Everything

After today I am tempted to start an argument in defense of the United States over the issue of size. Outside the US there is a general notion that all things in the US are big. Their size is sometimes a very good, cool thing, for example in the case of New York City, and sometimes (more often than not) it is not a good thing, for example in the country’s issues with obesity and consumerism. The reason for my temptation towards belligerence comes from the shopping trip I took today with a couple of friends in preparation for Christmas.

Our first stop was at El Rastro, the famous Madrid flea market held every Sunday morning, rain or shine. Not that I’m much of an expert on flea markets, but I feel confident in saying that El Rastro has everything…one booth sells new age-y clothes, another has a table staggering under the weight of countless cd’s, another sells lovely head massager things and nice smelling fragrances, there are stalls with underwear, outerwear, bags, plants, jewelry…you get the picture. One stall was memorable if solely to me. From a distance it looked a bit like a few other stalls that sold heavy metal belt buckles, t-shirts with skulls and motorcycles on them; generally a silvery- black selection of wares. A friend of mine needed a belt buckle for her brother so we made our way over. There wasn’t much for variety, but they were interesting to go through; a revolver, a hand of cards and a sparkly revolving dollar sign were among the fancier of the buckles. There were the usual, dark and creepiest, supposedly badass icons as well: motorcycles, skulls (with and without crossed bones), emblems of various metal bands, Confederate flags…wait, what? What on earth is that doing there? I mean a lot has made it over the Atlantic from the States to Spain; it’s confusing how much junky American paraphernalia I have seen here. But a flag of the Confederate State of America? Never mind that it was never an officially recognized State, but it’s got a rather bad reputation hasn’t it? I can almost understand Confederate flags waving south of the Mason- Dixon line, or at least be slightly amused by it, but what on earth would a Spaniard, even a very, very, badass Spaniard find in that flag to make them want to buckle their pants with it, or carry a wallet with it emblazoned on the side? I’m not even sure how many Spaniards, hell, how many non- Americans know what that flag even is!

Anyway, moving on…

After lunch we proceeded to the largest department store in Spain, El Corte Ingles. Large seems too small a word for this place; it is absolutely colossal. It’s so big it had to be split into three different buildings on one street and yet another around the corner. Each building has about four or five stores and one of the buildings has its own Metro access. My feet began to hurt just to look at it. To be honest, I did freak out a bit; really even as an American, I had never seen anything so big in my life. The term ‘department store’ never seemed so appropriate. There were the usual departments that I am familiar with, men’s, women’s, make-up, cutlery, etc. But then it got crazy: electronics, books, office supplies, sports, bread, insurance, insurance, kitchen tools, weddings, groceries…and on and on and on.

Some of my most interesting and amusing moments here in Spain is learning the Spanish view of the grand United States of America. When I tell people my nationality their reactions are generally divided into three categories. So, in response to the statement: “Soy Americana”, I either get a “Really! Que Guay, have you ever been to New York, tell me about New York!” The contrary reaction is “ahhhhh…” with a look that clearly shows they are thinking of every newscast and article that ever showed the US in a poor light. The reaction settled between the two is: “mmmhmmm” along with the look: who cares where she’s from, this is the slowest conversation I’ve ever had…honestly, and how hard is it to learn Spanish?

Maybe it’s the fact that the Spanish, non-American version of grand scale consumerism is rather classier or cultured or they take it more seriously and therefore put more effort into it that there isn't so much negative focus on Spanish consumerism. But, really, I don’t want to get defensive or rude about it. America is what it is. The rest of the world is what it is. Yes, jokes on America can, and do, get old, but it's an easy target. Okay, a very easy target.

It’s too late in the day to get into arguments, so subjects like the role of patriotism and ex-patriotism, consumerism, America’s global image and all the rest will have to wait until I am rather more well- informed…perhaps in about 30 years or so?

Hope your holiday preparations are bringing more joy than stress, or at least enough joy to make up for the stress…remember, a little goes a long way, if you let it.

May the love of those around you hold and keep you.

Kika