The pros and cons of my new life.

Sometimes it seems like a holiday, sometimes it seems like a chore. Let me share the pros and cons of my new life with you...

CONS:

• Supermarket – The supermarkets here make no sense. Yoghurts next to washing powder? Apples next to tinned beans? Frozen fish next to chocolate? I kid you not. Although Mercadona plays a wonderful tune to shop to, shopping here is so frustrating. I could not even find all the ingredients for one meal, let alone enough for a week’s worth of meals!
• Stress – Spanish life is soooo chilled out that it can get very stressful! Manana, manana, manana! Combined with the fact that it has taken weeks and weeks to get emails from my British coordinators, and I have been given the shortest straw in the world with my module choices here, life has been very tough. But, I’d like you all to know, I think I am dealing with it very well.
• The #20 bus – Although its cheap, there’s always such a queue and never seats on the way back. I dislike being stood up next to a smelly Spanish boy and being thrown into him when the bus brakes or turns suddenly. Something that has happened, and I want to forget about. The answer to this is simple - run more buses, or get more seats.
• Sleazy men  - I know it is known in Spain for any man to eye the ladies as you are walking down the street, but some of the noises they make and comments they shout to attract you are just shocking. From 12 year old boys shouting ‘pretty blondies’ at us, to old men making the horrid ‘tutting’ noise, it happens all the time! The word ‘guapa’ is overused here, it doesn't have meaning anymore. My personal favourite though,and coincidentally an experience of today was walking through a group of 6 men. One must have thought he was the new Enrique, and was singing ‘la la laa, beautiful beautiful, beautifuuul’ to the three of us. I don’t normally laugh at them, but this time I just cracked up!
• Street cleaning – This is something they do every night here. During the middle of the night – during peak drunk time. The streets are soaking, the water goes down the middle ‘draining’ section, and I always end up in it, with my slippery shoes and bad balance/coordination. The streets do look lovely and shiny all the time, but this daily routine is lethal.
• Oven situation - We don’t have an oven, just a hob and microwave. So, I am still trying to adapt to soggy microwave oven pizza and lack of oven food. Cooking just seems like such a mission allll the time here!

 PROS:

• Beauty – It’s not only the chicos here that are beautiful, but the city is too. The cute streets, architecture and just simply the views of any buildings in the city centre. It is just SO Spanish, the paths, the fountains, the smell. I love it, it is all so pretty. II never want to leave,the atmosphere just makes me smile!
• Siesta – Anyone that knows me knows that I am a mega fan of sleeping and napping. Therefore for me, this lifestyle is ‘increíble’, I get to wake up late and then nap in the evening, without being judged! Everything goes into shutdown mid afternoon here, napping is strongly encouraged! I think there is even a break in the uni day for the siesta.
• The price of alcohol – Cheap alcohol is loveable wherever you are, but it is just great how much you can get for your money here in Malaga. I bought two big bottles of schnapps and vodka the other day, and it only cost me 7 euros?! Then on nights out, shots for a euro, litres of vodka/fanta limon for 5 euros, and the best daiquiris for 4 euros. They aren't even tight with their measures, half half is the average! WHO CAN COMPLAIN?
• Exercise – Somehow, I have managed to lose weight since being here, despite all of the alcohol consumed. I don’t exercise, I rarely even play Frisbee on the beach, but I think that the amount of walking we do is really making an impact. We walk so much every single day, and the people here walk so slow, it just feels like I am running all of the time!
• Amigos – So many new amigos are making me love my life. They make me want to go out every night, and I love them for it. My liver, not so much, however I’m already sad at the thought of them leaving/me leaving for China! So we are just trying to not talk about that.
• Kisses - One thing I am going to miss when I get back England. Everyone loves a cheeky kiss for a hello, but here you even have to double peck everyone on every greeting, friends, strangers and anyone in a group with someone you know. The funny thing about this though, is you never know if the Brits are going for the double kiss or a hug...awkward half peck on the lips! Going to try and bring this back to England, so expect lots of kisses from me next year!
• Pizza – Yes, I may sound like a fatty, but wherever you go that sells pizza here is worth a mention. There’s a particular place after a night out that gives you ¼ of a 14inch pizza for 3 euros. Its great.The only negative is burning your tongue and it hurting for the following few days, but **** happens, it’s worth it!
• Life – I just love Malaga life and that pro pretty much outweighs all of the cons. It is just the actual BEST.

And that’s it really, for now. Still discovering new things about this beautiful city, and I would put money on my pros list being 10 times longer by the end of February!

Besos x