A lesson from the Spaniards

One thing I’ve learned about Spanish culture in my first few days here is that the Spaniards know how to chill. They seem always relaxed and just to be enjoying life. They don’t honk, they don’t yell, they don’t get antsy. Of course, I’m sure this is a bit of a stereotype and not every Spaniard is this way. But nonetheless, you compare Sevilla or Granada Spain to New York or San Francisco and it’s night and day.

Today, I learned that there’s a lot of times in life that I need to channel my inner Spaniard. At lunch, I placed an order with the waitress who then forgot to place the order. 40 minutes later and with no food, I complained to another waitress irritated. Her colleague mentioned that she had forgotten to put the order in and they were sorry.

I instantly went into asshole mode. I was visibly irritated (and a bit hangry). My time was being wasted here… I told myself that I could’ve been on my next thing by now if she had done her job. Then I realized it.

I’m on vacation and I have nothing but time. I have nowhere to be. No work to be done. No one waiting on me. This minor inconvenience almost ruined my lunch. I was the grinch in all of Spain. Everywhere around me, people were smiling, drinking beers, enjoying lunch and I was sitting here pissed off because my food took 30 minutes longer than it should have. That’s no way to live life.

The food came shortly after and it was delicious. The waitress joked with me and told me that the staff was going to tease the waitress who made the mistake. They were awesome.

I need life more like the Spaniards and less like me.