Assistance?
Okay I need to complie a list of things to do, to be aware of, and to stear away from in Spain. As well as things I need to pack/bring....
So, anyone who knows Europe or Spain, assistance would be much appreciated.
My list so far is:
To Pack:
1) Snowworthy trenchcoat
2) plain black military trenchcoat (yes I've got two - hey I lived in Canada for almost two years m'kay?)
3) 10 pairs of undies
4) 4 bras
6) 4 sets of jammies
7) bathrobe
8) 5 pairs of pants
9) 2 skirts
10) 2 dresses
11) 1 bathingsuit
12) 2 hoodies
12) 2 sweaters
13) 10 shirts
14) 4 clubbing shirts
15) Flat iron
16) Shampoo/Hair masque
17) meds for 3 months
18) makeup (eyeliner pots, eyeshadow pots, couple lipglosses, couple lipsticks, foundation, brush set, few pairs of eyelashes)
19) 2 wigs and the brushes
20) 3 pairs of shoes (1 walking, 1 everyday, 1 "fuck me")
21) 1 indoor/outdoor jacket (midweight)
22) Hiar gadgets (headbands and a couple clips, and bobbypins)
23) Brush and comb
24) 2 queen size flatsheets and baby blankie
25) Laptop
26) PSP (and 3 game cartridges)
27) iPod and Kikx
28) Perfume
29) Negligee?
30) Unmetionable girly device
31) My brain and plenty of space bags
32) Passport and ID
33) Knee highs and stockings
34) Plug converter and powerstrip!
35) Towels
I'm goin' to three cities and it'll be in the winter. So around December I'm gonna be in Madrid for a month, possibly a month and a half (haven't picked my Intercambrio program family yet), 2-3 weeks in Barcelona, and 2-3 weeks in Malaga. Madrid's at a higher elevation so it'll be cooler - oh wait I remembered somethin' to add to list *goes up and adds #33 and 34* - and Barcelona is coastal so it's a biiiit warmer, and then Malaga is southerly and very warm comparatively. Hence the bathing suit. Oh wait... A towel or two, families don't always provide them and besides - I'm not sure I want a towel that other peoples booties have been on frequently.
I have this massively cool suitcase called a "double decker" that has a top half lengthwise that unzips completely from the bottom half so you can pack it like it's two suitcases. Plus, unlike most luggage I've had, the zippers are uber reinforced (my Sampsonites are only 3 years old and are utter pieces of shite, the big one's zipper broke the first time I used it!) and the nylon is nothin' to laugh at either. Not only that, but the suitcase itself, all accutramond included weighs less than 6lbs. leaving me more weight to play with before I'm charged by the airlines. My whole thing is, is this: one of the airlines is gonna charge one way or another for the suitcase - either it'll be too heavy or they just charge for the suitcase anyway - so I may as well take one great piece of luggage and a decent sized carryon. Who knows how small the place I'll be staying at is, and why would I want to clutter up what little I may have with excess luggage? I'll be using spacebags for everything soft that goes in it, so that I can bring chatchkas back from Spain plus, my friend Ash tells me that I'll want to do some serious shoppin' while I'm there. Later on this week I'll be testing the capacity of my suitcase and I"ll let ya'll know what I think,
Now, the second list is this - what the hell am I supposed to expect when I get there? I know it'll be somethin' of a culture shock, even though I'm open minded and have known people from all over.
1) If a dude grabs my butt, just ignore it (normally I'd turn around and beat the tar outta the guy, but I know it's cultural in some places - Italian guys pinch, Spanish guys grab - personally I'd prefer the grab)
2) Everything is covered in olive oil (that means I'll hafta be careful what I eat - I'm not allowed to have much fats cuz of the gallbladder thing)
3) "Ethnic" foods are my friends - as in non-Spanish food will save me from having a screaming/moaning/whimpering/painful gallbladder attack
4) Even in the bad areas, Spanish cities got nothin' on the States - way safer, so don't try and whup ass when I don't gotta
5) Resturantes are actually open late, meaning I really can get decent food at times when I'm actually up
6) Don't try and shop between like noon and 4pm - they have a very extended lunch, and siestas are more myth than fact, but that doesn't mean that they don't super chill out
7) They know I'm a tourist cuz I'll probably be alone, Spaniards and expaits have a group of friends they do pretty much everythin' with
8) People will come up to me to tell me I'm pretty - just smile and nod
9) Just because El Mucho Guapo is tellin' me that I'm "bonita" and "hermosa" and any other word for pretty/hot/lovely/sexy does not necessairly mean he's hittin' on me. They talk to their family that way too! (Ash says they get alotta tourist pooney that way too btw...)
10) Coffee is not a meal time treat *whimpers* unless it's breakfast
11) Olive oil olive oil olive oil - everywhere......
12) Piercings are okay! Franco was recent, so many in my age group are "enjoying" their freedom, so aww yeah baby - pierced and inked boys here I come!
Any other things, culturally or bring along wise, would be helpful.... Hell it was helpful for me to just make this list. Otherwise I may try and remember everythin' at once all by my lonesome!