6/18/2003

 
This is the article I wrote for The Bakersfield Californian, they wanted to know what it is like to live abroad and how other countries view the USA. We will see if they print it and what gets edited out...

American In Spain
The geographical similarities between California and Spain are
comical:green and rainy in the north, hot and brown in the south, both with a
gorgeous coastline on one side. Because they are both Mediterranean
climates, the agriculture, landscapes and animal life are similar. Driving
down the center of Spain from Madrid to Seville one would swear they were on
the I-5.

The way of life, however, is completely different. The daily
schedule, the style of dress, the food and drink, the way business works, barely
similar. Here we get up later, go to bed later. We take a few hours
in the late afternoon to have a long dinner-size lunch with a nap afterwards
before we go back to work. Dinner is a late night snack and bedtime is around 2 in
the morning.

People dress very nice to go grocery shopping saving sweat suits
and shorts for sports and the beach. Beauty and fashion are very
important and the younger people resemble super models until the years of smoking,
tanning and a high fat diet kick in around 40. All of this seems to turn most
Spaniards suddenly into short, plump and wrinkled people. The food is
quite different with lots of rice, ham, seafood, cheese and amazing fruits
and vegetables washed down with superb but affordable wine and ice cold
beer.

Business transactions are rarely quick and hassle-free. I don't
think a word exists in Spanish for customer service. I have learned the art
of line crowding and telling the worker how to do his job. I always take a
book to read during long waiting periods.

Getting through the shock of switching cultures has been one of my
biggest challenges. I could have had a much easier adjustment if I
had been more flexible, had more fun, complained way less and, above all, let
go of arrogance about my own culture to appreciate the new one.

Living here through the 2nd Gulf War has been challenging for me
because being an American has gone from not being a big deal (save for
the arrogant, loud, uncultured stereotype reinforced by many American
students and tourists) to more of an issue. Most of Spain is not in agreement
with the choices that the Spanish president has made to support the US
military action in Iraq. The comments, marches and posters directed at my
country over the last months have been difficult for me to not take personally.
More than 4 million Spaniards turned out last February to protest the
war in Iraq. To put that in perspective, that is 10% of the total population
of the entire nation!

But thankfully the Spanish people have a highly honorable tendency
to completely disregard their own preconceptions of others if the
opportunity for authentic friendship arises. If I reach out in humility, kindness,
thoughtfulness and authenticity their response is very positive. The
misconceptions that I have of them and they of me melt away. Real
understanding through friendship begins.

It is a sacrifice to leave behind loved ones and the comfortable >
life to go where I am stretched, insecure, and afraid. But for me it is
worth it to be doing what is in my heart and what I am made to do, hopefully
breaking barriers and stereotypes, understanding others better and myself,
making the world a little better place and encouraging others to do the same.

Heather Bailey lives with her husband, Jonah, and one year old
Doberman, Kati, in Seville, Spain. They work with 24-7 Prayer, YWAM and are
starting their own local non-profit organization called Triburbana. Heather is
a singing coach and likes to write poetry. Things she misses most about
Bakersfield include thrift stores and yard sales, Dewar's vanilla ice
milk and Sonic strawberry limeade, the two beautiful weeks in springtime and
horse rides in the foothills. And, of course, her family and friends.

(the editor asked me for a little more info and this is what I wrote)

I was born and grew up in Bakersfield and lived there until 8th grade
then did High School in Tehachapi. I returned to Bakersfield off and
on in my twenties and attended Bakersfield College and Cal State.
I went to Spain to attend a Christian discipleship course with Youth
with a MIssion (YWAM). I've been here ever since.
Most of my family still live in Bakersfield. Mom Dixie Hustead, Dad
John Hustead and his wife Beth. Brothers Zane, Cody and Ward. Aunt
Donnie Ward, Uncle Dave and Aunt Dale Martin, cousins Noah and Erin,
Micah, Adam and Leslie, Amy and Casey, Amanda and Matt, Jordan and
grandparents Phyllis and Lee Hustead and Don and Dorothy Ward all have
lived in or around Bakersfield.
posted by Heather 6/18/2003 10:12:00 AM |

6/17/2003

 
Maybe it's the smell of coconut body lotion, maybe it's my new layered haircut, maybe it's Hello Kitty, maybe it is the baby tees with California swirled on the chest, but something keeps sending me back to the late seventies-early eighties. It is kinda cool, I like it. I went shopping for a red bikini yesterday and some of the clothes reminded me of the styles from when I was little and use to roller skate in the garage to Diana Ross, Olivia Newton-John and Emotional Rescue by the Rolling Stones. I saw a satin Xanadu jacket yesterday like the one I always wanted. I didn't get it though cuz I don't really want it anymore. Sparkles and ribbons were very stylish back then and I am finding myself strangly drawn to these accessories once again. My haircut right now looks a lot like it did when I was 11. We used to take a family trip to Catalina Island during the summers. My mom would get us a new outfit and swimsuit right before we left. I was wishing yesterday that I could find an outfit like my matching green and yellow terry cloth short shorts and matching tank top with ties on the shoulders. They had some terry cloth yesterday and even some short gym shorts but nothing quite as good as my original outfit. I am also thinking about getting a pair of aviator sunglasses that the corner shop is selling for 4 euros. Then I would really look like how I remember my mom looked back then. Cool!
Well, I gotta finish my rollerama mix CD and I think I will go find this one shop that sells Hello Kitty. Gonna go have a look just for fun.
It's kinda cool how styles come and go. And the good thing about the second time around is you can keep the good and leave the bad. Ta Ta For Now!!
posted by Heather 6/17/2003 12:01:00 PM |