Jonathan Harris '09--What comes to mind when one thinks of Spain? Is it spicy food or mariachi music as found in Mexico? If it is, that person needs to rethink and explore what Spain actually is. I have been doing that over the last 5 weeks.

The most startling differences between an American’s understanding of his own culture and that of Spain come more from the mundane day-to-day tasks than anything. I was surprised most by the food and how time is used here in Spain. I live in Salamanca, a two hour bus ride west from Madrid. Salamanca is a very small town considering how many people live in it. There are about 300,000 inhabitants in this city that is home to one of the four oldest universities in Europe. The University of Salamanca was founded in 1218 in what was then the Kingdom of LeÛn. Today, the University is still here even if the political and geographic arrangements of 'Spain' have shifted.

As I have said, the two biggest differences in the culture that I am growing used to are the food and the schedules of people here. The food, contrary to what I thought when I got here was surprisingly less spicy. It is still tasty, though. The meat is mostly pork, and not just bacon and sliced ham used for sandwiches but also every other cut imaginable. When you buy pork here, you almost always end up buying a whole leg. But you also find some more familiar foods like rice and hot dogs.

The time is what has been hardest to adjust to. My meals have typically been at 8 in the morning, 3 in the afternoon, and around 10 at night. I have also had to get used to the large periods of time that stores are closed. Most places are closed between one and 5 in the afternoon. But that just makes it convenient to take naps everyday. So far it has been a different, but excellent trip. I can only hope to learn more about this unique culture the longer I stay.