Always something to adapt to.
Since living here, it has become apparent just how different Madrid is from the United States, specifically from things that I am used to. It is causing me to truly appreciate the efficiency and technology that we utilize in America.
Just a few examples to provide some food for thought:
- In the States, we are accustomed to having everything automated, everything run by a machine, so that we can decrease the amount of time spent on one singular task. We have ATMs, where you can perform a multitude of tasks, most of them completely routine and you never have to even converse with a bank teller about the transactions that you have to make. Madrid kind of has that, but since I am hesitant to commit to that statement, you know that there is quite the difference. The other day, I went to withdraw some money, I went to the machine, got my money, went on with my day. Then, a few days later, I attempted to deposit my money. Thinking that the ATMs here where like they are in America, I went back to an ATM and inserted my card, then was baffled to notice that you cannot deposit into ATMs here. Of course, this wouldn’t be much of an issue except banks here operate on different hours. I thought American banks had it easy. No, Spanish banks are only open from 830am to 230pm. That’s it. After that, if you want to deposit money, you might as well hide it under your mattress because you are S.O.L. When I finally found time in my schedule to go to the bank during these hours, I had to stand in a long line of people who also wanted to deposit money. Efficient, I think not.
- Another experience I had was, today Kaitlyn and I went downstairs to print out our Spanish homework. We get downstairs and realize that there is a huge line of people waiting to print their documents as well. We encounter an exchange student and she told us that she waited in the whole line, thinking that she had to wait to send her documents to the printer once she went into the printer room, then she gets to the printer room then realized that she had to initially send it from the computers. A mistake that I most likely would have made if she hadn’t tell me. After all, what sense does it make to use to separate computers to que and print a document? Anyways, so we get in line and while I stand in line, Kaitlyn sends her document to the printer, then I send mine. We finally get to the room with four printers (yes, you read that correctly, this university has FOUR printers for students to have the luxury of using), where we have to again log onto the computer and follow steps to pull up our documents in the que, place our paper into the printer and print. This process just seemed so excruciatingly bizarre to me. After all, why would a university have so few printers! Granted, I come from a school where we have hundreds of printers scattered all around campus. It was just very strange to me. Very very strange.
Despite the differences, it makes me realize that there is always something that we must adapt to. After all, I may not be living in America for the rest of my life. I also may not be living in my “privileged bubble” for the rest of my life. Therefore, it is always good to come to a place that has different customs. I suppose it keeps life interesting and engaging.
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