Tú eres golosa.

Here are two quick lists.

Things I've had a tough time getting used to in Spain:

• The andaluz accent.
  
• Bagging your own groceries.
  
• Walking up a big hill to get to work.
  
• Answering my phone without saying, "Hello."
  
• Eating an early breakfast followed by a late lunch and late dinner.
  
• Ham. Lots of ham.
  
• Not having a car. In other words, waiting about an hour for the bus home whenever I go out at night.
  
• People not understanding pop culture references. ("¿Tú conoces a Snoop Dogg?"')
  
• The wimpy rain. It's more like a mist.
  
• All businesses close from 2pm-5pm every day and on Sundays.
  
• The bureaucracy involved with every little thing.
  
• The stares you get because you look and sound foreign.
  
• Feeling like an idiot most of the time you speak with a stranger because you aren't talking in your native language.
  
• A lot of cafes or restaurants not having a printed menu.
  
• Water in a restaurant is not free.
  

Things I've more than enjoyed getting used to:

• Taking a siesta after a big lunch.
  
• Speaking with an andaluz accent.
  
• Making fun of the andaluz accent.
  
• Saying, "vale," instead of "okay."
  
• No tipping at restaurants/bars!
  
• Learning a different monetary system.
  
• Living right above a row of restaurants.
  
• Seeing the Mediterranean every day.
  
• The cloudless, perfect blue skies.
  
• Joking around with my students.
  
• Being late is expected.
  
• The food. Oh, the glorious food.
  
• Using olive oil and vinegar as salad dressing instead of French or Ranch.
  
• The fact that having a beer is acceptable pretty much at any time--and cheaper than water!
  
• Drinking in the streets.
  
• Cooking with friends.
  

There are plenty more, I'm sure, but that's it for now. I just wanted to post something because I finally got my Internet access back, and I'm aching for something to do online.