Submitted by Taylor Anderson on the 2015 winter session program in Granada, Spain sponsored by the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures…
The first week here in Granada has been both a fun and challenging experience. Yesterday in class, we talked about the different stages of culture shock. I’ve definitely experienced the first stage where you are in the excited mode about all the experiences that are to come and everything is new and invigorating. Now after a week, we are beginning to set into the second stage where things start to annoy you. For example, the showers here are very short and you shut the water off in between washing your hair in order to soap up and then turn it back on to rinse. It can be frustrating when you’re used to having hot water for a good fifteen minutes straight. Another thing here is that you need to shut off the lights every time you leave a room. That doesn’t sound so difficult except it can be when you’re so used to running to the bathroom and leaving your light on. Also, you can’t walk around barefoot here in the houses. I had to buy a pair of slippers after my host Mom was trying to explain to me in Spanish that being barefoot isn’t a thing. Although some of these things are frustrating, since we have been learning about culture shock in class it is easy for me to recognize the symptoms and therefore try to deal with them. I know that every country does things differently and part of studying abroad is learning about these customs and their culture. I think once I settle into the third stage of acceptance and comfort it will a lot easier to understand since it will become routine. One thing I know for sure—I definitely will not be taking these things for granted when I return to the US!
