TV

Hey all,

So this past week a tragic thing happened, not. The television in my host families living room broke. Now to give you some background this TV was 20 years old. I had to get up to turn it on and off, to change the channels, and to turn the volume up. So yes mom I guess I learned what is like to get up to do all of the above. This morning a brand spaken new television was delivered a 26 inch Samsung HD TV. They hooked it up and weren't sure why they went from 6 channels to about 50. The wonders of modernization. I explained as well as I have access now to shows like Recess (ONE SATURDAY MORNING) in Spanish!

The more interesting bigger picture of this is the truly lack of care when it comes 'keeping up with the Jones'. Although my family was by far the worst out of all my friends here, no one had big flat HD televisions like in the United States. No one needs to have that brand or mark on their shirt. If you life with your family is happy that is all that seems to matter. It is interesting to see and I have come accustomed to while I have been in Spain and will most likely hit me quick the differences once I get home in exactly a month from today. Here are a few other things that I am come to find interesting.

Waste- They recycle everything. It is normal and isn't the 'tree huggers' who recycle here. Young, old, male, female, liberals, and right wingers all recycle. It is normal. In the supermarkets they almost always expect that you have your own bags with you that a reusable so you need to specifically ask for a plastic bag if you need one. But watch out if you do, you will most likely be charged and only given one or two! We think in the United States ideas like charging for bags (Ikea) and banning plastic bags (San Francisco) is strange, it is just normal here.

Los Chinos- I know how incredibly racist and weird this is but it is just normal here. The Asian populations have stores all throughout the area and most of them they call themselves the 'Tienda de chinos'. What it is, is really a store of everything made in China. Cheap is all I have to say. It is very much like a dollar store but sometimes a little more and a Euro but always cheap quality. I will miss them, but I most likely shouldn't considering my 2 euro umbrella just lasted me 1 rainstorm before breaking.

As for this weekend, tomorrow is Labor day and therefore a national holiday. My hope is that it eventually stops raining and warms up this weekend so I can head to the beach. We shall see. Have a good weekend all!

Luego!
Erika