Tuesday morning / in the dark (thank you, Michelle Branch)

A brief musing on Spaniards that I've been meaning to write here for a long time.

So, in case you were wondering, the 80s are alive and well in Spain. What do I mean? Oh my God, the MULLETS. I honestly thought that it was common knowledge that that hairstyle should never be resurrected, but apparently Spain doesn't agree. Dreadlocks are also a popular choice, as are tiny braids that grow out of regular crew cuts (this is all still guys, by the way). Mohawks? Yes. And let's not forget that all of these can be coupled with obscene amounts of hair gel - I don't understand why I can't find gel when these guys seem to be using it by the bottleful.

The little old Spanish couples are really cute. You see a lot more older people walking around the streets or just sitting on benches people-watching here (my Spanish prof says it's because nursing homes and the like are less common, and older people stay with their kids or on their own). But all of the old couples always walk around arm in arm, which is adorable. And they're always dressed up, too, the men in jackets and the women in little skirt suits.

Thirdly, "PDA" is certainly not taboo here. It was actually one of the points they included in our culture shock lecture during orientation because so many of the American students are taken aback by it. College-age couples walk around with their hands on each other's butts, make out on street corners (or, apparently, at tables in restaurants right behind other diners - that happened to my friend), and are just in general very out there with their affection. Which isn't a good or a bad thing, just different / takes some getting used to. But it's so funny to see the American students' reactions as opposed to the Spaniards who just totally ignore it (including the little kids, whereas in the U.S. kids would be like "MOMMY LOOK AT THAT!" haha).

I feel like I had more to say on the topic of Spaniards in general (oh, the two kisses on the cheek thing isn't a stereotype - they do that all the time. Even when you meet somebody for the first time), but I've got to have breakfast and get to class. Hope you're all doing well. Miss you and love you.