art: usa v europe

In the 21st century we pave our streets black and call it a day, so explain to me why there's been construction on my block in Spain for two months while the workers lay down each individual rock to create a cobblestone effect? Maybe it's because in Europe... ART MATTERS!

Okay so this isn't to say that art doesn't matter in the United States; I've been to almost every art museum in NYC and there are beautiful museums in other states as well, like my personal favorite the Mass MoCA, (it's in Massachusetts please go if you've never been), BUT since my time in Spain I have been feeling a stronger presence of art in every day life.

I don't know if I'm being extra attentive because I'm in a different country and want to really absorb everything around me; but art is the glue that is present in everything here in Spain from the presentation of food, to the lifestyle and way people interact, to the architecture, and even the fashion.

For starters, the makeup and fashion culture is very high-end. Women wear full faces of makeup and dark lipstick all day every day. A major trend in the USA right now in the world of makeup is the natural, "no makeup, makeup" look, so when I walk through the streets here and see women with tons of makeup on I feel that it's a bit intense but it's just the style here. Also the "boho" look is not acceptable. I tried going outside in sweatpants one day and was horrified at the amount of looks I got from people, I'm really not kidding. I understand that this is a city so it makes sense that when people leave their houses they want to look presentable but it's to the extent that sweatpants just don't cut it.

Southern Spain is a bit different than maybe Barcelona in the way of fashion because it's almost cut off from the rest of Europe; it's like its own little world. The "European" style is more unisex, minimalistic, plain colored type clothing. Platform shoes and white adidas are huge.

The social culture is absolutely wonderful: I've met people from all over the globe almost every time I've gone out to the bars at night. There's nothing like talking to someone from a different part of the world and learning about their language and their customs. People go out to dinner around 10pm and will sit outside talking and drinking for HOURS. When you sit down at a restaurant in the US you are checked on by the waiters and waitresses multiple times throughout your meal and almost always they are trying to turn tables; but here your waiter gives you your food and you won't see them again for the rest of the night if you don't initiate getting the check. It's like they want you to enjoy your meal and your conversation without interruption or something... ha imagine that.

My classes at the la Universidad de Sevilla are wonderful. There's not a lot of pressure to perform and repeat information that you've learned; the assessments are mainly reflections on the conversations we have in class day to day. In my art history class we are learning a ton of different artists' names every day but we aren't asked to answer questions about which artists are from which time period, but rather what artists are our favorite and why do we think their work was so important to their time period.

I love the shopping experiences I've had here. The storefront's are stunning and I would say most of them are comparable to those in NYC, but there's a real emphasis on in-store-shopping here. Macy's and other department stores on Long Island are in decline and every time I go to one they're usually nearly empty, but the department stores here are always packed. I don't think online shopping is a thing at all. Apps don't exist here either. If you want a coffee at Starbucks, you wait in line for it AT Starbucks. If you want to buy tickets for the Tranvia, you use the ticket machines at the stations.

Something that kills me about Spain is the breakfast... I was talking to my friend that lives here and told him that I normally have eggs for breakfast. He said that was SO unhealthy and that he has toast with olive oil for breakfast every day. Please explain to me how bread is healthier than eggs? I guess it probably makes you gain less weight because you have something so small for breakfast but at the same time there is zero protein in bread so I would disagree that toast is healthier than eggs... The way that people eat here overall is healthier. At Starbucks for example there is no "Venti" or large option. The same goes for a lot of the fast food places, and furthermore the fast food places are insanely expensive. A meal at taco bell is 10 euros which is about $13.00.