Hogueras

The Spanish really know how to celebrate. I got to experience the ‘Hogueras’, the Alicante equivalent of the Las Fallas of Valencia. The main thing is that dozens of gigantic paper mache statues are built around Alicante, people get to admire them for a week and then on the Saturday of Hogueras they are all burned down. The entire week was full of festivities, music, eating on the streets and amazing fireworks. Also, for a month now, every now and then we have been ‘enjoying’ the ‘mascletas’, which is like fireworks but without the light and thus only the loud sounds of explosion. I’m not a big fan of those but it seems the locals really love them.

Further, there was recently the Spanish midsummer fest, San Juan. That meant everyone going to the beach to light bonfires. That was actually really beautiful and, albeit very distantly, reminded me of the Finnish midsummer.

My year here has reached the point that my fellow trainees are starting to leave Alicante one by one having found jobs all over Europe. Also, the trainees that have not yet left are constantly buzzing like bees because of everyone now applying for their next internships, jobs and research projects. Everyone seems a bit stressed out about the fact that we’ll have to come up with something new now and to find something to do for October. I try and not stress even though this state of mind is a bit contagious. Admittedly, even though I still have three and a half months to go here, having to say goodbye to the other trainees that are now leaving, tomorrow beginning my last Spanish course and having to start thinking about jobs, it is inevitable that I start slowly thinking about once having to leave Alicante.

Besos,
Noora

On Cultural Differences

My life here continues as before. My work is still interesting, I’m working hard to learn more Spanish and the sun is shining :)

I wanted to dedicate this post to write a bit of something about cultural differences. I never thought I would notice them as clearly as I have during my time here. I thought cultural differences were actually only stereotypes and that I would never be really affected by them. I thought that all youth of all countries would somehow have approximately similar values. But I’ve learned now.. ..no way :D

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I wrote a post about cultural differences because of having experienced so many misunderstandings here. But I don’t dare to post my original text because it got so personal and I started sounding like I was claiming some cultures were better than others, which is totally not what I want to say!

Here is however my top three most striking things that I have realized only now, during my time here:  

1. Of course I knew that the times of skinny models and photoshopped pictures of actresses are not over but looks and beauty still are even more highly appreciated than I thought. Here I notice a lot more looks-related pressure than in Finland.

2. I had no idea how often two people can interpret the same thing in two totally different ways. Because of this I have experienced here so many misunderstandings I wouldn’t believe it is true if it didn’t happen to myself. Note to self: Be cautious, people can get offended by things that you’d never think as offensive.

3.The level of equality between men and women is totally different in different countries, and also in terms of the attitudes of the young people. Of course, in theory, this is not a surprise but again, I did not think I’d notice the difference here myself so clearly. Around here there have been a million times more situations related to equality that have actually made me angry, than ever in Finland.

With love,
Noora