How I've Changed Since Moving to Spain

1. I can actually stay out late

In Seattle, I was pretty much an abuela, or "grandma". I was lucky if I could stay out until closing time, which in Washington is between 1:45 and 2:00 am. It was a real struggle to stay awake past midnight. As many of you already know, here in Spain people don't even start heading to the clubs until about 3 am, and eventually they head home around 6 or 7 am. Needless to say, I've had to adapt. Now, when I go out on the weekends I'll usually stay out past 3 am, and about every other weekend I'll have one big night where I stay out until 6 am. I'm sure many of my friends back home won't believe this, but I've actually changed my ways. Thank goodness for siestas, am I right?

Spaniards are notorious night owls, so I must caffeinate accordingly.

2. The way I speak English has changed

Despite being hired as a native American English speaker, at my elementary school I'm required to teach British English. Between teaching British English at work and always hanging out with my posh British roommate outside of work, this different way of speaking has proved to be subconsciously contagious.

My Pacific Northwest accent has stayed the same (I'm desperately clinging to my Washingtonian habit of pronouncing my "t"s like "d"s - "I'm from Seaddle, where there's lots of wader"...), but the way I structure sentences has changed. For instance, instead of saying "Do you have any tomatoes?", I inadvertently copy the Brits and say, "Have you got any tomatoes?" I've also started to say things like, "I can't be bothered to go proper grocery shopping right now." The Spice Girls and the Royal Baby would be so proud.

But I suppose I must admit that the language I speak most often here is Spanglish. I find myself saying the following phrases to my fellow expat friends on a daily basis: "I just don't have the ganas today", "I'm going to echar the &%$@ outta this siesta", and, "I'm so tired of his tonterías." 

3. Fashion has taken a backseat

Being a foreigner in Spain, I already get a lot of intense stares that make me feel as if I'm an animal in a zoo. Sure, it could be a lot worse; like many Spaniards, I'm short, tan and brunette - so I get a lot less attention than say, my two gorgeous German roommates who are tall and blonde. Nevertheless, I stick out... and I get stared down a lot. Any you know what? People gape even more when I dress like a total foreigner.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that I've temporarily traded in my preppy, all-American J.Crew and Kate Spade ensembles for a more convenient Zara-inspired look, simply because I'm sick of being gawked at. I miss my pearls, gingham button ups and Sperry's, but they'll be waiting for me back home at my country club where people don't look at me like I'm some sort of rabid wildebeest.

I miss you, preppy stripe collection.

4. I'm not a healthy eater anymore

RIP long lost Paleo baking supplies

Last year when I was living at home, I became a really healthy eater. I was even Paleo for four months, for crying out loud. I only ate organic fruits and vegetables, I only bought hormone & antibiotic free/free range/organic meat, and I would exclusively shop at Whole Foods, PCC & Trader Joe's. (Okay, so I got kind of obsessive about it when I moved back in with my parents. But there are worse compulsions to have.)

Anyways, all of the good habits that I accumulated back home all went to hell when I moved to Spain, because everything here is fried, artery-clogging and addictive. Fried potatoes have become a weekly staple. Finding decently priced organic food is a headache. I can't even remember the last time I drank a green smoothie. Who am I? I mean, it's not my fault that I can't find kale because it isn't grown here, nor can I take the blame for the fact that a tiny box of quinoa costs a whopping 9 Euros. I guess I could work harder to find more creative solutions, but see point number 5...

I've traded in kale chips for these bad boys. And I mean "bad" in the literal sense, as in someday they'll probably kill me.

5. I'm less conscientious

This is probably the laziest I have ever been, for better or for worse. Spaniards get a bad rep for being lazy, and while I can't speak for the population of an entire country, I can definitely speak for myself. I'm still generally a productive person, but considering how gruesome of an overachiever I used to be, this is the worst that my work ethic has ever been. In turn, I'm a lot less stressed out and I've found a much healthier balance in my life. But still, my American conscious is constantly plagued with guilt by my intermittent unproductiveness.

I used to define conscientiousness. Now, I'm always running 10 minutes late, efficient time management is a capricious mood rather than an abiding skill, I don't make my bed everyday, and if I really need to get something done, chances are I'll take a very long nap first. If you knew me back home, this is a really big deal.

6. I'm more flexible and patient

Having to adapt to living in a new culture takes a lot of patience as it is, and then when you add in a job that involves working with children all day... well, it just skyrockets from there. Even the littlest things like going to the grocery store, mailing something at the post office, or setting up a bank account require a ridiculous amount of patience compared to doing those same mundane tasks back home.

This doesn't mean that I'm chill and Zen all the time (spoiler: I'm not), but living in Spain and dealing with many frustrating circumstances has taught me to take things as they come and accept the things I can't control. It's truly been a challenge at times, (okay... at most times, especially when it involves dealing with painfully inefficient Spanish bureaucracy...) but overall it's made me a stronger individual, so I really can't complain now, can I?

Patience is: teaching 50 screaming kids how to make Thanksgiving turkey crafts, and then coming home to find art supplies in your hair.

Have you ever lived abroad? 
How did it change or impact you?

Take Me Back To: Carnaval de Cádiz

Four years ago today, I was experiencing the madness of Carnaval in Cádiz, Spain. This week as I was looking through my pictures for the thousandth time, I felt my heart sink out of pure nostalgia. What I wouldn't give to experience the epic locuras of Carnaval once again! But sadly, living off a teacher's salary isn't as glamorous as I had once assumed it to be, so a trip to Cádiz for Carnaval proved to be out of my budget this year. (But I have high hopes for next year...)

How to describe the absolute insanity of Carnaval? I wish I could accurately portray the outrageous mayhem of Cádiz's most celebrated tradition: Mardis Gras on crack. It's like going to the fair on Halloween in Disneyland. The whole town dresses up in garish costumes, indulges on delicious treats such as gofres (like waffles but better), baked potatoes, caramel apples and fresh mini-donuts, and then shamelessly gets completely plastered in the middle of the streets.

The whole town is adorned with festive lights and decorations as if it were Christmas

In the streets, people dance and laugh along with the charmingly sarcastic chirigotas (witty bands in costumes that sing about controversial issues) with their liters of Cruzcampo beer and plastic party cups filled with tinto de verano. Even the bars are located outside, so they can accommodate the hundreds of tourists that pack the quaint gaditano streets. The streets are so jammed, it’s impossible to get anywhere – it took me 45 minutes to get to Plaza de San Francisco, which would have normally taken me 15 minutes to get to from my old apartment. But it’s not a typical big-city traffic jam, for everyone is drunk out of their minds in elaborate masks and costumes. Confetti and silly string litter the winding streets and pathways while locals erupt into impromptu sing-a-longs and dances. It is completely surreal.

Enjoying a parade of chirigotas during the day

Chirigotas are famous for their satirical songs about political issues

Many elaborate floats entertain the crowds during the city's big parade

“Wild” doesn’t even begin to describe Carnaval de Cádiz. The whole city suddenly comes to life, and everyone is filled with the joyous spirit of Carnaval. It made me feel like a kid again! Maybe it was the sugar high or the bizarre feeling of living in a dreamlike alternate universe, but Carnaval utterly fascinated me. I dressed up as a peacock, while my other friends flaunted costumes comprised of sequins, feather boas, body paint and balloons. We roamed the crowded streets, bar hopped, met crazy locals who were more outrageously dressed as we were, and feasted upon festive candy and freshly made donut holes. The celebration usually lasts a week, but the first weekend of Carnaval is usually the most out of control. Even after my first night of Carnaval, I came home to find remnants of my host mom’s bright pink wig in the sink. I kid you not, the entire city goes nuts.

If you ever get the chance to experience the madness of Carnaval, I urge you to do so. It is definitely a bucket list-worthy experience! Next year I'll force myself to be better at budgeting so I can relive the madness that is Carnaval de Cádiz.

Have you ever celebrated Carnaval? What was your favorite part?

Eating My Way Through Huertas with Madrid Food Tour

I'm a self-proclaimed foodie and lover of all things Madrid, so when I was asked to photograph Madrid Food Tour's newest tour - the Huertas Neighborhood Food & Market Tour - I simply couldn't say no.

Olive tasting inside Mercado de Antón Martín.

Sampling different kinds of jamón at Mercado de Antón Martín. Spain is notorious for their savory cured hams, and the quality of the meat depends on how the pigs were raised and what they were fed.

Indulging on authentic Spanish cheese and wine inside the market. This was my first time tasting wine that is actually from Madrid, and I was pleasantly surprised!

We started our day walking through the literary quarter of Huertas, snacking on typical Spanish treats while we admired the gorgeous architecture and learned about some of Spain's most famous writers. We met shop owners at the local market, feasted upon traditional dishes, and got to know one of Madrid's most historic neighborhoods. Huertas has a very traditional vibe, which made it the perfect area to explore many local eateries. We ventured into places that I would have never discovered on my own!

Tasty cured meat topped off with another authentic Spanish delicacy - olive oil!

A peek inside the kitchen of one of Madrid's best Valencian paella restaurants, Azahar.

Pass the paella, please!

The best paella I've eaten in Madrid. Naturally, I helped myself to two more scoops...

The things we tasted along the way portrayed a very accurate representation of authentic Spanish cuisine. Overall the tour was engaging, informative, and immensely satisfying. Our tour guide Lauren, owner of Madrid Food Tour and blogger behind Spanish Sabores, offered us a wealth of information about the city's rich history and its divine cuisine. I left the tour with a full belly, a better knowledge of my city, and a deeper appreciation for (or should I say, addiction to...) Spanish food.

Tortas de aceite, a typical Spanish breakfast treat. 

Spain is famous for it's thick, decadent hot chocolate - always served alongside warm, doughy churros. Dip your churros into this delicious concoction for a little taste of heaven.

We had "chocolate con porras" at one of Madrid's hidden chocolatería gems. Porras are a larger version of churros, and many people swear that they're even tastier.

Creamy Spanish cheesecake from a local bakery that still utilizes Madrid's oldest communal oven.

The Huertas Neighborhood Food & Market Tour runs on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday starting at 10:30 am. The tour lasts several hours, and includes many more stops than those pictured in this post. I recommend this tour to all foodies and hungry travelers who are curious about Spanish cuisine, both visitors and locals alike! Click here to sign up, or check out the other tours available through Madrid Food Tour!

Have you ever been on a food tour? Did you enjoy your experience?