RUN: Time Warp prt. 2

"Loosely" translated (my translation):

In Spain, returning before 3 isn't going out. It's going to dinner.

Although I’m not in the U.S. right now, I still like to watch the news and keep up with what's going on. Unfortunately, the issues that seem to be making the news lately are issues I thought were already resolved in our country. For example, contraception. It seems like this issue has made a recent, discernible, (and very divided) resurgence, and this baffles me. I thought we had settled this issue. Have we not? It seems like all of a sudden we are talking about (and fighting about) the same issues that we did 60 years ago. Which is kind of fitting because sometimes it feels as though Spain 2012 is like living in the United States during the 1950's or 60's. In prt.1 I mentioned how Christmas and Halloween seem to be following the American trend to popularity, but here are a few other examples that seem to be similar to the changes we experienced as a country not too long ago. 


Smoking isn’t as socially acceptable:
When I was in Granada it seemed like I was walking around in a constant cloud of smoke; people smoked in the movies, bars, restaurants, and even schools. Which makes sense because smoking indoors and in public places wasn’t actually banned nationally until last year! I swear some of my students would probably forget they can't smoke in class if there wasn’t a NO-Smoking sign in every classroom and hallway. 


Women dress like Women and Men (used to) dress like Men: 
I told you that I magically feel more stylish in Spain, but I think it’s actually because I’m just trying to keep up everyone else. People in Spain (maybe Europe in general) seem to dress nicer. Just need to run to the corner store to pick up a baguette? Well, you won’t see anyone stepping out in their Juicy Couture sweatsuites or pajamas to do it. Overall, it feels like people dress more formally than we do in the U.S. However, I’ve started to notice that the younger generation is starting to buck the norm, and are dressing down rather than up. I’ve even seen a few boys in school trying to sag! It seems as though Spanish guys have gone from 50's business man to 90's rapper in a matter of a few years. I don't think we need to go back to Leave it Beaver days, but I personally would like to see Americans class it up a bit. Especially college students-short shorts and pajamas should not be appropriate school attire. Is it too much to ask for a pair of khakis or collared shirt?


People are starting to get fat!:
I swear I hadn’t seen more than a handful of large, obese, big-boned (or whatever you want to call it) Spaniards until I moved to Zaragoza. The unprecedented access to packaged and processed food is reeking havoc on the Spanish waistline, especial for young adults and children. In fact, the child obesity rates have doubled in the last 15 years. Now granted, it did take me 6months to find the McDonald’s and Burger King in Zaragoza, but when I did I was in shock. The two “restaurants” were next door to each other and they were PACKED with eager customers waiting to indulged themselves, especially at McDonald’s. 
     However you look at it, change has definitely arrived here in Spain and they are ordering a SUPER-SIZED portion of it. Why? Because they’re 
Lovin’ it!