oh HAIL no.

Well I have been in España for about three weeks now, so naturally its time for the homesickness to set in. I could tell you all of the serious things I miss about home, (my mom, bean and cheese burritos, always being able to communicate without giving it much thought….ect) Instead, here is a list of more trivial things I miss about Los Estados Unidos. Enjoy.

The Things I Miss the Most

Edition 1

5. Crushed Ice. Donde esta el hielo (ice)?

Its not in Europe that’s for sure, and it is most definitely NOT in Spain. Unless you count the HAIL (yes Hail! In the Mediterranean!) that has come down on us sporadically for the past two days, which I do not.. I will admit however when I saw the little ice pebbles in piles all along the streets and on my window I couldn’t help but wish I could slip some into my pocket and save it for later. They were glistening in their crushed icy perfection, just taunting me from the sidewalk. I am not sure why this simple, easy to make, crushed ice delicacy isn’t readily available here, but I would love to add some to a vast majority of my beverages. Which also is a segue into number 2….

4. Soda

I am not even a crazy soda person, but I do crave it every so often. Moreso when it is not readily available. You may be interested to know that diet coke, is called coke light here. You may also be interested to know that it is expensive, and when you do buy it, it is in a glass bottle, that holds less soda than a can does. Unless you go to burger king or Mcdonalds and cheat, like I have done exactly twice. I should also point out, my cola of choice is not the Coca, kind. It is the Dr. Pepper kind, which doesn’t even exist here! I miss those 21 flavors, along with the added sugar they provide to my diet. Sure I am drinking a lot of water, but I need the caffine since I wake up so early! (Plus its not like I can drink coffee here, 1. Coffee here is weird and very strong and would give me the shakes 2. I don’t like coffee all that much and if I do drink it, I like it very sweet and heavily diluted. Like 99.9 percent sugar and milk, and 1 percent coffee. Which again is problematic because of number 1.

3. Fabric Softener/Dryers.

Clothes are so much nicer and softer after they have come out of the dryer as opposed to hanging on a line. The fabric softener also aids this process. I actually miss that creepy little “Snuggle” bear. Also dryers allow one to do laundry even when it is raining, or hailing, another plus since we have had a lot of that lately.

2. Proper Deodorant/Cologne Use

I have concluded that Spanish men fall into two categories, Those that think women love their natural aroma, especially while in very close proximity to their armpits (ie on a stuffy bus) and therefore do not wear any deodorant or cologne, ever. These types smell so bad it makes me nauseous and lightheaded and I want to pass out. Then there are also those who seem to believe women like to have their sent organs, (aka noses) obliterated by the overpowering scent of their body completely covered with an entire bottle (a full liter at least) of cologne on a daily basis. These types make me feel lightheaded and nauseous and I want to pass out. I really couldn’t tell you which one is more favorable because with both I can’t breathe and am unconscious. I have become better at holding my breath for long periods of time though, for example a 40 minutes bus ride home from school, in attempts to acclimate myself to the culture. I have yet to be successful. In most cases making a girl weak at the knees is a good thing. But, in this case, I would have to disagree.

1, The trash collectors

Never before have I longed for the trash collectors in little ol’ San Dimas more than I do right now. Never again will I complain that they woke me up at 8am on a summer day when I wanted to sleep in, because hey at least they aren’t Spanish trash collectors who are the NOISIEST trash collectors in the world. And the angriest I am guessing by the way they slam things around. But hey I would be angry too if I collected trash at 3 in the morning!!!! Yep that’s right, they parade down the streets with their gigante monster truck at approximately 3am talking, yelling, banging on metal, and yes collecting garbage occasionally every night just when I am about to enter my REM cycle. Add this with the paper thin windows and walls that are installed in all Spanish apartments and you have a very LOUD wakeup call. I understand they are just doing their job but whose idea was this? Por favor Dios! Make it stop.