrow down my search since the topic is so vast and not much can be said for the infinite different kinds of dances that come from Spain. One dance, however, the most common and most known dance from the Spanish origin caught my eye and I decided to delve further into learning about it. The flamenco comes from Andalucia, which is the southernmost part of Spain. Since Andalucia is mainly preoccupied with Andalusians, Gypsies, Islams, and Sephardics, flamenco is thought to have been an intersection of these cultures. As flamenco spread throughout the rest of Spain, other Spanish musical traditions began to influence its style. Because flamenco came about around the time of the Spanish Inquisition, flamenco reflects the spirit of the people around that time. There are many different arguments about the actual meaning of the word flamenco and where it comes from. The most commonly accepted idea is that the root of the word, flamenc means Gypsy.
In terms of the melody of flamenco music, it is descending, as opposed to most American melody patterns, which are ascending. Flamenco music is also similar to jazz music because the musicians are supposed to feel the rhythm, instead of being more systematic about it. The main instrument accompanying the singer is the Spanish guitar. Usually, the dance will be performed with hand clapping and foot stomping incorporated into it. There are over fifty different kinds of flamenco in existence.

VIDEO:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=kPhCIKFkfg4&feature=related

"Flamenco." Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia. 26 Oct. 2007 .