10 Things Students In America Take For Granted

If you are reading this, chances are you are living the life as an American student. Sometimes, its hard to look past all of the hard work and partying, and realize you have a lot to be thankful for. Studying abroad in Barcelona has opened my eyes to admire these every day items and concepts I once considered necessary for survival.

1) Wearing Sweats: “Do as the Spaniards do” and leave your sweatpants and Ugg boots at home. Not only is this American-popular get-up frowned upon; it is considered extremely rude to some professors. Once and a while, (or every day for some), it’s nice to roll out of bed and strut your lazy self to those 8 am Horton classes; but not here.  Students aren’t required to be in ‘private school’ attire, although they expect students to look presentable.

If you would love to gain more attention as a young American student, try going for a jog around the city. Wearing your workout clothes while in public is a great reason for natives to give you unwanted attention.  In Barcelona, every person leaves the gym showered and refreshed; not unrecognizably sweaty like most of us take for granted in Wildcat country. Planning a trip to the gym includes factoring in a freshening up when completed.

2) Being Late to Class: Stumbling into a class five or ten minutes late happens to all of us. Whether you forgot you set your alarm or you missed the bus by a minute, teachers in the United States will either shoot you a nasty look or totally disregard you. This comfort in Spain is non-existent. Upon arriving a mere five minutes late to class, students will receive a five out of 10 for the day, which basically equals not being there. Two fives equal one whole absence and in most classes only four skips are acceptable!  Being punctual is not only appropriate but also extremely necessary in order to receive the grade you want.

3) Pandora:  Everyone loves Pandora. Having Pandora is a life savor when it comes to pre-gaming, working out, or even cleaning your bedroom. Unfortunately, this convenient online radio does not work in any other country besides the United States.  In our apartment we listen to Spanish radio while getting ready, which has become a great way of learning the language. However, I miss the days of Pandora power hours, or hangover cruises to the Shack with the ‘popular country’ station on high.

4) Personal Privacy: On the metro, standing in line, or walking down the small alleyways of Barcelona, the concept of having personal space has not crossed the borders of Spain yet.  Of course, different countries have different ways of personal communication and individual space, but eye contact interaction is extremely intense here. It is not considered rude to directly stare at someone you walk by nor kiss a stranger.

For ladies, it is an extremely different story. Men in Spain are very confrontational and appear to have no shame. Expect to be hissed or yelled at by a few brash men seeking to grab your attention. Not only is it creepy, but awfully annoying when your only goal is to walk to class peacefully.

5) Coffee: Whether it is waking up to that brutal Sunday morning hangover and inhaling a JB, or a miserable six-hour study session in the Dimond Library, a large coffee is always your best companion.  I have come to realize this may be one of the most detrimental changes to my new life style. Although very delicious, a café con leche (coffee with milk) is about the size of a five year olds sippy cup; one gulp and I’m halfway done.  

6) House Parties: One of the things I admire most about going to school in America is the atmosphere as a whole. We take for granted the house parties, tailgates, and kegs that are apart of this four-year dream we experience. Yes, Europe arguably has the greatest night life on earth, but the nightclubs and DJ scene can get old after awhile. It’s nice to be able to get together and wreck havoc in the comfort of your own home or apartment.

7) Free Refills: Do not bother asking for free refills here, even of a glass of H20. Everything is an extra charge; sometimes the beginning loaf of bread is around 4 euro. I have learned from my travels to always take advantage of the never-ending salad and breadsticks at Olive Garden.

8) Dryers: If you thought doing laundry in Stoke hall was annoying, then your dirty clothes to Europe. With the absence of dryers in most residences, washing laundry becomes an entire day event. It is common to see laundry lines and thousands of clothespins hanging across windows and balconies. When doing your week’s load, planning accordingly is key, for a rainstorm can become your worst enemy! Drying sheets, towels and sweatshirts outside gives them a nice comfortable crunch when their ready to be used. Washing and drying a pair of jeans for a trip to the bar the same night is merely impossible, especially in 50-degree weather. As students, we are used to having the clothes we want cleaned, done fast and efficiently. In Barcelona, having patience is a virtue.  

9) Showers: I never thought that having a normal sized shower at home would be such a luxury. A normal Spanish shower is so small; it is difficult to wash your hair, let alone trying to shave your legs. Water conservation is mandatory due to its high utility expense; so taking a 15 minute long shower is out of the question.

10) Buffalo Sauce:  The injustice of all injustices.  I have always wondered what life would be without the magical substance of buffalo-hot sauce, and I have found that answer.  Understandably, this heavenly food-booster is uncommon in most Spanish places, for they have other sauces such as Salsa Brava, which is a combination of ketchup and mayonnaise. As delicious as it sounds, it just doesn’t equal the satisfaction of having buffalo sauce all over your face after devouring a plate of wings.