July 2008 Archives
I suppose it's more socialization than anything but I feel somewhat ashamed that the Fourth of July NEARLY passed me by here in Madrid, Spain without noticing.
USA's Independence Days is the 4th of July - EVERY YEAR. I think I nearly missed it last year too. Making such a statement almost makes me fear nasty messages and comments about now I must hate my country (United States of America) or how UNpatriotic I must be for A) forgetting Independence Day and B) for leaving the United States in the first place. Should I care! I guess so. But I'll probably care less and less with every year the more and more I become assimilated into my new home, my new country, my new culture.
2.5 years have passed since moving to Madrid and the only (Spanish) flag waving you get here are during UEFA European Cup Soccer Championships (YEAH! ¡¡CAMPEONES!!) and Partido Popular (the Spanish conservative party) demonstrations.
While here, I don't have the constant, daily, hourly reminders of the upcoming 4th of July, no mention of this year's bigger-and-better fireworks displays, no parades with high school marching bands, no ribs-on-the-grill cook-outs and potato salad, no family get togethers.
And I kind of miss it! The country unites to celebrate its independence from the British. Actually, I don't think the majority of people in the United States consider the British when celebrating the 4th of July. I'm not even all that sure they're celebrating our independence. Maybe more so than everything else, we're just celebrating to celebrate. In some ways, it's like Saint Patrick's Day or Cinco de Mayo in the United States - you don't have to be Irish or Mexico - or even know what you're celebrating - to celebrate with gusto!
But I have to admit that with my typical midwestern American's upbringing of flag waving, patriotic movies with patriotic themes, patriotic speeches and patriotic slogans swirling around my head that I do get rather choked-up when a solemn military marching division passes by while carrying the American Flag or even when the National Anthem is sung at the gold medal presentation at the Olympics. I can't help it. It's probably a simple result of socialization. We're taught since birth to be patriotic and so we are. Education and life experiences can somewhat alter this sensation of loyalty but I think it's always there.
So how did I celebrate the Fourth of July in Spain? I simply called my parents and chatted for awhile. A Spanish friend here in Madrid sent me a text/SMS message wishing me a happy Independence day - which I thought was nice. I didn't seek out fireworks displays on YouTube, I didn't make potato salad, I didn't get together with other Americans here in Madrid - although I did receive and email notice about such a gathering. Nothing really. It nearly passed me by. I guess that's what happens when you move abroad.
USA's Independence Days is the 4th of July - EVERY YEAR. I think I nearly missed it last year too. Making such a statement almost makes me fear nasty messages and comments about now I must hate my country (United States of America) or how UNpatriotic I must be for A) forgetting Independence Day and B) for leaving the United States in the first place. Should I care! I guess so. But I'll probably care less and less with every year the more and more I become assimilated into my new home, my new country, my new culture.
2.5 years have passed since moving to Madrid and the only (Spanish) flag waving you get here are during UEFA European Cup Soccer Championships (YEAH! ¡¡CAMPEONES!!) and Partido Popular (the Spanish conservative party) demonstrations.
While here, I don't have the constant, daily, hourly reminders of the upcoming 4th of July, no mention of this year's bigger-and-better fireworks displays, no parades with high school marching bands, no ribs-on-the-grill cook-outs and potato salad, no family get togethers.
And I kind of miss it! The country unites to celebrate its independence from the British. Actually, I don't think the majority of people in the United States consider the British when celebrating the 4th of July. I'm not even all that sure they're celebrating our independence. Maybe more so than everything else, we're just celebrating to celebrate. In some ways, it's like Saint Patrick's Day or Cinco de Mayo in the United States - you don't have to be Irish or Mexico - or even know what you're celebrating - to celebrate with gusto!
But I have to admit that with my typical midwestern American's upbringing of flag waving, patriotic movies with patriotic themes, patriotic speeches and patriotic slogans swirling around my head that I do get rather choked-up when a solemn military marching division passes by while carrying the American Flag or even when the National Anthem is sung at the gold medal presentation at the Olympics. I can't help it. It's probably a simple result of socialization. We're taught since birth to be patriotic and so we are. Education and life experiences can somewhat alter this sensation of loyalty but I think it's always there.
So how did I celebrate the Fourth of July in Spain? I simply called my parents and chatted for awhile. A Spanish friend here in Madrid sent me a text/SMS message wishing me a happy Independence day - which I thought was nice. I didn't seek out fireworks displays on YouTube, I didn't make potato salad, I didn't get together with other Americans here in Madrid - although I did receive and email notice about such a gathering. Nothing really. It nearly passed me by. I guess that's what happens when you move abroad.
Today is July 6th and the summer has officially begun. How do I know this? Mainly because when you walk the streets of Madrid you see very few cars, very few people on the streets, and many many available parking spaces.
They say August is the month when more Madrileños go away on vacation for the month, and I believe it, but already now in July it's nice - although HOT.
These summer months is when it almost seems there are more tourist in Madrid than Spaniards! It's also the time when many of your favorite restaurants or bars may close for up to a month causing great disappointment when you're hoping to take visitors out for a nice meal or drink.
Another exception to the "Quiet Summer" rule was last night's Gay Pride Parade in Madrid. I didn't attend this year - the first time in 3 years - but understand it was nearly as "big" as last year's Euro Pride Parade in Madrid. And, for anyone wondering, probably the great majority of spectators at the parade are NOT gay - like me. It's just a good time, a great party, and you DEFINITELY see things you DON'T see on the streets of Madrid on a regular basis.
Some nights are uncomfortably hot without the fan or without the air conditioning. Only a few nights - SO FAR - have I spent in the OTHER bedroom where there's air conditioning. Otherwise, I've been able to bear under the heat with just the fan. And only a few night so far have I slept with nothing more than open windows - like the last few nights.
As many of you know, MadridMan is a Hot Body and so I have a very low tolerance for heat. Shorts, loose shirts, and sandals are the typical daily wear in the street. When going out at night or to a nice lunch I'll typically wear my wonderfully comfortable and light LINEN pants with sandals. The linen pants wrinkle like crazy but they're almost better than wearing shorts. I love them.
Many friends are away on vacation for the month of July or August and so summers can be a little lonely here in Madrid as I rarely take more than 1 week vacation for myself in summer. I always plan - with good intentions - to spend the summer working very hard, taking advantage of the relative quiet. But often, with such heat, I find myself almost less productive than otherwise. And while I can turn on the air conditioner in my work room I don't generally like to use it because of my environmental responsibilities.
When in the street I always carry a cloth handkerchief to wipe the sweat from my brow often bringing strange looks from those around me. And I'm usually the only person doing this. Why? It's because SPANIARDS DON'T SWEAT! Okay, this is a generalization, sure, but it's nearly true. It could be 100ºF in the street and not one Spaniard on the street will have a single bead of sweat on their foreheads - while I have drops of sweat streaming off the tip of my nose or down my temples. It's the same in the metro when I'm there in my shorts and shirt, sweating, and Spaniard men are wearing full suits and ties and totally dry-looking.
Spaniards - and people in general - LOVE to complain about the heat. Some people habitually repeat, every 5 minutes, "Ay, ¡qué calor!" - "Oh, it's so hot!" I usually just internalize these statements because WHY say something, particularly repeatedly, which is so totally obvious. I say, just take it and go on.
So yes, IT'S HOT here in Madrid and in many places throughout Spain in the summer, more in the south and less in the north, but hot it is. The ONLY saving grace here in Madrid is that the air is incredibly dry so the heat really isn't as uncomfortable as it is in, say, humid Barcelona. In fact, the air is SO dry here in Madrid you can see it clearly in the mirror with dry, flaky skin and also with a desire to constantly drink water. I probably drink 2-3 liters of water daily! That's a lot of water! But it's got to be done.
Stay Cool while in Madrid!
They say August is the month when more Madrileños go away on vacation for the month, and I believe it, but already now in July it's nice - although HOT.
These summer months is when it almost seems there are more tourist in Madrid than Spaniards! It's also the time when many of your favorite restaurants or bars may close for up to a month causing great disappointment when you're hoping to take visitors out for a nice meal or drink.
Another exception to the "Quiet Summer" rule was last night's Gay Pride Parade in Madrid. I didn't attend this year - the first time in 3 years - but understand it was nearly as "big" as last year's Euro Pride Parade in Madrid. And, for anyone wondering, probably the great majority of spectators at the parade are NOT gay - like me. It's just a good time, a great party, and you DEFINITELY see things you DON'T see on the streets of Madrid on a regular basis.
Some nights are uncomfortably hot without the fan or without the air conditioning. Only a few nights - SO FAR - have I spent in the OTHER bedroom where there's air conditioning. Otherwise, I've been able to bear under the heat with just the fan. And only a few night so far have I slept with nothing more than open windows - like the last few nights.
As many of you know, MadridMan is a Hot Body and so I have a very low tolerance for heat. Shorts, loose shirts, and sandals are the typical daily wear in the street. When going out at night or to a nice lunch I'll typically wear my wonderfully comfortable and light LINEN pants with sandals. The linen pants wrinkle like crazy but they're almost better than wearing shorts. I love them.
Many friends are away on vacation for the month of July or August and so summers can be a little lonely here in Madrid as I rarely take more than 1 week vacation for myself in summer. I always plan - with good intentions - to spend the summer working very hard, taking advantage of the relative quiet. But often, with such heat, I find myself almost less productive than otherwise. And while I can turn on the air conditioner in my work room I don't generally like to use it because of my environmental responsibilities.
When in the street I always carry a cloth handkerchief to wipe the sweat from my brow often bringing strange looks from those around me. And I'm usually the only person doing this. Why? It's because SPANIARDS DON'T SWEAT! Okay, this is a generalization, sure, but it's nearly true. It could be 100ºF in the street and not one Spaniard on the street will have a single bead of sweat on their foreheads - while I have drops of sweat streaming off the tip of my nose or down my temples. It's the same in the metro when I'm there in my shorts and shirt, sweating, and Spaniard men are wearing full suits and ties and totally dry-looking.
Spaniards - and people in general - LOVE to complain about the heat. Some people habitually repeat, every 5 minutes, "Ay, ¡qué calor!" - "Oh, it's so hot!" I usually just internalize these statements because WHY say something, particularly repeatedly, which is so totally obvious. I say, just take it and go on.
So yes, IT'S HOT here in Madrid and in many places throughout Spain in the summer, more in the south and less in the north, but hot it is. The ONLY saving grace here in Madrid is that the air is incredibly dry so the heat really isn't as uncomfortable as it is in, say, humid Barcelona. In fact, the air is SO dry here in Madrid you can see it clearly in the mirror with dry, flaky skin and also with a desire to constantly drink water. I probably drink 2-3 liters of water daily! That's a lot of water! But it's got to be done.
Stay Cool while in Madrid!
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