Hey Everyone :) so my last post was about how I became an Au Pair and the process of it all. Today marks my official first week living in Spain and with a Spanish family and my experiences thus far! So, for starters, I think I kinda under estimated the culture shock of it all. I knew the foods, proper etiquette, and the people would be different, and they are, but I think just the reality of it all will always exceed your imagination.
Being an Au Pair means you live with whomever you're working for; and even though I have my own room...I have anything but privacy. It's not so bad because I'd rather be pushed to leave my shell of introversion, but sometimes it's too much to be around the family all day every day. Especially because the girl I am watching over is so young, she is still sort of in the "terrible twos" stage, even though she is almost four. I definitely underestimated the amount of patience it takes to take care of a child as well. Now, don't take this as me complaining, I love being here, but it's just tough is all. It's really going from 0-100 to start off by being on your own in your own country, to a completely different one surrounded by things you're not used to.
Another thing I underestimated is how lonely I would be! And so quickly! It's not really that I miss being in the United States, I just miss the comfort it provided. I really can't complain too much because I have only been here a week, but I REALLY want friends here already!! I'm not sure how to meet people because I am too shy to go out on my own, so I'm kinda relying on my "Spain Moms" brother to introduce me to people when he comes back in town in a few weeks. I'll have no problem meeting people eventually because I start school the end of August, but thats a long time from now and I just don't want to wait that long :<
Something else surprising is how much the change in food has affected me. I'm constantly bloated and I have no idea why because they eat most of the same foods as us in the states; in fact I'm eating way healthier here than I have in a long time in the States so I'm not sure whats up. Maybe its because I eat a lot of fish now because thats huge here. For starters, its Spain so yeah fish is already big. But, I live on the beach so its even more emphasized as a dish. I'm not sure though. Either way, I feel super sick typing this because I ate so much weird food at lunch like I'm not even sure of half of the stuff I put into my body.
Today I got to hang out with a french Au Pair who is Au Pairing for a family friend of the family I'm living with, and it was so fun because we really could connect and ugh it just sucks because they were here just visiting and they actually live a little over 2 hours away :c I've been noticing lots of americans here lately, but they all seem young and like idiots...plus I didn't come to Spain to lean upon english speakers...ugh! It's just hard because I feel like I don't know enough Spanish to even talk to people and get to know them...so maybe it's really a game of patience.
Another thing!! So I live in a city and theres SO much to do, but because I have literally no one to hang out with yet, I feel very awkward and self conscious. I mean..to be honest, being a tall blond in the middle of Spain, I'm not going to have trouble getting attention. But idk. It's just hard because unless I meet a Spanish person who knows at least some english, I feel like I'm kinda screwed at this point.
Ugh.
This has become more of a rant than an informative post, but maybe it'll show you the reality of culture shock haha. Either way, I know things will get better as I get used to them, but agh! I just can't seem to wait.
